The Washington times., 1917-12-23
MARCH IS TOSEE
GRIFFS COMMENCE
TRAINING STUNTS
BY LOUIS A. DoUGHER.

March IS, Aith the pitchers reporting
on March II, or a week earlier. This
will be about three weeks later than
last spring, <for the major league
campaign is not due to get under
way next year until Tuesday,
April Is.
Manager Griffith believes strongly
in the idea OF having his pitchers,
with the possible exception of Wal
ter Johnson, open their preliminary
work a week before the remainder OF
the squad begins to get the sand out
of their eyes. johnson always re-
ports in shape to pitch, requiring
Just slow workouts to strengthen his
salary whip. In addition. he takes
his own time about "prepping," i" Grit
nth having the greatest confidence in |
his judgment about his arm.
Even now, with snow on the
ground and chill winds blowing.
Manager Griffin is laying his Sprins
training pIsBG He hopes to- bring
his team up te the mark in perfect
condition. He wIll do so by staging
daily practice skirmishes at the camp, |
followed by a series of games with
the Cincinnati Reds. This will put,
his batsmen UP against major league
pitching, a necessity each year.
Train Only Two Weeks.
Reporting on March is, it is uH-
likely that the G1iEfnen will have
a full three weeks OF work before !,
departing on their transforming
tour through Dixisland. Present !
plans call for the bunch TO hike
about April or in order to get in I!
two Sunday games, April and u. !
Chattanooga is anxious TO book /
the Griffmen, according to Squire
Mique Finn. successor to Kid EIber- !
field as manager OF the Lookouts, and !
IL possible, the Griffmen may make I;
a stop there for Sunday. April. =, \
though this is far from being settled. J
There will be no trouble booking !
games for the team before hooking
up with the American League clubs. /
Indeed, working together with Gin !
cianati, the Griffs will have several .
Southern cities bidding for their ap-i
pearance. While Dixieland has soured
on games played by big Ieaguers
against bushers, games between ma
jor league clubs still draw out the
fans
soldiers WIN Beneat. /
II the Grinmen return to Augusta.
Ga, next spring for their training sea
son. ana it seems likely that they will.
the soldiers at Camp Hancock will sure
ly benefit Griffith is hero. among all
the soldiers OF the national army since
he began providing them with baseball
outfits. and the daily practice games
will undoubtedly attract hundreds OF SOL
diers eager 10. see the big league stars
in action
Just what plsyers-will go to the Grin-
mems camp will not be known until the
Old Fox finishes his contemplated. deals
II is whispered that George Du Mont
and Ray Morgan are on the market
but players, not money. must come for
them.
Eddie Poster iS'booked TO play third
base in ISIS, but Ray Morgaf's tendency
TO twisted ankles handicaps his chances
OF remaining with the club. The Wash-
ington club played Isl games last year
Morgan took part in nincty-fve OF them
at second base, sitting on the bench
about third OF the time. II is this stu
alton. which Griffith seeks to remedy
for neGt year. lie wants a second base
man who can hit at least as well as
Morgan, but particularly is he anxious
TO have him in the game all the time
VIII Open at Homo.
The Griffmen will open. the regular
season at home, IL present plans work
out successfully. For the past two
years they opened on the road, last
yearlat Philadelphia and in 1916 al
New York. The Yankees and Mack
inen are due to open away from home
next spring, one or the other being
booked for a three-game series at
Georgia avenue, beginning April 16.
The New York Giants spring sched-
ule is almost completed now. The Ma
tional League champions will play a
series with the Cleveland Indians. or
rather with what is left Of them after
Uncle Sam finishes with his drafting.
Instead OF visiting the towns in Ok
lahorna, Kansas. Missouri and Indiana,
the Giants Will visit New Orleans and
then hit up through Alabama. Ten
nessee. Kentucky and Ohio. The final
clash between the Indians and the ,
Giants viii come at Columbus. Ohio.
where the two clubs will separate
The Indians will open at home and
will have only a short ride to Cleve-
land.
Fielder Jones VIII Stick.
Though rUmor after rumor has had
Fielder Jones quitting baseball, or at ,
least severinE his connection with the ,
brownies. it is now announced that !
he will be back on the job next YER. :
lie has an ironbOund contract at slJ.- Z
400 to handle the Browns without in
reference from Mesyrs. Ball and
Stifel the owners Jones will be at I
The head of ths-team another year.
Until the contracts are sent out. il /
will be impossible TO know who the (
lickers viii be. but we are promised !
that there will be a hock Of them. {
Salary figures are destined TO shrink.
say those ''in the know" as the re l
suit OF a quiet agreement among the |
magnates. However, such agreements :
have been made frequently before I
now only to be shattered at the first /
opportunity. {