The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-07

strengthening, rather than his arm
has been with that end in view.
MY arm never felt better since
! began pitching" said johnson
today. THAT may sound ex-
travagant, but honestly it isn't.
So far as the pitching is concerned,
/ could step right out and pitch
nine innings today. I am not wor'
ried about my arm at all.
what I have got to do is to get
nay back and legs into shape to
stand the strain. You know there
is a great strain on the legs after
you have been pitching as cong As
/ have. That is why 1 have been
playing golf pretty near every
afternoon since reporting here. The
long, leisurely walks tend to harden
my reg muscles and make me better
able to stand the strain of pitching
q ball game.
"What 1 need is the general
workout. II my arm feels all
right today and 1 have suitable
control, il win be just as well for
me to 60 straight to washington
as to delay. / can get all the
WOTh il UGGu IHCECs DutS OAA ttIC
other hand, IL my arm and con-
troll isn't quite right, it vii be
best for me to do some pitching.
In that case / shall stay with
the team"
However he may feel about it.,
more than one veteran with the
team considers it a mistake for
johnson not to stay with the team,
taking his turn on the rubber, II
only for three innings. They reel
that. he would be more fit by actual
pitching than by trudging over the
golf links in Washington. These
veterans are his best friends, too,
vet they make no bones as TO
what they. think about it. :.
Excepting Johnson, Mogridge ano
McGrew, the pitchers have been mere
five and a half weeks today, yet
ii is doubtful If any one Is able 10
go the distance at top speed. Inoeeo,
Dad Hankins is the only one VINO
has made the attempt. Mogridge
has worked but three innings since
reporting. Johnson enters his flrst
game today.
The Washington pitching staff
fs what might be termed "SOtt.
INSIDE of the next ten days 1t must
be hardened for the approaching
campaign. Bad weather during the
trip home may put a severe cr1mp
in the lads who are to do tine plIcn-
ing, beginning April 10.
Roger Peckinpaugh, because OF a
broken digit, has been compeneo
fo lose considerable practice, put
the veteran is almost ready 10 re-
sTroe his place in the shorttleId'
and even were he unable 10 play
Ossie Bluege could hold down the
Job acceptably. u
The remainder of the team are
readv for the coming season Joe
Judge has about recovered from ms
injured knee and he is moving
ahead fast. The same goes lor
CHARITY. whose throwing arm
seems stronger every day. :,
Dailv games this coming week
viii he for the purpose Of harden
ing the pitchers. Each and every
one will get his daily workout. anu
those intended for the first string
With the opening of the season
will be worked against the Braves.
The first string lads will all go
nine innings at least once oe1ore
the campaign opens.
Clark Griffith did not get Frank
Rel, the Tampa pitcher. yester-
day. Indeed, he was informed
by Doc Nance, the Tampa mana
ger. that Beach and Mcnamara
would not do i'm exchange for
RejI. Nance wants a southpaw
pitcher and mentioned BrilIheart.
That put Griff up in the air.
IT was finally decided that the
directors of the Tampa club would
meet some time next week and put
a price on Rel, who will remain
with the Smokers. 1t is a good bet
though, that the former marine
will be in a Washington uniform
shortly after the major league
starts. If not before.
The joke about the whole affair
is that Washington scouts failed tC
see anything worth while in Rel
last year. though he was with the
same club with Hankins and doing
better work.
1t took Sam Rice. Joe Judge. ant
Umpire Ormsby to call attention
to the young hurler the other day
after the kid had turned back TIL
Griffs without a run for three
innings. Sometimes we wonde
what qualities are required of /;
scout.
Uncle Nick AItrOck went to
Barlow yesterday as the feature
guest of the Kiwanis Club and
gOt hack last night in time to art
as manager of the YRnnigans,
leay.ng-with them for Jackson
vile, where they are playing to.
day.
The Griffs officially break cam
tomorrow. leaving at 12:45 70
Jacksonville. There the Yannigan.
now headed for Washington, wi
join them. The Boston Braves, gt
ing North from st. Petersburg, wi
/. @T0 LOANS