Evening star., 1924-03-21

milwaukee brewers this afternoon.
All needed now to fill President
flowing is something that will pre-
vent tomorrow's tilt with the Cardi-
mails at Tampa. With Walter Johnson.
ace of the National mound staff,
slated to make his 1924 debut, a
good turnout is expected. and the
prexy figures the game receipts will
go far toward defraying training
camp expenses. Should it rain again
Ak and, with malicious intent, crash
into the Tampa weather bureau.
Really these poStponements of ex-
hibition games are becoming serious.
Other big league clubs, especially
those of the American circuit are
going through their games regularly,
fortune seeming to favor them, while
the Nationals have been in but three
team we'll advanced at the time.
Weather Is to Blame.
Recently climatic conditions have
been so poor that Bucky Harris
sgnng has not been able to do more
sthan get some meager fielding work.
sthe dampness, have been held to
nshort f1inging exercises. No batting
has been possible for several days at
Tampa, because of the soggy ground
pitchers box, and no intraclub games
have been attempted on the days
where possible. In fact, all going on
has been flock of athletes in uni
form generally conditioning them
sselves physically.
AS a rule, base ball clubs preparing
dor a championship campaign play
sbase ball, but this has not been so in
sths case of the Nationals:
The men now don their uniforms.
take those portions of the practice
field dry enough to stand on and
TOSS a ball about for time. Some
Few players grab bats and do d bit
of bunting, then all hands get into
their eating garments, repair to their
hotel and talk a deal of base ball
that neither limbers arms, sharpens
batting eyes nor aids the recruits in
acquiring the low-down on base ball
strategy.
So far no provision has been made
Tor lntraclub contests on the days
the Nationals have no engagements
with outfits of the rival circuit,
Although Manager Harris has threat
ened to add such to the programs.
Some means of getting the Nationals
into real competition will have to be
devised and soon, too, if they are to
be at top form for the opening of
American League championship race.
Other clubs hereabout are making
much progress in their team training,
but not SO the Nationals
White Sox Trade Rumored.
Rumor has it that negotiations are
under way for a trade between the
Nationals and the White Sox. Pat
Flaherty, scout of the latter club
which is training at Winterhaven,
Fla, has been around the Tampa camp
for several days, apparently endeav-
oring to get a good line on the host
of young pitchers under Bucky Har-
ris' wing. 1t is declared the White
Sox want another hurler or two and
might be induced to part with an out
fielder-perhaps an outfielder of some
reputation who swings a bat from the
right side.
President Griffith, of course, knows
nothing about any proposition of this
nature, but the Sox have a couple of
outergardeners they might possibly
use for trading purposes and one of
known caliber would be very well
come in the Nationals fold. To get a
good look at pitcher, however, the
White Sox scout probably will have
to loiter about the Tampa drill field
for long while. The boys are not
getting many opportunities to show
their stuff these days.