Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-01


campaign today and be at no disad
of the men is concerned" :
There is not single regular who
Is not in fine shape, and, with the
time remaining for finishing touches
all can be expected to be as close
to perfect condition as players ever
are when the curtain goes up. You
know, it always is two or three weeks
after the race starts before the play
erS really reach the top OF their form.
johnson Lone Exception.
johnson, alone of the veteran pitch
ers, has been retarded in his condi-
tioning. and from what he showed in
his warm-up and pitching to batterS
yesterday l am confident he will not
have to miss more than the one open
ing series with the Yankees. Zachary
has been off his feed for couple of
days. but his arm is sound. Mo-
full rout at top speed right now.
Erickson is ready, and Courtney has
everything but control. which, we
hope, he will acquire in shor. order.
All the other hurlers are in fine shape
except Miller, who still Is troubled
with a lame wing, and WoodWard,
who temporarily is under the
Although Milan still declines to
commit himself definitely in regard
to which of the recruit pitchers Will
be retained, for the reason that ulti-
mate decision will be reserved until
all the time possible is used for in
spection, he loosened up sufficiently
on the subject today to establish
that they have been classified in two
squads and. incidentally, put the seal
of authenticity on estimates of the
relative worth of the fingers hereto
fore presented in this column.
He admitted he is convinced Phil.
do" and that Courtney continues to
be a factor in the calculations, de-
spite lack of control; that Francis
has not been eliminated from con-
sideration, and that Brillheart Is Just
about assured of retention. McGrew
needs polish. These hurlerS he men
toned by name, but made no refer
ence to Digges. Keifer or Turk. In
the case of the latter two they have
not been at work long enough to at
ford true line on their ability.
aiiing shoulder for about three
weeks. He has claimed right along,
when asked If he was ready to pitch.
that he is unable to do himself JuSucel
because of pain he feels when throw
ing, and has been excused from par
ticipation in the games for this rea-
much promise, due to the ability he
displayed last fall, but it is probable
that his failure to get going here
will prove fatal to his chances for
remaining on the Washington pay
roll.
Brillheart's case really is remarka-
Bile. When he reported at Washing
ton last fall he was a mere srippling,
seventeen years old, and, due to his
tender age and lack of size, the ad-
vance dope for this season was that
his prospects were the poorest OF the
lot He filled out during the win
ter, however, and has shown so
much stuff in games, as we'll as
practice, that he now is looked upon
as the best bet of the lot.
Praise for Brillheart.
mo kid pitcher could have looked
better than Brillheart in the five in
nings he worked against the Braves
the infant prodigy. "Of course, it's
not sound policy to pass final judg-
ment on the showing he made In his
only real test, but he has shown
enough to convince me that he Is no
fzsh in the pan and I'm so confident
REis the real thing ! would not now
RsAitate to put him into championship
game. Something subsequently may
develop to cause revision of this esti-
mate, but if he doesn't prove to be
thA real pitching goods I'm going to
be- nightly surprised and disap-
Stark Griffith is even more en-
HHsiastic over Brillheart, If possible,
SOFT may be viewed as practically
sQStled that the youthful portsider
s6n. The board of strategy is in
eIIned to the view that it would be
aJmistake to farm him to some minor
league club where he might be ruin
eddy being overworked.
Seven to Come Home.
There will be seven players in the
party that entrains for the trip
straight through to Washington to-
morrow, Woodward having been
added TO the list. which Includes
Keifer, Miller. Digges, Turk, Neone
and Johnson. Walter is hopeful of
being able to get away tomorrow.
although this will depend upon the
condition of Mrs. Johnson. She had
recovered sufficiently yesterday from
her recent operation to visit the
hotel piazza for a short time, but 1t
was found necessary later in the day
to probe the frontal cavity above her
nose to assure proper drainage, and
the effects of this exceedingly pain-
full procedure must be observed be-
fore it will be known when she Is
strong enough to travel.
Walter went through stin work.
out yesterday, following light one
the day before, and there Is little
doubt that he will be ready for mound
service in two weeks time II his
training is not further interrupted.
Everything on the training calen-
dar was INDUCED in by the athletes
yesterday, except a ball game. Milan
vetoing another clash between vet
erahs and colts in the belief that in
tensive drilling would prove more
beneficial. Skull practice again was
a feature, with base-running strategy
ON both attack and defense empha-
sized. In addition McGrew came in
for lot OF practice in covering the
bag on drives fe1ded by the first
baseman.
Gri6 Firm With Bush.
As was anticipated, the notification
of his suspension shocked DOME Bush
into activity. In a telegram to Grin
the veteran infielder pleaded that such
drastic action was unwarranted, but
the, boss was unimpressed and fired
back wire to the effect that II Bush
is reinstated he will have to stand for
Il stiff fine and accept a smaller sal
airy than that originally offered. 1t
will be about $500 less. =
Griff said today that he was not
particularly anxious to have Bush on
the club. II want willing workers.
not a1ibi artists" he said. I'm con-
WINGED that Bush has been Stalling,