The Washington times., 1915-02-07
Nationals Expert Trainer Will
Prepare Training Camp for
Reception Of First Playing
Squad on February %.
Clark Griffith Does Not Predict
Pennant Winning, But Thinks
He Has a Chance Against All
Other Clubs in League.
BY LOUIS A. DOUGHER.

With Mique Martin, the Griffmen's
safe and sane expert trainer, receiv-
ing his orders from Manager Grif-
fifth to go down to Charlottesville
on February %, the local baseball
season is shown to be approaching
rapidly on horseback. Orders have
also been sent out by the Old Fox
to his battery candidates to be here
on time to leave for the Virginia
college town, before noon on Febru-
sry %. A week later the remainder
of the squad will hike for the train
ing camp and the fans Of the Capt.
tai will begin to get the real dope
from the athletes.
AS was the case last season, the
Griffmen will occupy two houses.
The main squad, composed of the
regulars, will be quartered in the big
fraternity house on Chancellor
street. The rockies will be in the
boswell cottage, down the Street
bit toward the railroad track. Jack
Ryan, the veteran trainer and coach,
will have charge of the bushers,
while the Old Fox will have his
headquarters with the regulars.
The training program for 1915 calls
Tor less work at Charlottesville than
ever before The battery candidates will
nave about four weeks Of practice but
the regulars will be in camp only three
weeks before the first exhibition game at
Richmond with Jack Dunns Interna-
tionais. This contest is scheduled for
rockies will play the Cardinal A. c. at
Alexandria, Va. The first home ex-
hibition game will be played with
Georgetown on March 81
My plans for the 1915 training are
the same as for other years. says the
Old Fox. The boys will eat at Mrs.
Saunders, next door to the fraternity
house, and will report twice day for
practice. am in hopes of meeting with
better weather this year than was the
case last spring. l am informed that
charlottesville has had a real winter,
aud that the oldest inha bitant is predict
ing good open spring. That will suit
me.
Martin will so down on the 2sd to
ohtaln"d to ft out both houses, and
Mike also has to have the gymnasium
ready for the boys. He's fussy about
those things, knowing how important
theN arc to the comfort of the players. |
shall give him free rein in outfitting the
place | want everybody satisfied and
able to keep his mind on baseball every
minute
There is to be mighty little loating
or skyiarking at Charlottesville this
spring. With baseball facing a storm Of
criticism; it i'll behooves a major league
my players attend to the business at
hand from the pop of the gun Any
player unwilling to give his best will
be sent home. no matter how valuable
to the team he may consider himself.
W lthout predicting anything. | really
helieVe we have chance to get in there
next season. But it will require hard
work and a lot of it. so the boys
must play ball every minute while g:
camp and during the exhibition series
some of you fellows are already
picking my lineup. You're all wrong
! don't know what it will be myself. If
Gandil. Morgan. Mcbride, and Foster
shape up the best OF the jnfielders they'll
be in there for the opening game. But
they must prove they have the goods to
land the places. It's the same way with
the outtielders. Moeller, Milan. and
Shanks There will be competition in
a team on the field for tho FIST game
that will take care of itself.
Those two kid outfeiders from Tex
as. Massey and Brown. will be in camp
and ! shall give them thorough trials
Rondeau. though with big league clubs
before now. has never been q candidate
for an .outficld Job. He will be given
every chance to show his stuff. II he
can deliver the goods. no will get a
berth regularly. If he can't he won't.
Little Acosta is growing rapidly and
keeps up his Cuban record In the
spring. If he does. he ought to make
some of those outfielders hustle for
Jobs, II he can deliver the real goods,
lob is waiting for MIN ] shall play
no favors. cant afford to- if you viii
think ii over.
:. winning pennant is a great thing.
1t - long time since 7 did it, 1t re-
nuircs 4 lot of skill and also a fair
share of luck. You can't win with only
skin or luck. 1t must be because of a
mixture OF both, | hope to have the
SKIN III my team to earn the fair share
or luck. Looking over the line-ups OF
the other teams in this league, / fail to
see why Washington can't be hopeful
for 1915. | am, though I SUPPOSE that s
almost chronic with me. But / can show
why I'm optimistic.
For one thing this wear. the players
won't have the Federal League in front
Of them every day. They Il be able to
play ball every day with nothing 10
worry them. They are all hoUneu ,,p
to long contracts and know where they
get off Perhaps on this account AS
much as any other do | consider we
have chance TO win the pennant.
don't say Wen win it, mark me, but
do say that we have chance"
The first squad to 20 to Charlottes.
Harper, Thormahicn, Ayers. Gallia
shaw, Hopper. and Boehling, all pitch
ers. and Henry. Ainsmith, and Williams
Catchers.
The second squad to depart on Marcf