Evening star., 1924-02-24
BATTING PRACTICE
".STARTS TOMORROW
Pitchers Get in Condition
: Earlier Than Expected.
Moon Impresses.

BS DENMAN THOMPSON.

has been made toward at
tanning condition by the juvenile
.battcrymeu OF the Nationals in their
one week OF toll here that training
'o,ans have been revised to the cX-
tent OF advancing By several days
the time Tor inauguration OF batting
practice. \ period OF two weeks
originally was allotted Tor the hurle-s
10 get their wings loosened up be-
fore being called on to provide
targets for athletes armed with
sticks, but having received the 0 h.
OF Coach Jack Chesbro. President
Griffith tonight announced that the
initial wand drill would be held Mon
day.
- On that day the dozen actives in
the squad here now viii be rein
sorced by UuttielderS George Fisher
and Carr Smith. and intieiders Chick
Caguon and Oswald Blueee. With
Lance Rich hourG, another fy-chaSer.
ami catchers Red HargraVe and Rem
nett Tate, already on the job there
will be seven performers. exclusive
OF the hurlers, whose value to the
clup depends in a measure on their
punching proficiency, and they are
sure to welcome the oportunity TO
indulge in the one thing all ball
players dote on, hitting.
No Reason 10 Wait.
- In the absence OF any sore arms
among the Fingers. and with day
Of rest intervening tomorrow after
six mornings of steady popping. the
hoard OF strategy has concluded there
IS nothing to be gained by deferring
lat work, but nothing much Will
pc determinable by the efforts ct
the club wielders next week for they
viii have nothing more than primary
pitching to contend with.
-. For the first few days at least the
slingers will not be permitted to
essay anything III the way of speed
or curves, the work being designed
to merely accuStom the boXmen to
rolling under conditions similar to
those in real contest and TO afford
the other players d chance to harden
their hands. get into their stride at
the plate and sharpen up batting
orbS dimmed by q winter OF divorce
from the JaStinle.
1t is doubtful if the players will
even be permitted to go through
thsSp rnaneuvers on the diamond. AS
Set not q spike has scratched the
surface that Mike Martin is care
fully grooming for the intensive in
field practice that is to come. The
freshly planted sod has been packed
down with II steam roller, and the
white clay Foundation for the base
lines aud skinned portions has been
covered with IL dressing OF dark soil,
but the trainer is determined that no
risk of marriug his handiwork shall
he run before the job is complete ted,
SO it is possible that the regulation
pitching distance will be measured
off on another portion of the spa
cious field for the preliminary bat
ting practice.
viii Take II Easy.
For the first week Of their sojourn
here the work of Bluege and Gagnon
will he confined strictly to limber-
sven of bunts, absolutely barred.
<iagnon has been handicapped for
some three years now by q leg that
was hurt in playing foot ball. while
Bluege last season suffered Il SIM
liar accident on the diamond. With
Both the trouble was due to torn
iigaments in back of the knee, al
though Gagnon's injury was much
more severe than Bluege's. They
submitted to corrective operations at
wrenched tendons were placed in
their normal positions and their
legs encased in. plaster casts Tor
several weeks in order that they
might set properly.
The reaction in the case of Biuege
r.as so favorable the surgeons are
convinced he Will not be bothered
any further with a lame prop. There
sS les; assurance OF the complete re-
Govery of Gasnon: but the CLUB phy-
graduate after he was first hurt con-
Lirlued to play base ball and also was
.ctively connected with Il basket ball
ream in the off season, with the re-
suit that his injury was constantly
1, aggravated. He has cut out all forms
nc athletics this winter, however,
ven ice skating; and 1t is hoped that
months Of; complete rest following
tfe treatment he received last fall
haE, made his limb sound again.
VIII Have special Course.
A sneciaI course OF sprouts for both
,heSe infielders has been outlined to
,1nake sure their UNDERMINING is firm
shefore anything likely to produce a
!tare back is attempted. In addition
to5atos ing to loosen up their arms
:-IaGs daily batting practice they will
hc-T Tequired to 10 quite a bit of jog
ling on cyen-surfaced turf. Only
;tfter their legs have been gradually
strengthened will they be allowed to
l. lssay any fielding of grounders, where
the abrupt stops neceSsitated might
auae their knees to buckle on them
;rgain.
Coach Chesbro put in a busy ses-
sion today with the pitchers, most
of his attention being devoted to en-
phasizing the imperative need for all
deliveries to be initiated with the
same motion IN order to prevent alien
|iratsmen from obtaining advance in
FORMATION on what type of pitch to
Look for. Chesbro concentrated tu-
Loring tips on Slim McGrew and Fred
|Marberry and illustrated his points
by tossing a few to Tate, who acted
on the receiving end.
Any telegraphing of intentions is
fatal to the effectiveness of pitcher,
and the mentor will bend his ener-
;sies to perfecting the youngsters In
he business of gripping the ball the
same way for all pitches and deliv-
fcsring hooks as well as fast balls and
.ioaters from the smae angle.
Moons Work Impressive.
Leo Moon, the Tarheel portsider.
|yYho got off to a bad start on his
|,najor league career by having all his
personal effects stolen in a railway
considerable of an impression upon
coach Altrock with the line of goods
|he has displayed to date. Moon. who
halls from Graham, y. C., the habi-
rate of Jezebel Tecumseh Zachary,
|darned a big intersectional reputa-
|cion for himself last fall when in a
|tost-season series he bagged three
|Ganes from the DanyilIe club of the
Virginia League for the Greensboro
tsanl. for which he performed in the
Piedmont League. What Nick likes
about Moon is his splendid control,
b. rare quality in fiedgling finger,
Especially left-hander He has q
AIT ball that breaks up instead of
|down. and Nick believes that when
|rhe time comes to bear down Moon
fwill be able to hop that speeder past
!. lot Of experienced swatsmiths