The Washington times., 1915-03-22
Griffith Nominates His Two Star
SIabmen to Oppose Univer-
sity Of Virginia Club To-
\ day.
Team Work viii Occupy Much
of the Time Spent in Train
ing Between Now and Next
Friday.
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, March
22.-Walter johnson and Joe Boeh-
ling, perhaps the best pair Of fling
ers on the Griffmen's staff, will face
the University Of Virginia today.
johnson has worked once for the
regulars against Uncle Nick Alt
rocks team, while Joe Boehling has
taken part in two practice contests.
Both are progressing favorably and
today's workout against the college
boys will be the best of experience
for them at this time of the year.
The mere announcement that Wal
ter johnson is to pitch three in
nings today means that fully half
the Virginia students will be in the
stadium to see him pitch. In addi-
ton, all the citizens of Charlottes-
vile, unable to see major leaguers
except after a long ride to Washing
ton, are evincing interest, and, with
good weather, many Of them will
swell the attendance. To see john
son and Boehling twirl in one game
will last many of them for the re-
mainder of the year. [
Virginia's team will not be as strong
as it might be, owing to the examina-
tions, which continue through this
week. However, Coach Ryan hopes to
have an aggregation or the field that
viii make good showing. even against
Johnson and Bdehing. Facing such
pitchers gives the coHegians the best Of
practice and Coach Ryan acts wisely in
stacking his Youngsters up against the
major league stars at every opportunity.
After today's game Virginia will have
but one more game with the Grifrmen
Wednesday will see the final conflict be-
tween these two teams for this spring.
On the other days of the week the two
big league squads will play each other
On Friday but one long practice will be
held. finishing about l o'clock. Lunch
viii follow and then the regulars Will
depart for Richmond. while the rockies,
under command OF Uncle Nick Altrock,
win go to Washington. On Saturday
the rockies will meet the Alexandria
Cardinals at Alexandria and the regu-
lars will face Jack Dunn's Internation-
als at Richmond.
Team work will be insisted upon this
week by the old Fox In preparation for
the games coming quickly on the spring
schedule. 1t is possible to play Virginia
without much of a set of signals, but
when opposing professional outfits
that's different matter. With good
weather, nine games remain to be
played here. two of them with Virginia.
In all these contests Manager Griffith
will lay great stress upon the correct
iV,tE afaf nf ~ o,r tt.aN
he has been teaching his athletes. This
VIII be a hard week for slow thinkers.
no matter what positions they hold
down.
my team is coming along in fine
style" said the Old Fox this morning.
vet 1t will be a taperfng of in many
ways. Our games with Richmond and
the National League clubs are almost
on US, and we must be ready. OF
course, the boys will bat and field and
run around the track. but inside hase-
tentfon- Big league players must have
brains above all things. Why. Mike
Kelly was a slow runner. but SO brainy
was he that he was the most dangerous
base runner of his day. That's what
brains can do for ball player. IT gives
him the Did percentage on the other
fellow with slower brains.
mo. make no predictions whatever,
even though this Is our last week here,
and Washington will soon see us In &C
ton. have a good ball club. The
players are In earnest and always hus-
tling. Furthermore, they have the right
fighting spirit ard world Of confidence.
II they can show half the ability they
think they have, wen have prosperous
season"
That the Griffmen are confident OF
corning out pretty close to the top nf
the procession this year can be seen
easily, after a short chat with any OF
thcm. No one will actually claim the
pennant. OF course. but one and all be-
lieve that Washingtons hest chance Is
In 1915, even better than it looked to be
IN 1912. the year Of that wonderful,
record breaking streak in the West.
Our hardest team TO defeat has
always been Philadelphia" explains
George Mcbride. the veteran short
stop and captain of the team. Tim
now talking about the team In the
last three seasons, since GTiff came ia
Washington"
Before that we never had a team in
the first division. I cant hcIp think
ing that the passing OF Plank. Bender
Coombs, and Collins. with possibly
Frank Baker. will mean n lot in our
twenty-five contests with the Ath-
lrtiCs. Few OF the pitchers left with
the team ever bothered us half rs
Iuuch as did Plank and Bender while
EDDIE Collins took tho keenest dc.
light in r"hbing us Of victories when
We he'd almost won them. This last
goes. too. for BsFe~. If you recall. il
was Bake who broke that winning
streak Of ours with drive over tho
right field wall At Shibe Park.
Connie stilI has Eood ball club
one OF the best in the country. That