Evening star., 1921-03-10

Association last year.
President Griffith today definitely
announced this quartet of youngsters
would make the transforming trip
hack home. and intimated that Deeby
Foss also stood a good chance OF
hanging on beyond the training camp
period. President indications are that
OutfielderS Tucker and McHugh ana
1nf1elder Marhafka either VIII be cast
adrift or placed elsewhere, although
anal decision in regard to them Will
be reserved until near the close OF the
conditioning period.
Understudy for O'Rourke.
It develops that. contrary to the
general impression, La Motto IS not
being figured on as candldate ior
the vacancy at third base. but rather
as an understudy for Frank y ORourket
at short Comment on the TACT tnal
Ia Motto has appeared in the driiis
here exclusively at short eVo ked the
information from the president OF 'ne
club that Bob is to be groomeo 10
step into ORourke's shoes in case
ANYTHING should happen to incapaci-
tate the Pennsylvanian. La Motto IS
to be thoroughly drilled in the nner
Joints of play at the short held posi-
tion SO that should occasion arrive ne
will be ready to handle the JOB tne!e
from neidlnR StdIupoih'' a. 'N">' -
q creditable manner
After he is adjudgcd to have mas
tered the intricacies of that JOB ne
will be shifted over to the far corner
to absorb pointers on the proper man
ner to take care of the difficult duties
of that position
The program for La Motto increases
Foss' chance of hanging on with the
Griffmen as it practically leaves MN
with only Ellerbe and Shanks to con
tend with for the hot post Foss al
ready has demonstratsd that ne Is So
40 efficient on hard hit balls as Ell
ierbe. who, despite his faults. can
0obble un the balls with whiskers on
them The governor can handie
smashes of the speedy type in an I'M
rressive manner
Foss is far his superior at coming in
for bunts and slow rollers and angle
of play that Frank seems unable 10
improve in but Ellerbe possesses a
throwing arm that is even stronger
than Foss' and can be expected to hit
American League pitching for mark
close to 800.
Hitting VIII Decide.
The final decision in regard to Fross
pfDbably will simmer down to the
showing he makes at bat. He is ac-
counted good hitter in these parts.
but connecting with state league
hurling and the brand on tap in Ban
Johnson's circuit are two different
matters. A pretty good line on Foss'
caliber as sticksmith will be OBJ
tanned by the time Manager Mcbride
is.ready to move his troupe on to the
next place. The pitchers here are
fast rounding into shape and 1t is ex.
pected that Johnson and Shaw Will
not take long to get into finging trim
after spending a couple of weeks at
Hot Springs. During the final week
here the slabbists will have enough
stun at their command to give Foss
good test: and it will depend on the
shWing he makes then whether he
VIII stick.
The Nationals stand to she'll out
fair-si3ed sum should La Motto and
Foss both be retained. An initial
payment of $4,000 was made for the
privilege of trying out this pair.
Keeping La Motto will cost the club
an additional $4,000. and in the event
that Foss also is retained. another
payment of s2,500 must be made. the
pair thus representing an outlay OF
$500. a goodly sum Tor two players
from a league of the classification OF
the Florida state circuit
Will Play the PhiIs.
In addition to the contest here day
after tomorrow. with Southern Col
lege. and those to be PLAYED between
the Yannigans and regulars the last
four days in camp. Griff has hooked
game for Saturday. March 10. which
should outdraw nearly all the others
nut together. II is to he with tn"
Philadalphia National leseuers. and
Immediately follows the. three exhi-
hitions listed between them and the
Yannigans at Gainesville. the camn
of the Ouakers. on March 1s. II and
ts. ONLY the youngsters will make
<he trip TO the seat Of the University
Of Florida. hut in the single contest
here with Rill Donovap's tro"nA It
II exnected that Trdga, Harris.
O'Rourke. Lewis. Milan and Rice
will participate.
Saturday 10 q half holiday for the
emplovas OF the ciRnr Factories at
Ybor CITY which is inc'"ded in t',n
corporate li~,itS 90 Tamra. nnd also
for tha ZOO emrloves ~ the shin
ward here. so big turnout is ex-
pected.
The ha-d rain ~ Trocda~ ~ ni~ht. i've
FIRST real dowrnour sann ~ tho Va
tjonaIs since thav started t-nirir~
here last yea. helned the h"H @eld
immensely. Most marks would have
been rendered unfit for pla" hv such
, a deluge and II sneafs wall for tho
s;ta hcosan for tho T.ri~s 'hnt a1l
-, ofura had haan drained off hy the