Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-25
cASS rs FIRST Pr AVER BOOKED
FOR RETURN TO THE MINORS
Griffith Does Not Consider it Worth While
to Pay Good Price for Him When
He May Be Available Only
Short Time.

other player available for duty there
| and the captain cannot be counted upor
to sub at first base.
John Ripley. the eighteen-year-old
product of the sand lots of Harrisburg,
Pa. is another of the players spending
tions who will not be seen at the
Georgia avenue grounds in April. Rup-
ley has fine pair of hands and a
strong throwing arm, but knows alb
solutely nothing about batting. Placed
with some organization like the Blue
Ridge League he could gain a lot of
needed experience and in due course
might learn something about the hit
ting art, but at present he is having
more than a pleasant vacation with
the Griffmen.
Two others who may figure in the
lopping-of process when Manager
Griffith brandishes his pruning knife
within a short time are Pitcher Adrian
Lynch. who represents the result of
the only scouting activity ever in
dulged in by Trainer Mike Martin, and
Catcher Bob Berman, the Bronx boy
Derrill Pratt's father. Lynch may or
may not ultimately make good in fast
company. He has pretty good speed
and dinky curve. but has failed to
he showed with the Griffmen from
August on last season If the former
Three-Eye Lacquer picks up in his
work during the remainder of the
time at least. as there are only nine
hurlers all told on the Nationals ros-
ter and Grif is willing to carry this
many. provided all of them are de-
livering or showing prospects of COM
ing through
Berman's chances of sticking are
based upon the fact that Grifr needs
some one in addition to Charity and
Ainsmith to exercise his pitchers and
do duty in the bull pen. Berman al
ready has shown improvement in his
hitting. from following directions in
standing erect on the plate instead of
leaning backward. But he hasn't cover
ed half the distance he will have to go
to connect with the offerings of Ameri-
can League pitchers. Lacking expert
ence. Bermen also has difficulty in hold
ing fast ball pitcher, but he is doing
better every day, and if he can pro-
gress enough to fill the bill salts
factorily in warming up the Grifhthian
moundsmen he may stick. If not. some
one else will be obtained for this in
glorious. but necessary duty.
Sunday. which dawned chilly and
cloudy. was a day of rest for the Ma
tionals. Most of the boys attended
church and spent the remainder of the
day at their hotel in South Carolina.
Yingling. Lynch and Lavan played
golf, but declined to give the figures
for the thirty holes they covered be-
tween 10 o'clock in the morning and
$3.50 in the afternoon. Manager Griffith
was entertained at dinner by officials
Of the internal revenue service, and
won a wager from two scribes by
spinning the top of their hosts young
son There seems to be nothing Griff
cannot do. The pilot yesterday unbur-
dened himself of his annual announce
ment that Walter johnson might not
pitch the opening game Of the season.
He says Harry Harper looks so good
he may be used, and that considering
that the Yanks are to be Washington.s
opponents, Jim Shaw may be given
the assignment However, johnson for
mound duty April Is, is an odds-on bet
bet.
The daily routine of two workouts is
on the card for the Nationals today.
The weather has not been altogether to
Grin's liking, but he looks for it to
improve and is confident he will have
all his men in shape by the time the
bell rings