The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-03-15
MORGAN MAY GUST
LEONARD AT THIRD
Joe Has Injured Thumb and
Must Pick Up in Hitting to
Suit Griff.
FOSTER TO PLAY SECOND
Players Determined to Make Bid
for Drill Prize-Martin a
Handicap.
FOSTER TO PLAY SECOND
LOUIS A. poUGHER.

By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.
AUGUSTA, Ga, March 15.-Unless
Joe Leonard develops sufficient
hitting strength this spring, ne may
be supplanted at third base by Ray
Morgan, the Baltimorean, according
to what is going On here at the train
ing camp.
Morgan is Of the aggressive type,
dear TO the heart OF Manaer Griffith.
Even in the daily practice games, he
In fighting all the time for victory.
When Carl Sawyer developed a sore
arm, having worked too hard on his
first day at practice, he was placed
at second base and Morgan was sent
over to third.
Morrau Former Third-saeker.
washington fans will recall that
when Morgan first Joined the Wash
ington Ball Club he was played at
third base by Jimmy McAleer. At
that time he was too light to hold
his own against major league pitch
ing, but he has put on weight since
then and is now able to compete with
his best teammates with the fail,
the result Is that Leonard will have
to produce the real goods to hold
his Job against the competition or
Morgan.
Manager Griffith has about decided
to keep Eddie Foster on second base.
The little Cherrydale citizen is In
top from here now, though he Is
taking no chances with his arm, nor
is he running any too much But
even holding back, he looks like the
In No anIIad
and this has much to do with Man.
aEer Griffith's decision to keep him
on the midway cushion
xsRay for Leonard's Thumb.
Joe Leonard today will have his
thumb placed under the x-ray to ascer-
tain Just what is the matter with it
The injury IL on his throwing hand,
and prevents his gripping a bat. For
this reason he has been kept out OF
the lineup. In his absence Mike
Moran, the Washington sandlotter, Is
doing a good job, especially A. the
bat He was thought to be q weak
hitter, but his work here has been
nrst class in this respect.
Not much emphasis should be placed
on the work of the players in the
daily practice games here. Yester-
day afternoon, following punk de-
cision by Nick Altrock at third base,
Ray Morgan threw the ball at the
umpire. The pill rolled into right
field and allowed the two runs scored
on Jameson This is just an example
of how seriously the players take
these games They fight hard for
everything, but they realize that the
contests mean little or nothing.
Weak HItters waIIop Ball.
The hitting so far is also to be
mInimized. Carl Sawyer, anything
but a heavy hitter, is clouting the
ball to the far corners Of the ball
yard. Yesterday he bounded a hard
one over the garden wall. George
Mcbride, whose average last season
was .227, is one Of the best performers
with the fail. The reason is that
few of the pitchers are yet advanced
enough to use curve balls. They de-
pend entirely on fast balls, and any
ball player In fast company can NIT
fast balls
Sam Crane, even against the most
ordinary kind OF pitching, is a weak
batter. Manager Griffith likes his
fielding, he is so fast on his feet, but
the Baltimore Orioles hitting must
get him q place on the team and he
IS far below the required strength
Menoskey Throws Well.
Mike Menoskey's throwing arm.
which is quite as good as can be de-
sired, was exhibited in yesterdays
first game when he threw out Mike
Moran trying to score from third base
on a fly ball to left field. The peg
was in the air on a line to Henry and
Moran died like a stuck hog.
Rivalry has sprung up among the
fours working every morning under
Corporal J. H. Dean and competitive
drill may be held at almost any day
now. The last four IL the worst, ow-
ing to the obstinacy of Mike Martin.
Mayor OF Cherrydale, who believes he
has two left feet Ray Morgan is in
that four and he Is yelling to he'.e
Martin canned. However, Nike is
right on the Job.
After That $500 Prize
The Griffmen are determined to
make a battle for the $500 prize to be
awarded the best drilled team in the
league. Corporal Dean is most popu-
lar and the boys want him to win the
800 going to the instructor OF the
winning team.
II a railroad strike takes place,
keeping the players here longer than
anticipated, Manager Griffith expects
20 have his players take all advantage
of having Corporal Deans daily in
structions. He thinks that a strike
will bring the big prize to the Wash
ington club.
Following is the score by innings in
yesterday afternoons game:
RH. E.
Regulars 80. 020 100 0I0- 8 3
Yannigans :. Dol O4O OOx-5 8 Z
Batteries: Ayers, FIaherty and Hen
~, Ainsmith; Jameson, Thomas and
Charity.