Evening star., 1921-03-01

hurlerS on the roster-by no mean
four must be eliminated from imm
In view.
Jerry Conway, the left-handed semi
Professional, for instance. has shown
no inclination to leave the snowbanks
and frigid breeZes of Holyoke, Mass.
for the balmy Zephyrs of Florida, and
Kirk Gordy has been given permission
to continue his studies at Washing
ton College and cont!ne his athletic
endeavor to the nine representing the
ChestertoWn. Nd, institution, not be-
ing due to report until he graduates
In June. Walter Johnson and Jim
Shaw, who are boiling out at Hot
Springs, are not expected here for a
fortnight yet, and it probably will be
a week longer before they are called
on to furnish targets for the hitters.
Seven Slabmen on Hand.
Thus. only seven hurlers, Erickson.
Schacht, Acosta, Brewer, MogridEe,
Zachary and Courtney are available
to pitch to the batters, and, with the
customary crop of sore arms sure to
develop. this small quota will be even
further reduced. Fortunately for the
Nationals they have in Mcbride and
Altrock two veterans who always can
be counted upon for the inglorious
but highly essential task of serving
'em up for hitting practice. The
manager and comedian officiated in
this capacity during the brief practice
yesterday morning. the only one held
on the first day in camp. and again
today. when the regular schedule of
two drills day was fnaugurated, the
first being from II to IL in the fore
noon and from 2 till $50 after lunch
cor.
The work ordered by Manager Nc
Bride thus far has been of a light
nature, consisting of half an hour
OF tossing and an equal period of
bunting and hitting practice, followed
outfielders- With the thermometer
registering above the eighty mark. no
difficulty was encountered by the ath-
leteS in getting up a sweat.
Oliver Dinwoodie Tucker, the fair
haired fat boy from Radiant, Va, is
the only one member of the squad
carrying any superf1uous flesh He
was singled out by Mcbride for a
jog around the half-mile track, and
Nicholas Altrock accompanied him,
figuring it would improve his wind,
although. considering the high aver
conversational league it never would
be suspected he was deficient in this
respect.
MosridEe Gets In Line.
Acceptance of terms by George
Mogridge has easesl to no small ex-
tent President Griffiths mind regard
ing the prospects for his pitching
staff. Mogridge originally sought
1000 more than he was paid by the
Yankees last year. and cited the fact
that with them he could figure on a
whack of the world series priZe
money. which is divided among the
teams finishing one. two. three in
each League. Griff was not impressed
with this argument and it was only
after the hurler had pared his Is-
mands way down that an agreement
was reached
Mogridge wired Griff last evening
from his home in Rochester, n. Y,
OF his change of heart, and is ex-
two or three days. Mogridge has
hne turn of speed, good assortment
OF hooks and exceptional control for
lefthander. All he lacks to make
him a big winner is a change of pace,
Much OF his time here he will be re-
quired to spend in developing a slow
hall.
Having played ball almost continu-
ously since last season in the Florida
Winter League, which disbanded only
a few weeks ago. Deeby Foss is max.
ing the other members of the base
ball squad resemble truck horses on a
comparison of speed. Foss has such a
natural knack for hitting that he is
expected eventually to land high up-
He has rf1e-shot throwing arm and
is better than fair fielder. except
on bunts; He gets the balls he comes
in for all right, but has a tendency
to throw wild after gobbling the
short ones.
Tucker is having a fne time with
the straight t-as-a-string offerings of
MCBRIDE and Altrock. whaling the
pail to the distant stretches of right
neld- He gets all of his 100 pounds
behind the ball with swing OF the
most approved form, but how wen
he Will be able to connect when the
fingers start dishing up hooks re-
mains to be seen.
Little opportunity has been afforded
Tor getting even a preliminary line on
the recruits. although frst impress
sions of Andy Eschmann. the former
Holy Cross shortstop. who blew in
with Eddie Goebel. are that he is sad
ly lacking in pep. He is expected 10
liven up considerably after George
Mcbride gives him q prod or two.
High Praise for GoebeI.
Mac has received a letter from Joe
Wall. the self-styled Babe Ruth of
the semi-pros," giving Goebel a fine
boost Wall, who now holds forth in
Brooklyn, where Goebel lives, has
known the "captn" for years, having
played with him in Georges early
career in the Western League. He
says Goebel is fast in addition to be-
ing a good hitter, has a fine whip
and predicts the Eastern League
graduate will some day make his
mark in base ball.
Thus far not a single exhibition
game has been arranged to be played
by the Nationals here. Grif wanted
the Phillies TO come down for two or
three contests. but they are tied UP
by contract to remain in Gainesville
Fla, until they meet the Griffs in
two games at Jacksonville the last of
this month. On his way there Grin
has tentatively arranged to stop of
at Daytona to play the Florida State
Lea que team on March 2S, moving on
to s. Augustine the following day
to do battle with a famous amateur
aggregation representing that resort
Then. following the games with the
Phillies. one contest is booked foI