The Washington times., 1921-03-11

Tampa has been childs play compared
With what is booked for the re-
mainder Of the stay. Youngsters like
Andy Eschmann, Eddie Goebel. and
Dinwiddie Tucker may think they've
been doing some big league training.
but next week they'll wake up. Once
the veterans arrive on the scene. and
not till then, real baseball begins.
The youngsters who have been
seeking the agate for the past week
may consider themselves pretty fair
hitters. They may imagine their
berths almost assured, but they have
yet to stand up there at the plate and
face Walter Johnson. Jim Shaw, big
Zach, and Harry Courtney when the
quartet Is putting something on the
ball"
It's an old story. this journeying
south each spring Of the happy, hope
full rookie. 1t has always been the
same, with the rookie starting in TO
burn UP the grass and awaking 10
find himself merely a smolde-ing
match head tossed aside. The class Of
the experienced major Lacquer is
shown Enthusiastically when seen in
contrast to the raw rookie.
HAS EXPERIENCED SQUAD.
George Mcbride has an experienced
squad with which to form ball club.
Even some OF his new players have
played a lot of baseball. Turkey"
Brewer made his professional start
eight years ago. He is now with his
third major league outfit.
Tony Brottem started with Vic
toria. in the Northwestern League. in
1913, and was with the st. Louis Car
dinals for a while in 1918. He went
to Little Rock from st. Louis. He
is not exactly a green player
Tony Marhafka. though with his
first major league team. Is thirty
years old. and was with Lancaster. in
the old Tri-State League. This in III
Gates the length of his experience 10
the wellinformed baseball fan. He's
no child.
While youth is ever to be desired
in athletes, the fact that the pitching
stan is composed almost wholly Of
veterans should be an asset for the
Griffmen. johnson. Schacht and Mog-
ridge are the only pitchers who
might be said to have passed the
zenith of their endeavors. Johnson
alone is considered one of the first
string pitchers.
SHAW HORSE FOR WORK.
Jim Shaw is a horse for work and
has several years Of high class pitch
ing facing him. His hardest task will
be to keep in shape. Last year his
problem was to recover his curve ball
which had been lost in three years
Of throwing nothing but shine balls.
Before the season ended he was hook
ing them as well as ever. though
lacking somewhat in control.
Jose Acosta has pitched lot OF
minor league ball, too much, in fact.
Taking his turn every fourth day.
Acosta should prove a winner where.
working every day in the bushes, he
was pitched out by July 4. That is
one Of the punishments melted out to
bush league twirlers. II they're
physically weak. they fade away
under the strain.
Jesebel Tecumseh Zachary and
Harry Courtney nave passed the
rookie stage, though by no means
ndently expects botn of them to be
Al Schacht has been pitching ball
for ten years and was with the New
York Giants for a while i've or six
years ago. In better health than ever
this eprinS. Schacht may prove Of
considerable use.
YOUNGSTERS FAIL TO SHOW.
The two real youngsters expected
to train at Tampa have failed to show.
Kirk Gordy. the Washington College
pitcher, has obtained permission to
complete his college year, reporting
in June. Jerry Conway, who was
with the team a short while last year.
has declined to sign and is some
where in New England telling folks
ut the village store how 1t all is.
II goes pretty much the same