Evening star., 1921-03-12

~ NOulC IL SnOulu pS dItSi iItoutuS VI
ball and other sports. all interestl
shadowed in wide, popular appeal b
Different tactics are pursued in re-
gard to the training Of Washington
players than those followed by ma
Jority OF managers. On most clubs
the squads are split up and short
practice games played almost imme-
diately upon arrival in camp, the con-
tests being gradually heightened from
four-inning affairs until the regula-
tion distance is reached. Neither
President Griffith nor Manager Nc
Bride considers 1t advisable TO take
the risk Of broken bones or sprained
ligamets attendant upon battle in
which the athletes are bound to try
hard, because 1t is a battle. before
their muscles have been thoroughly
loosened and their limbs made sound.
Two Weeks to Get Ready.
Thus It is two weeks from the time
practice was started before the first
game Is being staged. but the initial
contest finds the players in splendid
condition, we'll fitted for travelling at
full speed when occasion requires,
and with q minimum of risk from
extra effort before their faculties are
properly attuned for the demands
made on them.
!. Owing to the scarcity of pitchers in
camp this year, the usual morning
practice was called of today, al
though George Mcbride made no an
nouncement to this effect until just
before the boys were ready to start
for the ball field. the willy manager
figuring il was best to have his
charges expecting to work. To COM
pensate for the loss OF the forenoon
drill Mac had all hands on deck for
practice an hour and half before
game time and put them through
stiff workout.
Capt" switched his places in re-
gard to the distribution Of his forces
for the game. He vetoed AL Schachts
request that he be allowed 20 pitch
against his teammates and desiE-
TO help out on the hill for southern
in the event the coilegiars found
themselves in need of hurling assist
ance. Schacht was listed to start
the game against the varsity PLAYERS.
with Zachary and Acosta following
In that order, and each to!.ing for
three innings
Mcbride Revi.es His Line-Cp.
Mac also revised his tentative bat
ting order. Second Baseman Mar
hafka was designated to lead OF.
with Shortstop La Motto in the sec
ond hole. followed by Right Fielder
Tucker. First Baseman Brewer. Cen
Foss and Left Fielder McHugh. with
the batterymen bringing up the rear.
Austin Bennett. a member OF the
regular staff of umpires OF the Flor
ida State League. who offlcIated IN
the exhibitions the Griffmen PLAYED
here last spring and did a good job
of it, was engaged to call the balls
and strikes.
Frank Brewers progress in train
ing for mound duty has been SO en-
couraging that high hopes are enter
tanned for his eventual success IN
this role. Brewer is almost ideally
built for q hurler. He has long arms |
and delivers the ball with a loose
sweeping motion calculated to take
advantage of every ounce OF ms
weight and strength. ne can 1Sp
the ball over as fast as any or the
rest Of the bunch and not only has
a good assortment of curves but
seems to have better than average
Of control of them.
President Grifith looked over Brow
ers line of wares from the vantage
point Of safety behind the cage in the
batting practice yesterday and ex-
pressed himself as agreeaoIy sur
prised at the amount of stun exhib-
tied. 1t is not McBride's intention 10
use Brewer anywhere but at f1rst base
today, but he is sure to be called on
Sor mound duty in one of the three
contests to be played with the Phil,
lies at Gainesville next week. ana
there is little doubt but that he VIII
acouit himself creditably.
Grin Does Some COnchlnE.
Griff did his first bit OF coaching
yesterday while watching the stick
drill. He noticed that Torres grabs
At balls with all digits spread wide
apart. and cautioned him to keep the
fingers Of his throwing hand half
closed. with the thumb in. until the
the wide-open position Of the free
hand is attributed almost all Of the
broken fingers and mashed thumbs
that catchers receive from foul tips.
gradually is responding to treatment.
He took his turn on the mound In
pitching to the batters for the first
time in week yesterday. He was
unable to attempt anything in the
way OF speed. much less curves. but
employed freer motion than has
been possible with him heretofore and
is expected to be able to let out
few notches by the middle of next
week
Deeby Foss' chances of sticking
with the GriTmen have been in
creased by the disclosure that he is
only youngster in years. The i'm
preston was prevalent that Foss was
up close TO the thirty-year mark, but
this was dispelled by Tommy Leach.
star third baseman and outfelder OF
the Pittsburgh Pirates Of other years.
who now il a citrus fruit magnate
when not engaged in directing the ac-
tivities Of the Tampa club. Accord
ing to Leach Foss was too young to
be eligible for the drift when the
Army was being recruited in 1917.
which means he is on the sunny side
of twenty y-fve now, with most of his
base ball career ahead of him.
After the practice yesterday. which
vas the first base ball Leach has seen
this spring. he invited Mcbride and
Altrock for a motor trip, and took
them for q tour Of inspection Of his
land holdings. Leach has acre upon
acre under cultivation in oranges and
grapefruit. and makes a good living
shipping the product of his trees to
the northern markets
Il Peeved at Recruits.
President Grifith today had a lot of
pointed things to say in regard to
Brottem and Miller They were to
the general effect that IL these ath-
Ietss do not report here for practice
In short order they will have a gen.
srouS whack taken out Of their first
salary envelope. Grif's rather heat
cd observations followed the receipt
Of . telegram from Brottem at West
Baden, Ind. where he has been So
journing with the other Pittsburgh
battery candidates. in answer to q
wirs notifying him to report here.
In his communication Brottem con-
that he was leaving for Little Rock.
0rin shot back a wire telling him
TO head for Tampa, with a fine as
the penalty for failure to do so.
mIers whereabouts have not yet
been disclosed. but it 10 possible that
assumption 10 based on the fact that
ono Of the stipulations of Judge Lam
diS decision in favor of the Wash
hgton club was that Miller and Brot-