The Washington herald., 1922-02-12
NINE YOUNGSTERS
WILL LEAVE HERE
FOR TAMPA FEB. Is
Griff and Nick to Drill
Kids Until Milan's Ar
rival, March s.,
By RAY HELGESEN.


. which NAV or may not resemble
The followi ing:
TAMPA. Fla. Feb. 26.-Clark
e. Griffith. president of the Wash
ipgton~ Nationals. and a squad of
nine rockies arrived here from
Washington. u. C.. tonight. To-
morrow. the players will get into
their monkey suits prepared to be-
gin the long training grind which
will fit them for the coming Amer
lean League pennant race. Presi-
dent Griffith and Nick AItrock will
have active charge Of the squad
until the arrival here on March
Of Clyde Milan the new manager
Of the Washington Club.
interviewed by your correspond
4, cnt. President Griffith was all
smiles. In speaking of his team
he frequently refers TO it as the
coming American League champion.
All he asks of fate, he says. -
that his pitching staff holds up.
The rockies who arrived with
Griffith are +. Noone. II. b. Brill
heart. Ray Francis. Ralph Miller.
Dan McG-ew. Frank Woodward.
Tom Phillips. Joe Gleason and
Goose Goslin.''
Grhf Eager and Confident.
Thus will come the announcement
that President Griffith and some OF
his youthful hopefUls have arrived
in the Southern city to begin the
serious business OF preparing them
selves mentally and physically for
the terrific strain that is to come
during the long grind that neces-
sariIy features a major league sea-
son.
Griff. himself. no longer a young
ster. is quite as eager for the train
ing grind as is the veriest young
ster. He is particularly anxious to
get down to real work this season,
and the reason is obvious.
Griff believes, and is quite willing
to inform the world, that his club
has as good a chance as any, better
than four or five clubs he can men
ton, to grab the flag this season.
Therefore he Graves action. He Is
sending many of his players South
n week or two early. Everything
he can do to get his players into
condition for the long grind is be-
ing done. II the club fails to land
the pennant il won't be because
Griffith has lain down on the job.
IF only the pitchers come through
and hold up," says the odd Fox,
and the fans echo: IF only .he
pitchers come through and hold
up"
Everything is all set for an early
start, said Griffith last night Most
of my players already are in limo,
signed up, and we are not worrying
about those We have still to hear
from. Their contracts will prob
ably be in this week. After next
Sunday it's merely a matter of wait
ing until the RATHER gets under
way. according to the optimistic
president.
Twenty Already In Line.
Approximately twenty of the Ma
tionals have already sent their
signed contracts to Eddie Eynon.
secretary and assistant treasurer OF
the club. From the others there
has been no sound of trouble. I'm
less the murmurings of one jose
phus Judge signify an approaching
verbal battle it's likely that the
entire team will, as Griffith says,
he in line by the end of this week.
When Milan arrives in Tampa on
March 5 his handling of the pitch
ing staff will be closely watched
not only by local fans but by man
ayers. players and fans throughout
the circuit.
His clever handling of the hurl-
ers was one of the main things re-
snonsibIe for the Griffs' eleven
game winning streak last season.
Everyone connected with base
ball will admit that and will also
admit that in the event he is able
to get the same class of work out
of them this season the Nationals
will be in the pennant hunt from
the beginning of the season.
Managers and players of other
teams have frequently said that the
Linden Flyer" possesses almost
uncanny Judgment when shifting a
pitcher. According to them he
seems to know that a pitcher Is
wobbling before the hurler himself
knows il and before the pitcher
shows any visible signs of break
ing"
Added to this Is Milan's unques-
toned ability to pick the right re-
lief pitcher. And Milan isn't back
ward about waving a waverinG
pitcher to the showers. Sparing
their feelings is one thing, accord
ing to him. but losing ball games
is quite another Milan, like Nc
Graw, doesn't let a webbing pitch
er stay in there until the other
team has gathered three or four
runs. Even IL the Griffs happen to
be In the front at the time Milar
refuses to take any chances. That
fact. as much as any other. is re-
sponsible for the fans confidence in
Milan as manager.
The signed contract of Earl
smith was received in the Nation
ais offices yesterday. Earl was en-
tirely satisfied with the induce
ments offered. He wrote that ne
is in great shape and that he in
tends to cinch a regular job before
the training season is over. Evil
IDENTIFY he believes he can convince
Milan of his ability to play right
field better than young Goslin. In
any event Earl says he'll put up q
classy battle for the job.
Smith. by the way. failed to get
off well here last season after be-
ing traded by the Browns for
Frank Governor" Ellerbe. He was
hitting well over 800 when with
here and ended the season some