The Washington times., 1924-03-20


ing, q combination greatly to be f
Griffs have also been served with
have been landing on the ball, toda!
The latest report is that John Nc
Hraw went into training last night
corning roast beef and filled up
m shrimp salad. Hughey Jennings
at at the table with him, eating
II the roast beef himself. Clark
riffith, too, quit his meat diet
esterday. He made his dinner on
ed snapper, followed by a large
order Of spring onions. Soft.boiled
Eggs, toast and coffee were the
breakfasts of both fire-eaters this
morning and neither partook Of
luncheon.
There is some danger in this last
lbstinence. Fears are entertained
est McGraw becoming extra
hungry, leap down out of the
:,randstand and, rushing out upon
The field, gobble up little Bill
McGown, the umpire, in a single
,:Dite. In that case, Clark Griffith
night not be blamed for rushing
Town after the New Yorker and
;obbling up at least one of Long
George Kelly's legs. Each one Of
3eorge's famous legs Is as big as
III Of Memo Liebold, the Washing.
on outfielder.
II neither McGraw nor Griffith
wakes overly hungry today. it is
possible that they may put on
their eating exhibition over at
Tampa next Wednesday when
the Giants appear for their re-
turn contest with the Griffs.
However, the betting odds would
favor GrifH at Tampa.
The Griffs motored here from
Tampa this morning and will re-
urn the same way tomorrow night
rom Bradentown. Trains are
;; aboo in Florida as much as pos.
iible this spring and this is extend
ng to the training, too. If cold
Winds and rains continue, the
thletes may have to do most of
heir work on the way home against
he Boston Braves.
The younger pitchers began work
at Tampa on February 10. This. is
heir fifth week in uniform. Five
II the fifteen pitchers on the staff
nave faced big league batsmen.
Marherry has been on the hill for
i've innings, Wingfield for four and
McGrew, Roe and Joyce for three
apiece. The others have been spec
rators, getting in all their work
pitching to batters.
The ceaseleSS monotony Of going
through the motions Is beginning to
ret in its work. There was real
srief the other day when rain pre-
sented the game with the Braves
It ST. Petersburg. After all is said
baseball player prefers to play
oall, not merely take his turn
against a pitcher. The practice
.acks SAVIOR.
Unless there Is q radical re-
versal Of orders, there will be no
practice skirmishes at Tampa
until next month. Four games
are booked for next week with
DOME Bush's Indianapolis team
1t Plant City on Tuesday, the
Giants on Wednesday, the Car
dinaIs at BradentOwn ON Thurs
day and the Cincinnati Reds at
Tampa on Saturday.
The daily drills start with spirit
SKIU OX1U Will uOLACCdUk0 uuAIACSS
rhe pitchers, with one or two ex-
70 the hill against the batsmen.
i've minutes work on the bases,
lies. The days work ends with
he regulars doing the same thing.
Showing the interest Of the play.
>rs in baseball as a game, hardly
q there a contest staged within
driving distance of Tampa but par
Ties are formed. Plant City and
Lakeland are visited whenever In
dianapolia or Cleveland is playing,
he Griffmen marching solemnly
through the gate and grabbing box
seats.
The natural conclusion to be
drawn from the program followed
by the Griffmen this spring is that,
save among the pitchers there is
small competition for places.
Prothro Is booked to open the
campaign at third base. He is not
forced to offer any comparison be-
tween himself and any rival, either
1T bat or in the field. Steady work
3 bringing him down to weight and
he should be ready when the season
gets under way.
There appears to be some small
competition for that rightfieId job.
Memo LeibOld is slated to open
the season there, changing places
now and then with somebody.
Who this other player is seems to
lie between Smith and Rich
bOurg. Thus far George Fisher,
with . minor league clouting
average Of 1895 for the past two
years, seems left out in the cold.
Much Is heard Of the all.around
ability Of Lefty Brogan, Mule Shir-
~ and Fred Wingfield, but all
three are holding to the task set
for them. Brogan and Wingfield
are pitching, while Shirley plays
first base in the fielding drills.
Chick Gagnon reports his lame
wing lie in shape again, but he gets
small chance Of proving it. The
midget's wounded knee appears
fully recovered and he may hang
ON to his job, at least, until Doc
Prothro either proves firecracker
or a bomb. Gagnon Is a rather
nifty third sacker, but he is playing
second in the fielding drills at
Tampa.
More rain bothered the Griffs yes.