The Washington herald., 1922-03-09
GRIFFITH BECOMES
ENTHUSIASTIC OVER.
SHOWING OF ROOKIE.
Nationals Put Through
Fastest Workout Yet
Attempted.
By RAY HELGESEN.

days OF his youth, whom the Ma
Of the Three-I League, in a cash
deal during the winter. has all the
earmarks OF a big league ball player
and only needs to continue tn flash
the action he showed today to be
certain of a regular berth as a util-
ity infielder with the Griffmen this
season.
Bleuse Is a native OF West Chi
cago and a product of the Windy
City sandlots He was with the Pc
oria club two seasons before he be-
gan to come to the front. Last year
he played In every game of the
Three-Eye League season. He hit
.294 and felded .s7S.
The Windy City youth looks to
be one of the cleverest youngsters
who has broken into the big league
show in the last two or three years.
He has a fine pair Of hands, an arm
like flexible steel. and though he
has only been seen in action two
days here. he. appears to have more
than the average rockies idea Of
what to do with the ball when he
gets his han7s on it.
Veteran ball players in a train
ing camp naturally cover up as much
as possible their admiration for any
extraordinary work rookie may flash.
This is done not because the vets
do not wish to praise the boy, but
rather to hold down the youth. who
may fall the prey to the effects Of
the sweIled-head germ.
Veterans Like BIeuEe.
Today. however. more than one
{ of the vets openly expressed his ad-
miration Of the waythe Peoria youth
handled himself in the short-field.
President Griffith watched Bluege for
half an hour and on his way back
to the hoteI rubbed his hands in true
magnate fashion and explained to the
scribes that this boy is a conner"
Griff even went so far as to state.
even at this early date, that it's al
most a cinch that he will keep the
boy throughout the season.
Grin was particularly pleased
with the way Bleuge covers the po-
sition and the snappy way in which
he gets the ball away. "Ossie"
covers as much ground as did Frank
O'Rourke last season and covers II
as we'll il not better. He gets rid
of the ball almost before he has
touched 1t. He throws from any
position and appears to have as
strong a whip as any man in the
infield.
"Ossie's" main trouble is expected
to, be at the plate. Milan is con-
siderably worried over this angle.
but the "OId Fox" just passes this
over by. explaining that you can
teach any youngster to hit il he
ran field and is fast on his feet"
One OF the vets, hearing Griff's "ex-
planation.- remarked that maybe
that's the reason there are so many
hard hitters in the majors.
BlcuEe. however. may be able to
hit much better than he has shown
thus far, He really hasn't had a
chance to open up yet, as he has
only been here two days.
Chet Thomas. the old Athletic
catcher. who secuted for Connie
Mack last season, looked Bluege
oVer last summer, and then went
back to the dead city and almost
cried when Mack refused to buy the
youngster. Thomas is now manager
of the Portland club in the Pacific
Coast League. To prove that he is
willing to back his own Judgment.
he recently wired Griffith an offer
of $4,000 for Bleuge. Griff turned
him down fiat.
Fastest workout of Spring.
Practice this morning was prob
ably the fastest of the spring. The
outfielders put in an hour and
half chasing fungOes while Nick
drilled the rookie infield for solid
sixty minutes. Lamotte on third,
Bleuge at short. Bucky Harris or
second and Frank Brewer on first
was the makeup Of the inner circle.
MOgridge was the only regular
pitcher to take a turn on the
mound. The lean New Yorker served
them up for ten minutes with Rice.
Milan, Brewer, Harris, Bleuge. La
motto, NOone. Goslin, Torres and
Eddie GOebeI taking turns at the
plate.
Ray Francis gave the regulars
4 their first look of the training sea-
! son at a curve ball this morning
when he started hooking the pei
let. He worked easily and took his
time. hooking about every fifth ball.
Francis Is rounding to form in easy
sta ges and Martin expects to have
him ready for either the first or
fcond game of the spring series
Nith the Boston Braves which will
start here a week from Saturday
Woodward, Erillheart, DiEges.
on tnlllipS anu sim MCGFeW were
the other rockies who got a chance
on the hill. Woodward. who is more
or less Of a veteran. expects to be
/ ready to work within ten days. or
4 two weeks. McC;rew must be ready
a week from tomorrow as he is
scheduled to work three innings
T.sainst the PhiIIies in Lcesburg.
Fla. next Thursday. Martin as yet
has set no specific date for the
others to show their wares in a
real game. but il is believed they.
will all be ready within the next
ten days.
Regulars vs.. Yannigans.
The Regular Yannigan games are
scheduled to begin next Tuesday or
|. "Wednesday.
Nick AItrock has been named
manager of the team of rockies
which will invade the PhiIIies'
spring camp a week from tomor-
row. Griff's contract calls for the
appearance OF Nick and of Walter
johnson. Nick has already picked
his squad and Milan has ok'd the
list. Torres and Soone will do the
catching. McGrew. Courtney and
Gleason will split the pitching as
signment; LaMotte will play third:
Bluege. short; Harris, second, and
Brewer. FIRST. while Goebel and Cos
lin will patrol the outfield with
either Noone or Torres as their run
ming mates.
.Jezebel Teeumseh Zachary was