The Washington times., 1917-02-03
Even If War Is Declared, Old
Fox Will Take Players to
Augusta, Ga.
ONES WILL SEEK FOSTER
Brownies Manager to Attend
Meeting Hopeful of Land
ing Infielder.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER

Break in relations between the United
States and Germany, or even a deciara-
ton OF war between the two countries
will have no deterrent effect upon my
training plans for this spring." an.
nouneed Manager Griffith today. wher
informed that the Government contem-
plated openly breaking with Germany
and that Charlie Weeghman might abol-
ish his long jaunt to California on that
account
War cannot injure baseball much
more than it has been injured during the
past two years." continued the Old Fox
The players themselves have done their
worst and some few are determined to
go through with their movement to kill
their own game.
But neither the players nor foreign
conditions can kill the game, and my
club will be ordered to Augusta just as
IL the skies were serene"
VIII Seek Foster.
L Fielder Jones, hiking all the way
from Portland, Oregon, will attend
major leagues and endeavor to wean
away from the Griffmen one Eddie
Foster, second Rnd third baseman
Jones Is rlQlng TOR a Iall
II Jones fails to obtain Foster he
will seek Fritz Maisel, the little m
fielder of the Yankees.
What has Jones to offer for Foster OF
Maisel, both comparatively young
players? Nothing but Eddie Plank
q cracking good southpaw pitcher fol
a game a week during the warm
weather, even il he is a grandfather
and a former member of the Chris
topher Columbus Union of Discover
0rs.
The situation Here.
Just why Manager. Griffith will
think twice before making such g
trade is plain to be seen.
1t is by no means certain that Jack
Leonard will be a fixture at third
base. II he fails, Foster will go over
to third and Ray Morgan sent in to
play second base, though he will moi
be as valuable there as Foster.
Parting with Foster for an aged
and creaking pitcher, without obtain
ing with him an infielder of some
sort, would be rank folly for the Old
Fox.
Pratt Might Help.
If Jones would consent to a trade
4HNOlNlHS IdlAS
might eventuate. Pratt might prove
of great assistance to the Griffmen.
even IL they had to lose Foster to
get him. He is a better hitter, fielder
and runner, according to local opin-
ion after looking at the averages.
However, Foster may come back
with a rush next season. In that case,
there would be but little difference
between the two players. Fosters
contract ends next October and the
chances are that he will do every
thing in his power next summer to
render himself worthy of an equally
high salary for 1918.
Failing to land Foster, Jones will
endeavor to land Maisel, although
Donovan is said to be willing to tsy
out Fritz as a second baseman. Dang
ling Plank before the eyes of mana
gers, however, will hardly eaten
them.
VIII Play Orioles.
The Griffmen's second squad, al
most the equal in strength of the
oles at Wilmington. N. c.. in two
games on March % and "a Altrock's
AImosts will then be under way to
Washington from Augusta, Ga
Dunn's International Ieaguers will
spend I6 days at Wilmington, arriv-
ing March 20 and leaving April s. A
grass diamond has been laid out and
conditions should be excellent for
spring training. The team will then
have but three days of practice be-
fore tackling the GriTfmen, but they
hope for the best
The first team to start for camp
this spring will be the Portland team
of the Coast league. which departs
February IL for Honolulu. This cub
will have the longest trip of any
club, spending about ten days on the
ocean.
Play Many Games.
About IS games will be played by
the White Sox before the 1917 cam
paign opens. Comiskey believes in
making his athletes earn lhei- sal
salaries.
The White Sox will begin training
about March 10 at Mineral Wells,
Tex, and will be divided into two
equal squads a week later. The first
team will play at Fort WORTH oh
St. Patrick's Day. while the second
one will be at Dallas. Games will be
played in Texas. Oklahoma, Kansas. /
Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota before |
the bell rings.
Contrary to original plans. the Chi |
cago pitchers will not report March |
1. but will begin work with the reg
ulars. Clarence Rowland believes that |
a month is enough to allow them to |
get into good shape.
May Change Ball.
II any change in the rules is to be /
made to bring about more hitting, |
the magnates will do no more than .
to adopt new regulations regarding .
the liveliness OF the official ball.
The Federal League sluggers could ,
bounce their ball right out of the in
field. Even sluggers 90 like Frank
Laporte and Herman Schaeffer were
were making home runs in the inde-
pendent circuit.
1t is not intended that the new
ball should be as lively as the Federal
league sphere. but there may be a
between that one and the
ball now used in the big leagues.
Putting more life" which Is rub
Der, into the official ball will increase
ihe batting. even II third basemen
Go have TO wear masks and shin pro-
tS0t0gS- \