Evening star., 1921-03-15

is training his performers.
Gainesville is not quite zoo miles from
Tampa. but there is no direct communi-
cation by rail. so the Washington play
ers will have to take n circuitouS route
necessitatng an overnight trip. They
leave Tampa late this afternoon and 80
by boat across the bay to st. Peters
burg, where they will have their even
ing meal and entrain about s o'clock
tonight for Gainesville. They are due
to arrive there in the wee small hours
of the morning and will remain in their
hunks on the Pullman until the break
fast hour, when they will proceed to
the White House. the hotel at which
they will be quartered for three days.
On the return trip, following the same
route, they will leave Gainesville Friday
night and land back in Tampa about
noon Saturday in time to get ready for
the game with the Phillies here that
afternoon.
Pleased With Workout.
Both President Griffith and Manager
Mcbride were highly gratified at the
appearance of the regulars in their first
practice session The Hot Springs dele
cation clearly showed the beneficial ef-
fects of their sojourn at the watering
resort, and those who came direct from
their homes indicated by their appear
ance and actions that all have been do
get into condition.
There are at least two athletes on
the list who can be counted upon to
put forth their best efforts to make
good showing with the Nationals this
year, Ellerbe and Lewis. Ellerbe is am
bilious to earn the berth as regular
third baseman, and there are reasons for
believing he will be successful. Chief
among them is the fact that Franks CAL
iber as batsman already has been estab-
lished. On the strength of the showing
he made last year he may be expected
to turn in an average around 800, and
considering the fact that 1920 was his
first full season in the ma jors and that
he is but youngSter in years he may
land even higher up in the charmed
circle.
Hitting covers a multitude of sins.
and the Governor really has only two
DEFICIENCIES, being weak at fielding
bunts and slow rollers and having a
penchant for cumming the rum max
ing activities of the club by doing the
Griff's belief that Frank can be i'm
proved greatly in his short game. and
that when he learns to keep his head
up and watch the ball constantly the
stupid work he has been guilty of on
the paths will be eliminated.
The Governor is a demon at gobbling
hard hit balls. and has a strong and
accurate throwing arm and is deadly
catch Of flies. no matter where they
are hit, either back of him, in short
center or left, or on foul territory.
Griff Is taking keen interest in Ell
lerbe. He has believed from the first
that he eventually would make good
at the far corner. and asserted today
he intended to personally direct the
trairing of the young ex-collegian
with a view to having him qualified
to start the season at the hot corner
and remain there throughout the cam
paign.
Lewis Peeved at Yankees.
The case of Lewis differs from that
of ElIerbe in that the former is a
veteran whose major league class has
been established a matter of a dozen
years. Duffy is peeved at the action
OF the New York club in letting him
go. He is fired with determination
to show the Yankee owners they made
. big mistake il they figured his use
fulness was about ended. His first
step was to train down to the point
where there isn't an ounce of super
f1uous flesh on him. He is close to
twenty pounds under the weight he
carried for the past two seasons, so
trim in appearance. in fact. that the
casual fan would not recognize him
In uniform. He is as sprightly as the
youngest of the colts in the squad.
snares flies in his well known grace
full fashion and demonstrated in the
session today that there is nothing
wrong with his throwing arm. one of
the best that ever doubled up a run
ner at the plate.
Lewis brought a consignment Of new
bats here with him and is confident of
winning with the Nationals the clean
up Job in the fourth place he almost al
ways has occupied.
Miller and BPOttem Wire.
The Little Rock recalcitrants finally
have decided to join the Nationals.
Grin yesterday received telegram
signed by Brottem. in which he also
spoke for Miller which read: We leave
tonight: talk business on arrival. Wire
IL o. X"
The president was equally pointed in
his reply, which was to the effect that
there was no business to talk over;
that they could not report until they
had accepted the salary terms written in
the contracts sent to them and that they
would have to advise him Immediately
what they intended to do"
In reply. Griff received telegram TO
the effect that they were leaving Little
Rock Immediately for Tampa, which is
taken to mean that they have accepted
terms. IT being a train run OF forty
eight hours or more. they are not ex-
pected to reach camp before Thursday
night or Friday morning.
Judge and Milan Sign.
GriY held two important confabs last
night that resulted in as many con-