Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-10
SAM RICE TOP|TCK
IN OPENING SERIES
Will Oppose Georgetown To-
day to Prime Himself for
Debut in New York.
JOHN McGRAW PREDICTS
MATTY WILL COME BACK
Baker and Kauff Both Hooted by
New York Crowd in Game
Last Friday.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

land Alexander STATED " pun I'm ~
innings against each other in the game
today a good line on their comparative
ability should be furnished the fans at
the Georgia avenue park.
There was no practice at the ball park
this morning, because the grounds were
too wet Groundkeeper ODay, however,
had everything in readiness by l O'Clock
and the Griffmen put in hour and
half at batting practice.
The team is in good shape and because
of its being accustomed to cool weather,
having trained at Charlottesville, it is
supposed to have something on the phil
lies who spent month at st. Peters
burg, Fla. and will not be at their best
in the cool weather.
Sam Rice is to work a full game for
the Yanigans this afternoon. When they
meet Georgetown in practice game at
Georgetown field. Rice is in good con-
dition and Griffith wants to get him on
edge for the New York series. where he
may pitch a game. A full game today
ought to have him ready for Friday or
Saturday, when he probably will be
worked.
| Rice is pitcher in whom Griffith has
! d lot of confidence. He is a wise fellow
/
Il fast man and an excellent hitter. which
does much to help the team when he is in
| the lineup.
| Oscar stanage of the Tigers this
spring has gotten himself in the best
playing condition he has enjoyed in
his entire career. and as a result he is
catching most wonderful ball, is agile
| on his feet, throwing perfectly and hit
1 ting the ball hard.
! n G n
make wonderful difference in the
Tigers catching, for Stanage undoubt-
eddy is one of the best backstops in the
| league, being quick witted and good
receiver and thrower.
| When Home Run Baker struck out in
/ the first inning half the crowd yelled
| derisively. When Bonnie kauff twice
failed to hit the ball outside of the
diamond. other spectators booted and
| jeered him, writes Joe Villa of the de-
| feat of the Yankees Friday. In other
! words, the partisan feeling was about
equally divided. But, usual, after
! the game the Giants had the greater
number of supporters Baker was much
| in evidence, at that. making two ex-
cellent plays al third base and driving
the ball to right field for what easily
| was the tiercest hit of the game. Kauff
/ received two bases on balls. much to his
disgust, but he made a splendid run
| ming catch and also filled Peckinpa ugh s
| base hit in the last inning with such
| aiacrity that he probably prevented a
| three-bagger. kauff stood up to the pla e
! like d real batsman and dspla yed
plenty of sand. He'll begin to hit in a
Few days. SO will Lee Magee. who ha s
been disappointment so far. Roush
and Rariden surely have strengthened
| the Giants. The former looks like a
first-class left-handed hitter. He al
ready has established himself as an
outfielder Rariden caught superbly
and steadied Schupp at all stages OF
the proceedings. He is worth his
weight in gold.
| No less an authority than John J.
Mcrraw is responsible for the predic-
F.! tion that Christy Mathewson is com
! ing back. If MeGraw is correct in
! this, there is no way of figuring the
Giants out of the National League race.
| Here is what McGraw is quoted as
| having said on the subject:
Il have every reason to believe tina It
| Matty will do some good pitching this
year He has been going along slow
ly and has suffered no pain in his left
shoulder-the ailment which handi-
| capped him all last season. He will
| take his time until the weather grows
| warm. Then he'll get a real try-out.
and l think that you'll see him come
| back in old-time form.
| Il wish we could have remained in
| the south week or ten days longer.
The veteran pitchers on the team are
not right. by a long shot. They need
| plenty of heat. For that reason I shall
not hurry them, but will use the sec
| ond-string men for the present. Phys
| icalIy, the catchers, infielders and out
| fielders are ready for the race.
| ~ have much confidence in the team,
as whole. Rariden is great help be-
! hind the bat. and better still, Lobert is
coming around nicely. He's been doing
much of our batting down south. Burns
is as good as ever and you'll see great
ball player in kauff, soon as he hits
his stride.
"Kauif is a fine young fellow, game
as a pebble and anxious to win. He
has unlimited confidence in himself
which is winning quality. Roush and
Anderson, the other Federal League
men. will satisfy the public as soon as
| they can play under favorable condi-
| tons You can say that, barring acct
dents. the Giants will have lot to say
about the championship of the National
League this year"