Evening star., 1917-03-09
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
| AUGUSTA, Ga, March 9.-That the
| week put in here by the battery candi-
dates has not been wasted was proved
to Manager Grf1ith's entire satisfaction
today, when the squad got out on the
field for the first tipe. Those of the
I delegation which arrived with the pilot
yesterday and had not seen ball since
the close of last season were at a great
disadvantage in coping with the offer
ings of the pitchers. It was with con-
siderable pride that Trainer Mike Mar
tin stood by and saw the twirlers who
have been working under his direction
shoot the ball up to the batsmen for a
space of time corresponding to two or
three innings apiece, with never hitch
nor any trace of lameness. Thomas,
Humphries, Jameson. Craft. Shaw and
Dumont. in particular, tipped them over
in midseason form, especially the first
two mentioned. who now are using
about everything in their repertoire.
Hereafter Griffith announced. the
only work the pitchers will get will be
in pitching to batters, under practical
ly the same conditions that would pre-
vail in a game. the manager figuring
this to be far more beneficial for them
than merely warming up with
catcher. In about weeks time Grlf
intends to start the games between
teams chosen from the members of his
squad. two to be played each day. one
about 10 in the morning and another
at pm.
Failure of the railroad company to
deliver yesterday the trunks and other
pieces of luggage too heavy for the
men in his party to carry aroused the
ire of Manager Griffith. who denounced
the line in scathing terms. Much of the
equipment of the players was contained
in this consignment of baggage and the
men were put to considerable incon-
venience owing to its non-arriVal on
schedule time.
Il took especial pains at the station
in Washington to arrange for the
prompt delivery of that baggage" Grif-
fifth fumed today. "and was assured
that it all would be put aboard the
train we left on. Not a single trunk
came with us. notwithstanding the
promises of the roads officials. Now
I'm through with that line. My team
never will use the road again unless it
is impossible to travel by any other
route"
One of the first things Manager Crit
fifth took cognizance of was the drink
ing water the players have to use at
the hotel. 1t is of an ominous hue and.
when informed that the local board of
health had issued a warning in regard
to the danger of typhoid because the
filtration plant here is being worked 20
per cent over its capacity, he immedi
ately ordered twenty-five gallons of
mineral water. One fVe-gallon bottle
was placed in each of the rooms occu-
pied by members of the ball club party
and the others were put in the dining
room. There already is a supply of the
spring water at the clubhouse. so the
players will not have to drink any more
of the Savannah river silt during their
stay in Augusta.
Griffith says he has no word in re-
manager of the Minneapolis club of the
American Association. Cantillon told
him last fall he probably would visit
the Washington clubs training camp,
to see what young players Griff could
turn over to the Millers, but the Wash
ington pilot says he could not give Can
tillon any information now if he did
show up, as he has not had a chance
yet to see how his players size up
Splendid weather prevailed today.
Although the temperature stood at the
55 degree mark when the squad started
for the park at $3.50 o'clock. the sun.
shining in full strength. rapidly took
the chill out of the air and the mer-
curry crept up the tube until it passed
so. and was still climbing at noon.
Manager Griffith's first impression of
Augusta was a favorable one, for, al
though it rained a little while the
players were inlulging in their morn
ing practice yesterday, it cleared toward
noon and when he arrived the sun was
shining brightly and continued on the
job all afternoon. The pilot journeyed
out to the ball park before he even
went to his room. greeted the players
and looked things over. The first man
to attract his attention was Harper.
Harry was busy he could be,
showing all kinds OF pep" in his work.
but the boss was not deceived in
gard to the extra pouhdage the big
pitcher is carrying. The Hackensack
hurler faces the prospect of a strenu-
Gus perioI og training in order to re-
duce to the Sy!phiike proportions nee
essary to meet with Criff's idea of the
condition he should be in.
The manager expressed himself as.
being well satisfied with the grounds
and the accommodations in the club
house provided by the interchangeable
Mike Martin He announced that for
about a week. until those of the
players who have just started work get
properly seasoned, he would divide the
men into two squads, one to exercise in
the morning and the other in the after
noon, with none of the men working
, two periods a day except Nick Altrock,
who goes to the park first in the morn
ings and is the last to leave each aft
ernoon. Griff gave it out that his first
squad. consisting principally of the
veterans. would be set to work in the
afternoons, from ! 80 until $3.50 O'Clock
when the sun is warmest and most con-
ducive to beneficial work for the old
StagerS.
For the first squad he picked these
men: Pitchers. Thomas, Jameson. CAL
liza Craft and Dumont; catchers, Henry
and Charity: infielders, Shanks, Fos-
ter Mcbride and Leonard, and outfield-
ers. Smith. Clyde Milan and Rice
These players will eat their luncheon
promptly at noon in order to begin
work at 80.
| For the second squad GriT nominatcJ
| these players: Pitchers, Ayers Har-
! per, Humphries, Shaw and Flaherty;
! catchers. Ainsmith and Eubanks; in