Evening star., 1924-03-08

termined, and the contest starting Z
to throw some light on them.
So far as size and the amount of
stun he can generate under favorable
conditions is concerned no rookie
ever aspired to a berth in fast COM
pany who was better qualified than
McGreW. Some six feet six inches in
height and with a reach exceeding
even that of Walter Johnson, the
teXan has physical attributes that
should go a long way toward making
MIN a. success in his chosen line of
work.
Different This Year.
On the occasion Of both his other
trials with the Nationals in 1922 and
again last spring Slim was handicap
ped by ill health and an unexplained
conviction that everybody and every
,nlns was conspiring against him.
"t health, weighing twenty pounds
more than he ever did, and is brimful
or confidence engendered by the sue
cess he achieved with the Memphis
club last season.
According to the other Nationals
IN camp who played with and against
MN last season, McGrew was a regu-
lar terror in the Southern Associa-
tion. HIS masked delivery, similar to
that employed by Harry Harper in
that with his peculiar wind-up the
ball remains hidden from the yiew Of
me batsman behind the body of the
hurler until just before it is pro-
PEELED plateward, combined with the
terrific amount of power he gets into
ms heaves, converted most of the
hltters in the Dixie circuit to the
safety-frst idea and rendered Nc
GreW task comparatively easy.
Where Slim will bump against it in
the American League is that the hit
ters in that circuit-most of them at
ieast-stand up there ready TO take
Inelr medicine and don't pull away
OUT OF 1ear Of being beaned. That is
one of the chief distinctions between
pase ball in the big show and the
Sticks. The major league players pos
sess, to use an inelegant but express
sive term, the quits"
Another Big Angle.
another important consideration in
regard to McGrew is that when COM
PEELED to eliminate that windup, his
efhclency is materially reduced 1t
was. at least during the two former
trials he had with the Washington
club, and that is one of the points on
winch some light may be thrown by
MS showing in the game today. Pitch
ing from stationary position di-
rectiy facing the plate, with the ne
cessity of watching one'o more rum
ners to prevent them from obtaining
Il big lead, and straightaway hurting
with disposition of the hitter the lone
consideration, are two entirely differ
ent matters.
Many an otherwise promising finger
has been so upset by having aliens
romp around the paths practically at
VIII, after once Eeaching first. that
they have proved dismal failures.
Such an eventuality makes them
nervous and uncertain. They find
themselves pitching so hurriedly that
they are unable to locate the plate,
with the attendant penalty of grant
ing passes to the enemy. Then. when
they let down to make sure of getting
the ball over, the opposition has so
little difficulty in gauging his Offer
ing that they pound him all over
the lot.
Specie Weak rs Fielder.
Specie is powerful fellow, with
barrel of stuff so long as he sticks to
his underhand style, and appears to
have stamina enough to last through
Il double-header every time he starts,
but his ability to field his position
may well be questioned, judged by
What mas been observable of him in
the practice drills.
II the Cubans try him out on bunts
this afternoon the manner in which
he handles himself will be watched
with keen interest by those whose
Judgment will influence the final de-
cision as to what players shall be re-
tanned for the 1924 pennant chase.
The Omaha acquisition, whose high
corroborate his claim to having In
dian blood in his veins, has appeared
very awkward in attempting to snare
Srounders in the pepper games that
constitute part of the daily routine
1T Plant Field, and unless he shows
remarkable Improvement in this re-
spect he will have Il tough time of it
when the smart clubs he is called on
20 face detect his weakness, which
they are sure to do.
Martin COnclnie6 a fter p;oL
bourg perform in the hy-chasing ses-
sion yesterday that it would be ex-
tremely lnadviSable to permit him to
play in the battle this afternoon. for
rear of aggravating the lameness in
ms foot, and for this reason has de-
cided to employ Goslin in the outfield,
although he was not supposed to use
any of the regulars.
How They Will Face.
Unless last-minute changes are
made, the teams will line-up in this
order when they take the field at 4
O'clock:
NATIONALS. CURANs.
Bluege, ~. Gonzalez, Sb.
Bean. 2b. Yillarin H.
Fisher, rf. Mira, 2b
GOsiln' II. DOminguez, cf.
Sm1th, CT. pedrCrO. c.
HarEraye, 3b. BOuza, ss.
Shirley, 1b. Ortera. f.
Tate, G. GrandiO RI
MceIreW, p. Valdez, ID,
unrDerIy, p. Hernandez, p.
Specie, p. Casares, n.
Umpire Mac MCGOWAN, who is 10
receive a trial as Il member of Ban
Johnson's official family this year and
Sho has been designated to work all
The games the Nationals play in the
spring exhibition series, arrived in
camp yesterday and will handle the
indicator, in the tilt this afternoon.
MCGOWAN is a comparatively young
fellow who officiated in the Southern
Association last season and is said by
recruits from that league to be a
competent official.
Owner Win Clark of the Norfolk
club of the Virginia League, from
whom the Nationals obtained title to
Col1egian Shirley, was a spectator at
the practice of the Griffmen yester-
day. He is in Florida ostensibly for
vacation, but undoubtedly will try to
pick up any players Manager Harris
may dispense with who do not rate
being farmed to league of higher
classification.
Both Dudley and Joyce received
nasty cracks on the feet due to
stopping batted liners while pitching
10 hitters in the wand drill yesterday,
but neither was seriously hurt. The
injury Carr Smith suffered Thursday
when he was struck on the foot by
a foul is causing him little trouble
and should not handicap him much in
tho frav this afternoon.