The Washington times., 1917-03-13
GRIFF GETS READY
TO WEED PLAYERS
Gives CantiIIon Chance to See
Men He Wants for Mime
apoIis Club.
PRAISES GEORGE DUMoNT
Crane Shows Well in Field, But
Poorly at Bat, in Practice
Games.
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.
AUGUSTA, Ga, March 1S.-Manager
Griffith has begun to pick out the
deadwood from the live timber in his
training camp here With Joe Can
tiIIon, manager OF the Minneapolis
club Of the American Association.
looking on, the Old Fox sent his play
ers through a brace Of practice games
yesterday. He wanted Cantillon to
see the players he might be able TO
Use In Minneapolis this coming sum-
mer.
Il can't talk about letting anybody
go now" admitted Manager Griffith,
when the last player had left the field.
"Of course, II q player can't Mt into
my ball club, I'll try to land him some
where in a regular job, and Joe Cam
tilfon has first call on anybody he
wants, But ] don't know now whom
he needs or when I'm In the dark as
much as you are" = '-''---
es-, CantIIIoa DOIIed Up.
CantiIIon, looking like a beau brum-
mel m the latest style of pinch-back
clothing, watched both practice ses-
sions yesterday and was ready for
more today. He declined to talk about
his needs in the way of ball players,
but did say that he hoped past ar
rangernentsE between els club and
Manager Grfffth would continue.
The Minneapolis mapager says he
would like to have George Dumont
back with his club once more. He
admits that he knows very little
about jim Shaw or Charlie Humph-
rieS but that he might be able to
use one or both of them.
~ Wants D4nont.
%Dumont is a good pitcher when he
In right says cantiIIon. "If he fails
to make good with Griff this spring,
I'll be more than glad to get him. He
can win in my league. don't know
anything labout Shaw or Humphries.
I'll have to depend on Griff about
them. Yes. 1 need some players, but
/ may get them somewhere else"
Cantillon was strong in his boost
ing of Mike Menoskey. He thinks
Mike will yet become a major league
star but admits that the youngster
needs . lot OF experience. He was
not.a bit backward in saying that he
believed Grin would keep Menoskey,
training him in big league ways on
the bench at Georgia avenue.
Games Add Pep.
Two practice games, interjected IN
to the daily workouts yesterday
served to enliven interest among the
players. From now on two games
will be played every day, unless bad
weather .interferes. Already the two
teams are serapping around the hotel
lobby about their relative strength
The first player to drop out OF the line
up was "Huckle'' Berry, the Chicago
amateur star. He covered left field In
the morning game, but sat on the bench
in the afternoon Sam Crane was sent
to left field. ahd Mike Moran, the Wash
ington sandlotter. placed at shortstop.
1t Is almost certain that Berry will not
be carried after the team reaches WASH
ington-
Crane Weak Batter.
Crane is carrying a lame arm. His
status with the club Is rather uncertain.
He looks like a wonderful fielder. but
at the bat he is a weak sister. At any
rate, that is how he impresses the on
locker now. 1t is possible that he may
pick up in his hitting after while.
but Manager Griffith is not counting
much on that. The Baltimore lad is in
poor health. which is hapdicspping his
efforts.
1t is manifestly unfair to Judge
any of the players by their work in
the first days contest. Sawyer,
working his second day, could not
hold a thrown ball. Menoskey was a
strike-out fiend. Crane could not hit
at all Ray Morgan looked like
million dollars compared with the
rest of his team mates.
Ayers shows Best.
In the afternoons contest Sawyer
went TO second base and Morgan TO
third. Sawyer looked far better at
the midway than he did on the hot
corner, having a shorter distance to
throw his sore wing.
OF the pitchers Doc Ayers made the
best impression. The Hillsville
mountaIneer worked through three
innings and disposed OF the enemy in
one-two-three order. His control was
perfect and his raise ball in working
order The rockies simply could not
find his shoots.
Cuckoo" Jameson Travelled four
frames in the afternoon, and, al
though one run was made off him, IL
was not his fault. Sawyer's error &C
counted for that after Shanks had
tripled over Smiths head.