Evening star., 1921-03-14

saved.
Owing to the shortage of hurlers in
camp this spring considerable Jug
Cling will have to be done to get a
maximum of service from them Bat
ting practice. above all things, is
needed by diamond performers. fol-
lowing the winter lay-off. 1t takes
constant and prolonged wand drilis
to sharpen the optics Of the players TO
the point where they can gauge the
course OF balls delivered with vary
ing degrees of speed. not to mention
the increased difficulties afforded by
hooks and benders. and the Grinmen
this year are inadeQuateiy suppiied
with material to furnish the practice
needed.
VIII Handicap Practice.
The trip the Yannigans are TO take
TO Gainesville to play the Phllies will
deprive Mcbride for three days or the
men available to provide targets for
the stick smiths. 1t being inadvisabie
. this early in the training season TOT
pitcher to work longer thah 'nr ,.;,I
innings at a time in a game. 1t Will
be necessary to take half a dozen
hurlers to Gainesville. Three of them
will divide the work in the frst con-
test, the other three will toll the sec
ond day, and the initial trio will ap.
pear again for labor on the third
afternoon.
on the jaunt are Erickson. Schacht;
Acosta. Mogridge. Zachary n. and and
when not drafted for mound duty. and
Nick Altrock to fill in at the initial
station when Frank is on the hill. 3.
President Griffith is to be in charge
Of the party. which will include. in
addition to the hurlers and Pitcher
First Baseman Brewer, Catchers Pici-
mich and Torres. Second Basemen
Marhafka and Eschmann, Shortstop
La Motto, Third Baseman Foss and
Outfielders Tucker, McHugh and
Manager Mcbride, who will remain
here to supervise the work of the
stay-at-homes. will have in addition
to himself and Shaw only Courtney.
whose arm still is weak. and Johnson
to pitch in the batting practice. Wal
ter: although in good physical con-
dition from preliminary course OF
sprouts at Hot Springs. has done no
box work and cannot be expected to
do more than merely lob the ball UP
to the plate. With this dearth Of
fingers in sight for Wednesday.
Thursday and Friday, Mcbride had
boxmen work longer than usual to-
day and will give the regulars as
much batting practice as they can
stand tomorrow. for they will not get
much Of it again until Saturday. when
the excursionists return from Gaines
willie. Pat Charity will do the receiv-
ing during their absence and will
the Tampa team, who has been work
ing out with the Nationals
Picinieh shows Improvement.
Indications are that Tony Brottem.
II he reports, will have task on
his hands to win the berth Of second
string backstop from Picin;ch. Val.
unlike a year ago when he reported
way overweight and depressed in
spirits, for some reason or other. this
spring is in fine shape and taking a
keen interest in his work. His arm
is in splendid condition. his throw
ing in the practice being of high
order. He is a different Pick from
the one who earned the razz of the
crowd on several occasions last sea-
son by his careless and disinterested
work.
Eddie Goebel is too good a hitter for
own best interests. This apparently
the fact that his good eye and easy
swing enables him to meet practically
every ball he offers at. but not with
sufficient force to make his blows
effective. He holds back enough to
make sure that he will connect and
his drives. Batsmen Of really high
oaliber whale away with all the gust
Of which they are capable and when
they meet the ball their drives have suf-
ficient power and snap to count for
something. They frequently are fool
ed and connect with nothing but the
air, but sock large enough percent
age to give them good average. Babe
Ruth is an example. The bambino
often is made to look foolish by COM
pletely missing. but he always takes
his cut. Goebel's value as stick
wielder will increase when he begins
to miss a few.
With the exception Of Johnson all of
the regulars arrived in camp in time
for the evening meal yesterday. Clyde
Milan came from Columbia, Tenn.
where he has been visiting his parents
for a few days; Frank Ellerbe. from
his home at Latta, S. c.: Joe Judge.
Hank Shanks and Stanley Harris. on
the Washington train. chaperoned by
Loose" Dougher. and Sam Rice. Jim
Shaw, Pat Charity, Duffy Lewis and
Frank O'Rourke. from Hot Springs.
Lewis told Manager Mcbride he had
gotten the Arkansas delegation into
shape for him by setting the pace in
long hikes over the mountains. All