Evening star., 1919-03-18
ARMY TRAININGS
GOOD FOR PLAYERS
Craft and Thompson Con-
vincing Evidence of Uncle
Sans Physical UpbuiIding.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
AUGUSTA, Ga, March 1S.-What the
Army has done for the physical upbuild-
ing of our young men is strikingly illus
trated in the camp of the Nationals
Two of the nine players now working
out here--Molly Craft and Harry
Thompson-but recently doffed the
khaki. and it is apparent even in the
mond practice after a winter of isola-
tion from the sport that they are in far
superior condition to those members of
the squad who do not know what the re-
vei'le means and never had occasion to
salute.
Abbreviated as the training periods
are this early in the process of cond
tioning. players like Harper and Agnew,
who for months have taken but little
outdoor exercise, find themselves puff
ing and blowing like a freight engine on
a steep grade before their stretch Of
duty ends.
An example was furnished yesterday
afternoon. The morning practice, the
first they had taken, lasted not more
than an hour and a half and after a
good rest at lunch time they got out on
the field again about 80 and spent less
than sixty minutes tossing the ball and
fielding bunts followed by jog or two
around the park. Harper was the first
to quit. The big left-hander is some
ten pounds under weight and his exer-
tions told so heavily on him that he got
the order to beat it to the clubhouse
ahead of the rest of the bunch. Harry
hoofed 1t once around the field, cutting
corners at every opportunity, and by the
time he reached the dressing room he
;y, ~ al,
Matteson also were pretty well winded
from their endeavors. Harrington and
Davis. from months Of systematic exer-
cising prescribed for men in the naval
service. were in much better shape.
while Craft and Thompson. following a
three-lap race around the inclosure,
breeZed in as fresh as daisies, their res
piration being but slightly above nor
NAL
"A short workout such as this is not
calculated to bother man who has
Craft remarked. IF the rest of these
fellows had been doing double quick
in heavy marching order several times
a day for months. as l did. they would
not be troubled with 1abored breath
ing after a little light exercise"
Craft is somewhat heavier than he
was when he broke in with the Griff-
men and is confident he is going to
''arrive" with bang this season.
Manager Griffith has contended all
along that the Portsmouth boy had an
excellent chance to make good in fast
company and Molly is determined to
justify it this year. He has a sore
! spot about as big around as an iron
dollar on his right shin which has
baffled DIR" Mike Martins powers as
a diagnostician. 1t appears to be a
case of blood poisoning. but is being
given daily attention and is causing
him no inconvenience.
This fellow Thompson is by all odds
the best looking ball player in the lot
now here. The former Toronto player
weighs probably not more than 1873 or
140 pounds. is as quick as wink and
possesses a really remarkable pair of
the rest of the crowd like a blanket,
and but for the fact that he is left
handed undoubtedly would end all
Grifhths worries over finding some one
to f1ll Johnny Lavan's shoes.
1t is a physical impossibility for a
duties of shortstop The same goes
for all the other infield jobs except
first basing; the angle for throwing
is all wrong. Numerous attempts
have been made by left-ha nded toss g
to play second where the least diff
Guilty would be encountered, but all
proved futile, even the incompatible
Hal Chase having failed signaly.
1t seems too bad that youngster
OF Thompsoh's ability should be
barred from the inield, for his Prov
ess does not end with felding. He is
| a hitter of parts, as his average in
the international League shows. Man
! ager Griffith has Thompson slated for
mound duty. He has good speed and
harp-breaking curve, but it is like
ly his lack Of size will prove too
great handicap for him to hurdle in
landing Job as boxman in the Amer
lean League. There are some in
stances Of small men making good as
pitchers in the majors. but they have
been few and far between. Most of
the stars have had a long reach and
weight to put behind their deliveries.
Johnsons. Waddells, Mathewsons or
Youngs. Thompson may do a Jack
Warhop for Griffith. but, like Charlie
Jameson. whom Thompson greatly
resembles in size and action, he prob
ably will land in the outfield, where
his speed of foot and batting prowess
can be taken advantage of.
1t should occasion no surprise If
Thompson puts up q doughty battle
to land the outfeld berth that Shotton
will not be on hand to fill this year.
This is provided, of course. that Mike
AenoShey Idiis 10 return from france
and that Robertson is not obtained; :;
and with four clubs refusing waivers
on him. prospects for getting the for.
mer Giant cannot be said to have i'm
proved.
Rain put in an appearance yester-
day afternoon and continued during
the early evening, but the weather to-
day is not expected to interfere with
practice.
Neither Val Pichnich nor Adrian
Lynch has arrived yet. They were
due Sunday. No word has come ex-
planning their tardiness.
| THREE STAR H0LD0|IIS