Evening star., 1924-10-02

the fatiguing train trip from BoStor
were quite ready for strenuous BATH
prepared to timber up that all may
Manager Stanley Harris intcn
afternoon and tomorrow. Coniereu
by lengthy batting and fielding drill
confidence in the tie ding ability o
particularly concerned with the def
looked in that department OF the gan
the Nationals attack. and will conce
batting power in the pre-serles pract
Harris is a great advocate OF the
sacrifice. especially the sacrifice in
Nolved in That form Of attack known
as the squc"z" play. Average nunt-
ers generally are able to meet tho
bali well ennu-1 to advance run
rer from first to second base or frcm
second to third. according to the pilot
Of the American League ChamDions.
but considerabl" hunting skill Is re-
uuired to lay down tA- pan properly
in an efro~t 20 bring home "a runner
from third base.
hunters poSSs Ssing that knack are
not numerous on any club in the
majors but the Nationals are fortu-
nate enough 10 naVe n their ranks
several batsmen who usually can
propel the ball in the proper direc-
lion and with the right mount OF
speed to accomplish the best results
in the squeeZ. play. These bunterS
ar. very valuable asset to the club
and will be trained particularly IN
the short-tap art IN addition to the
daily drills
Have Used Squeeze often.
The Bucks squeezed in number
of runs during the American League
campaign and not few OF their VIC
tories were due TO tn" employment
of that method of attack. lhere
were adopts at the art OF hunting IN
both the upper and lower parts of the
batting order. The manager hlmSeif
is a proficient hunter and so are Joe
Judge. Roger Peckinpaush and Muddy
Ru.I Others may acquire the knach
70 such an extent during the IN
tnnstve drills today and tomorrow
that practically any player in tie
lineup NAV be dangerous in emef-
gencies in the big series.
All of the pitchers will get thor
oueh workouts in the batting drills.
Some of the National slabmen have
not done any conside rable work for
quite while. Others are accustomed
to warm up frequently. OF the latter
group is Walter johnson, who en-
deavors to get strenuous WORKOUT
the day before he is slated TO pltch
a game and takes A cooling-oH drill
the day following his game.
Johnson is expected to toe the slab
against the Giants in the first strug-
oIa Of
timber up to some extent this after
noon. but tomorr, w he will prime
himself thoroughly for the initial ef-
fort against the National LeaguerS.
If Walter pitches Saturday, it will
not be his first appearance against the
Giants this year. He opposed the
New York club when it had many OF
its present regulars in the lineup, IN
a Spring training game at Tampa for
four innings. Walter yielded four
hits and tally in that term. the ma
jority of the blows occurring in his
last inning on the mound.
Well Tutored on Paths.
The Harrismen also will be well tu-
tored in base running. There is little
likelihood of the Giants executing the
so-called surprise" play they worked
against the Yankees last year. That
II
from the outheld of long singles and
throwing to second to snare batters
trying to stretch their SafetieS, in
stead of attempting the generally i'm
possible feat of heading off the runner
sent homeward by the wallop.
There should be no element OF sur
prise in such a play, for all good ball
clubs have used it for some years.
The Bucks employed it throughout
the American League campaign and il
helped them a great deal, too. And
during that time Buck base runners
were instructed to watch rival clubs
attempting the play. There were few
instances in which a Buck was trap
ped on the paths after hitting mate
home.
Harris, at second. and Peckinpaugh,
at short, usually have cut off throws
from outfielders who have scooped up
hits when such a play was planned.
They employed the play successfully
against the Yankees probably more
than against any other rival in the
league this year. The YankS collec-
lively have not been noted as great
base runners They have depended on
their slugging prowess more than
anything else to get men around the
paths. But Manager Harris contends
that a club depending more on its
speed than it's hitting, as does the
Washington club, ought not to be
caught off its guard often by such
play as the Giants used SO effectively
against the American League title
winner last year.
Reserves Are Drilling. Too.
Fielding drills will bring out every
member of the squad eligible to play
in the series. Manager Harris nat
urally wants his reserves as well
versed in defensive strategy as the
regulars Three squads will practice,
the regular infield combination to be
followed by the reserve quartet, then
mingled groups of regulars and re-
serves will be drilled, that, no mat
ter what combination may have to be
used, there will be SmoothneSs and
precision in play.
Something new in batting practice
here was to be attempted by the
Bucks this afternoon. That the bat
ters may accustom their eyes to a
moving target backed by a dense
mass of humanity. the temporary
stands in center field today will be
flied with school children during
batting drill.
1t is much easier for a club swinger
TO discern a pitched ball backed by
the usual green coloring of ball
parks, but the mottled hue of stands
directly in his vision often makes a
good sight difficult. Two days of
practice with the outfield stands fill
ed, however. are expected to help the
Bucks greatly.
There will be morning and after
noon drills at the stadium tomorrow.
The Giants, due to arrive here to-
night, will practice at the Georgia
avenue park. They may go through