The Washington times., 1918-03-25
SUNSHINE NEEDED
TO GET GRIFFMEN
IN TOP CONDITION
By BRADLEY CHESTER.
(Sporting Editor Augusta
Chronicle.)

AUGUSTA, Ga, March 25.-Today
the Griffs begin their last week Of
conditioning. The athletes have ex-
pected a lot of warm weather and
haven't gotten it For this reason
there are a lot of sore arms and
legs and it will require a few days
of broiling hot sun to put the play
ers in shape.
Unless there is something more
doing in the way Of sunshine the
Griffs are going into the campaign a
BIT backward as far as condition is
concerned. While the infelders and
outhelders are being hustled along
the pitchers are being eased up OF
account of the unreasonable
weather.
Harry Harper IS just now the apple
of Clark Griftlth's eye. After having
watched the Hackensack southpaw
through the week, the "Old Fox" Is
confident Harper will have the best
season OF his career in the majors.
He thinks 90 well of his blond-hesded
HEAVIER that he Is thinking of putting
him in the box against the Yankees
IN the opening game of the season
johnson stiu King.
This is not because the Washing
ton manager thinks any less of Wal
ter. johnson than in the past The
Kansan is still the big gun OF the
GrIffs' pitching STAFF, but IL Harper
continues to show the form he has
displayed in the workouts here, Grin
Will let him have the honor which
has Invariably fallen to the lot OF
johnson.
Harper Is in better condition now
than any of the pitchers except John
aon- The speed ball king of the
American League is practically ready
to go in and pitch nine innings at tho
present time. So is Harper. The
other twirlers, or at least the depend
able ones. are bit backward this
spring.
Next to johnson and Harper. Ayers
- in better shape than any of his
mound mates. Earl Yingling, an
Variably a slow starter, is troubled
with a sore arm. George Dumonts
salary wing is in none too good condi-
ton II is extremely doubtful If Jim
Shaw will be in condition much be-
fore the start of the league cam
paign. and he may not be ready to
take his regular turn even then, He
has q very sore arm, which, while it
is yielding to treatment, will require
all of Mike Martins great skill to
have II In pitching condition within
the next few weeks.
Nothing To Complain OF.
Craft, Lynch, and waIdbauer have
nothing to complain OF in the way of
sore arms. but they are unseasoned
as yet Craft has had more experience
than either Of the other youngsters.
and there IL q good chance that he
will prove a winning pitcher for the
Nationals this season But even so.
he Is Tar from ready to take a regu-
lar turn In the box
He showed q pretty brand OF pitch
ing against the Camp Hancock team
Saturday. While he wasn't pitching
20 an American League lineup Of bat
ters, he had q nice change of pace
His fast one was in good working
order, and he had q curve that both
cred the soldiers He showed no i'll
effects from his seven-inning turn on
Ghe mound.
The Virginian isn't an iron man, to
es sure, but like the other youngsters.
bis arm gets in condition sooner than
Il would II he had been in the big
league as long as the Washington
rnAinstays- The same is true Of Wald-
bauer and Lynch. They all can go
hips or more innings in practice, but
II would be another question for them
TO 30 half that distance against a
big league outfit.