Evening star., 1921-03-05

Nationals last fall.
La Motto unanimously is regarded
by the older heads connected with the
Washington club as representing a
rather rare species-a natural ball
player in all the term implies. His
exceptional speed afoot enables him
to roam all over the short field, where
he has been stationed in the practices
held here to date. and will go far to-
ward making him an effective base
runner. He SnareS balls on all con-
ceivable varieties of hops and bounds,
seems to be equally proficient in go
ing both to his left and right t.
spear them, and dashes in for the
short. slow ones in manner to glad
den the eye. In addition he can
throw from any angle. and gets the
Tall away from him about as fast as
any of the finished products of es-
tablished reputation.
Can He Hits Is Question.
The only question in regard to La
Motte-and there is no minimizing
the importance of the questions his
hitting. His work with the Nationals
last fall indicated that he is only an
indifferently good batsman. but Presi-
dent Griffith y one who is convinced
that great Improvement can be eff
fectcd in this with carefut coaching
Griff contends that to be Il great
=
such as speed. capable pair of hands
and d good arm must be Inherent.
ANY youngSter endowed with these
attributes to the extent that La
Motto possesses can pick up enough
of the art of batting to get by" is
the way Griff views it. "A man nat
Urally slow never can become fast
also a strong arm is an heritage of
nature. and the fielding instinct is
born in him, but batting is largely
acquired.
There have been many natural hit
ters. of course. They. are indeed ia
Nored of fortune. but | would much
rather have a prospect who is def
cient only in hitting than one who
can do nothing else. Eddy Foster
and Stanley Harris both are examples
of what can be accomplished with
player who lacked only the ability to
bat to make him a big Lacquer.
Neither could hit worth a nickel when
he broke in.
"Foster became one of the most
game ever saw. and Harris last year
rounded out his first major league
season by attaining an even 800 aver
age. L am going to make a choke
hitter out of La Motto. His natural
stand adapts him for this type of
batting, and I'll wager that before
we get through with him he will not
be lightly regarded by any of the
hurting fraternity.
Mac Boosts His Yanignns.
Manager Mcbride believes that the
team of Yanigans he will pit
against the regulars in the four ex-
hibition contests, which will wind
up the sojourn of the Nationals in
Tampa the latter part of this month
will be of sufficiently strong caliber
to make the veterans hustle to win.
President Griffith goes him one bet
ter and opines that the rockies will
take the measure of Bill Donovan's
Philadelphia club at Gainesville.
Ga. March 1s, II. IS.
The order in which the colts will bat
has not been settled. but they will
have plenty of sticking strength. In
Frank Brewer. who Is to hold forth
at the initial sack, and Bing Miller
have two minor league sluggers of
national repute. each having set
home run records with the teams
they were affiliated with last year.
Shanks and Marhafka are to alter
nate at second base. La Motto and
Eschmann will divide the work at
short. Foss will appear at third. Tor
res and Brottem will split the job
of receiving. while Goebel. McHugh
and Tucker will take care of all the
fiychasing that Miller doesn't attend
to.
The regulars. as they arr" at present
scheduled to line UP. will appear in
this order: Judge. first base: Milan.
right field; Rice. center field; Lewis.
left field; Harris. second base; Ell
stop: Picinich and Charity. catch
ers. The pitchers in the intrateam
contests Will be appOrtioned with
view to presenting as evenly ball
anced strength as possible.
Big Crowd Secs Practice.
The largest crowd yet on hand to
see the Nationals go through their
PAGES turned out this morning, partly
due to the fact that there was an
extra attraction in the form of an
interclass track and field meet for the
Tampa High School athletes. The
events for the schoolboys were start
ed at the early hour Of O'Clock and
furnished some exciting competition.
Nick Altrock volunteered to assist in
running the affair and proved funny.
If not overly efficient as an official.
The events were finished early enough
not TO interfere with the regular
practice session of the diamond per-
formers.
Uncle Nick usually can stand more
work than the hardest of the
youngsters. but he has not been feel
ing any TOO clipper for the past two
days. his indisposition causing him
to miss the evening meal yesterday.
a very rae thing for the comedian.
Torres is another member of the
party who is under the weather.
Dicks ailment is diagnosed by DR..
Mike Martin as malaria. He is ex-
pectcd TO be feeling fit again in :, few
days
The Nationals first game of the sea-
son will he played here q week from
today when the nine representing
Southern College will come over from
Clearwater for a single contest II
is prohahl" all Of the infielders and
outfi"iders VIII horn into the contest.
with three and possibly four pitchers
getting chance 70 show their wares
One of the Hurlcrs will be Frank
Brewer. who VIII play first base when
he is not occupying the mound.
President Grifith and few MEM