Evening star., 1917-01-07
HO[D-0UT THREAT
SCORNED BY GR|FF
PLAYERS Welcome to Stay at
Home, Local Pilot Says.
Salary Cuts Due.
PLANS FOR SPRING WORK
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.


giving Manager Griffith no con-
Germ whatever. He expects to
have no difficulty in signing his
men. but in the event any trou-
bic should develop it would not
worry him.
"lf any OF the players refuse to
sign the contracts that are sent to
them they are welcome to stay
at home. no matter what position
they play" Griffith said yester-
day. adding: 81 always treat
them right and if any OF them
don think so or try to cut up any
shines in regard to this strike
that is being talked of | don't
want them on my team The
Nationals pilot said his policy in
regard to salaries would be un-
changed this year.
Some Cuts to Be Made.
There will be some cuts made and
some increases handed out" he con-
tinued. II cancelled four or FIVE bonuses
in 1916 because of failure on the part
of the men involved to come up to
scratch in their work, and / also gave
several. The main difficulty encounter
ed in drawing up contracts usually is
with those players who did not earn
all they collected, but want to be con-
tinued on the pay rool at the same rate.
However, 1 don't look for any more
than the usual amount of contention,
and they'll porbably all be in line long
before the time to start south"
The Nationals will not play any ex-
hibition games during their sojourn in
Augusta, but will be kept busy when
they leave there to start home. The
squad will be divided into two teams
and come north by different routes,
Grifiith said. He will take the regulars
TO Cincinnati for a series with the Ma
tional Leaguers and the youngsters will
Journey homeward via the Carolinas
and Virginia The itinerary for the
rockies has not been completed. but
Will include game or games with
Billy Smiths International League
team at Richmond. according to present
plans.
May Play in Chattanooga.
In addition to the games the Nation
ais are to play in Cincinnati, starting
Saturday. March 81. TIE Reds also may
be met in Chattanooga on Sunday,
March 25. Griffith said. The manage
10 trying to induce Mathewson and
Grimith to bring their teams there and
IT Is not unlikely this will be done.
After leaving Cincinnati the Griffmen
before returning to Washington to
open the preliminary season here with
the Georgetown University nine, and
to tackle the Philadelphia National
Leaguers April 6, Z. and s.
OF the young players who will be
taken to Augusta month after next, at
least four have performed under the
direction of Manager Griffith before,
and were unable to hang on
"Tll have Barber. Acosta, Bentley and
Horace Milan down there in the
spring" Griffith said. "All showed con-
siderable promise before. and having
help polish off the rough edges they
may be able to come through for me
THIS year. At any rate they will be
carefully looked over. and II their
showing sinS wing warrants IL they will be car
Whether the local club will revive
the ladies' day" plan here will de-
pend upon the action of the board Of
directors Personally / am In favor
of ladies' day once a week. Grif-
nth said 1T seemed to be a good
pratcice when 1t was in force here be-
fore, but II Is a matter of policy not in
my jurisdiction; the directors must de-
eide as to that"
Ability to consistently defeat Walter
johnson in pitching duel does not
hA
Rankin Johnson. who. when a member
or the Boston Red Sox scored several
spectacular victories over Johnson
now is pitching outlaw ball in Arizona
test Of Manager MftcheIrs iudp-
ment OF ball players will be afforded
next season by the ability Leslie Mann
dispiays In the infeld. Mitchell has
announced that the Chicago Nationals'
outhelder will be shifted to either
snort or third. He believes that Mann
VINO was a member of the Boston
Braves when Mitchell was with them
possesses the speed to play the infield
IL appears that Charley Doom. the
sorrel.topped songbird who formerly
caught for and pfloted the pbiiIios
overreached himself in his negotiations
70 OBTAIN the position of coach of the
harvard base ball team. Following a
conference between Doom and the
Harvard advisory base ball committee
II was announced that Dooin's terms
were TOO high and that he had been
cropped from consideration There
are forty-two applicants for the va
cancy. and II is said that Fred Tenney
ana Ed Reulbach are the remaining
candidates looked upon with favor by
Harvard for the vacancy
Connie Mack Is confident he will have
a strong infeld. this year McInnis
VIII continue to guard first and Bates
Is slated to succeed Pick at third The
keystone assignment lies between
Grover and Cable. two promising young
players. but Lawton Witt is assured of
the shortstopping job.
Witt is natural ball player" the
Athietics' manager is quoted as say
Ing. He improved with every game
last season. and his work was wonder
fui when II is considered that he
played only eight sandlot games during
the season Of 1915. What makes Witt
ability. He steps into a ball like Jesse
Ivrkett used TO do. He hit the best
pitching In the American League last
year. and isn't bit blufYed by curve
oails- kid who starts out like that
can't help making good. II he concen-
trates his mind on base ball"
Fred Snodgrass. centerhelder of the
Soztzn Nationals. who has been promi-
nently mentioned for the position OF
coach Of the Harvard base ball nine.
may go to the St Louis Cardinals in q
trace. Manager Miller HUgeins has
offered either Bescher or Wilson. both
~ AA1.