Evening star., 1923-03-09

the Nationals this season is way off
tossing to loosen up his arm and sl
Cross College product was statione
gave ali exhibition his first day out
OF operation to Everett Scott i'll III
along the lines OF Donie Bush. it S
scoop up rollers, and he uses his Il
his chances appears hard
In ability to throw from any position
Chick is not so accomplished as oswald
Bluege Few are. but in fielding skill
he compares favorably with the Chicago
boy, which is saying a lot. and he rates
as considerably harder hitter. Gag
non seemingly is one Of those players TO
whom fielding comes naturally. He
goes about it i'll a nonchalant way as
though no effort whatever was involved
and never fights the ball" as Bob La
motte and other youngsters regarded
as promising prospects frequently do.
Slump In Fielding Explained.
Ii was his sensational work on de-
Tense that caused Gagnon TO attract
major league scouts i'll droves when he
was performing for his alma mater
within the last two or three seasons.
Grabbed by Detroit. which had no place
for him when Emory Rigney was dug
up in the Texas League, Gagnon was
farmed to the International League and
with the Rochester club developed as
hitter SO that his work in this depart
ment overshadowed his fielding. His
temporary slump in efficiency as q
ground covercr was attributed to an old
injury Received IN playing with the
Holy Cross varsity eleven and the
pcssimists have insisted that he always
will be handicapped by a foot ball
knee" the ailment that impaired Frank
Elerbe's usefulness with the Browns
10 such great extent last season.
Close observance of Gaguon's work
in camp to date disclosed no trace of a
limp or other indications of a game
leg. However. he is merely jogging
around now and will not attempt any
sprinting for the present. but he is
known to possess speed OF foot and the
quick starts and stops necessitated in
cavortinS around short have failed to
disclose any thing in the way of a leg
aiment
Many Of the Washington fans were
outspoken in their denunciation of
the trade that sent such a likely
looking pitcher as Ray Francis to
the Tigers in exchange for Gagnon,
but. as III the case Of the three-for
two swap that brought Allen Russell
10 the capital from Boston. these
Inmates of Clark Grifiith's trading
ability before many weeks elapse.
Manager Bush has a raft of talent
here for consideration as possible
successors to Shortstop Roger Peck
inpaugh and for the vacancy at third
base, but if early indications are not
faulty, Chick GaGnon will figure
prominently in the deliberations of
the pigmy pilot.
Players Are Split Up.
With practically all the players on
hand now, they have been divided
into two squads TO facilitate the d.
rection of their work, and this sys-
TEN will be adhered to. at least until
next week. when the first of series
of abbreviated practice games Will
ficial spring exhibition schedule,
which gets under way a week from
the coming saturday.
The early birds. as constituted the
first day under the new arrangeme Mt.
work from $50 to IL. and include
Pitchers Brillheart. schacht. Han
kins, McGrew and Beach; Catchers
Charity and Lapan. Infielders Bush.
Gagnon. Lamotte and Harris. and
Outfielders Fisher and Mcnamara.
Hankins. Brillheart and Schacht took
turns pitching to the batters. with
Lapan receiving them. Charity ad-
herring to his decision to do no work
back of the bat as yet
HeZekiah Kronkheit Beach, who
has the unenviable distinction of de-
1eloping the first sore arm in camp,
stayed away from the box. as did Slim
McGrew. who is just recovering from
an attack OF Influenza and is bit
weak For the infield drill with this
bunch Lamotte was stationed at third.
Blupge at short. Bush at second and
Harris on first. Buchy filing in there
because no other initial sacker was
available.
Members OF Second Bunch.
In the second squad, which occupies
tho field from II until 1890. are
Pitchers Zachary. Warmoth. Hollings-
worth, Russell and Mogridge; Catch
ers Ruel and Hargrave, Infielders
Judge Harris, Gagnon. O'Neill and
Evans, and Outfielders Goslin, Rice
and wade.
All of the hurlers save Mogridge,
who has not been out long enough
30 stand the gaff. provided targets
in tho wand drill. and for the In
field session Judge, Harris. Gagnon
short and third. respectively. O'Neill
Iefrained from scampering after
grounders and apparently is in no
condition for such strenuous en-
stopper OF the Nationals who has
been idle for two seasons following
a seige of pneumonia is far from
strong He is almost emaciated in
pounds underweight and he will need
n long and careful course of con-
ditioning to regain his former vigor.
Zachary and Warmoth showed good
control during their sessions on the
7ubber as compared with Hollings-
worth who had some trouble locat-
ing the plate. The latter is suffering
somewhat from a sore throat, but
there evidently is nothing wrong
with Russell. who resorted to the
use of hooks for the first time since
camp was pitched. Although early
for such q procedure the veteran
was not violating any rules, for
coach Gibson stood right behind him
all during his tenure of the rubber.
Golf Advocates Score.
The much mooted question of whether
playing golf helps or hinders a man in
batting must be answered in the afflrlna-
tive. judged by the exhibition Rice gave
5n his first session at the plate. Sammy,
who has been swinging clubs on the
links almost every day this winter met
the ball on the nose repeatedly while
non-golfers. such as Goslin, Wade and
O'Neill completely missed more deliver
les than they connected with. Goose
HZE5SE4
II n