The Washington herald., 1917-03-23
Clark Griffith Is Well Pleased
with Results Obtained at
Southern Training Camp.
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

AoSdolnB Sd-' SS--lI IaTeWell
to Augusta, as both teams of the Ma
tionals are tonight speeding on their
way. to fill the dates Of the barnstorm-
ing trip. The Regulars will open I'D In
Birmingham tomorrow against the South
ern Leaguers. while the Yannigans meet
the Baltimore club of the International
League at Wilmington.
Tomorrow Jimmy Shaw, the big right
handed hurler, will be the first pitcher
used by the Old Fox with the Regulars
as he and George Du Mont were in
structed to get ready for a battle to-
morrow against the Southern Leaguers
Ray Morgan, who is plotting the
Yannigans. will use both Lefty Hum
phreys and Bert Gallia in the game to-
morrow in an effort to get the jump on
Jack Dunn's Orioles.
With the breaking of camp comes the
question of whether the Nationals have
been strengthened by the additions of
the new youngsters or the shifting Of
the veterans. In the pitching depart
ment 1t appears as If the Old Fox has
collared a trio of slabmen, who give a
great deal of promise, In Craft, Hum
phreys and Thomas and until the youngst-
ters show that they cannot stand the
pace the Old Fox will work them in
their regular turns with the other box
men.
The switching of shanks to the initia,
corner was made to add batting strength
to the club because of the weakness that
Judge showed with the willow last sea-
son. Judge. OF course, Is the more finish
ed fielder, but since both boys have been
busting the pill in these interclub games
Grin will have some puZzling to do to
pick the right one for the opening.
Grif has sure strengthened his pitch
ing staff, but the infield looks like 1t will
remain the same as last season, unless
Ray Morgan once more breaks into one
OF the regular jobs, as Sammy Crane,
who the Old Fox purchased from Balti-
more for Williams, Bentley and Barber
has not to date come up to expectations.
Crane is a wonderful fielder and can
gather In the ball from either side. He
has a strong arm and can throw from
any position, but he is sadly weak with
the stick and unless he comes at a rapid
pace, it's a sure bet that Capt. Mcbride
or Morgan will be holding down the
short-field Job when the gong sounds.
Young Menoskey has been going at a
great clip and will be sure to be car
ried along for some time while Horace
Milan must be given a great deal of con-
sideration, but II is not probable that
either Of these youngsters will jump into
one of the outfield jobs until after the
trio of veterans have shown a big slump
in their hitting.
Capital city fans. especially the follow
ers OF the Sandlots games cannot ex-
pect Mike Moran, the Washington boy
TO grab OF one OF the regular Jobs. as
he is too inexperienced and is badly in
need of the seasoning.
After weighing the value OF each plav-
er In the squad and their all round abil-
ity. there does not seem like any chance
Of Old Fox making any switches in his
lineup for the first games Of the season
but sooner or later one Of these young
sters may come along with such rapid
strides that he will shove the veterans
among the discards
Grin is well satisfied with the results
to be obtained in training In this little
Dixie city as the athletes have not been
forced to lay of a day because OF bad
weather. The Nationals camp this sea-
son has been visited by rain but on three
occasions. but even on these wet days the
boys were able to get in plenty Of work.
The youngsters got away at 2:3o and
were given a great hand by these Au-
gusta fans. but 1t was encouragement OF
pennant winners by these fans when
Grin and his crew jumped aboard the
Georgia Central tonight
Every man in the squad was sorrv to
leave Augusta as the baseball fans here
are the squarest that one can find and the
boys have all made many friends among
these Dixie rooters.
Walter Johnson Joined the Hospital
gang this morning when he awoke with
blinded optic. Trainer Martin SAYS
that he has nothing but a slight cold
in his eye and he expects him to be o. X.
in day or two.