Evening star., 1924-11-30


deliberations of lesser circuit officia
tions OF the L. S. A., but the mino
entirely to themselves, for represer
the big league clubs. including Wash
tent upon strengthening their force
the medium OF trade or purchase
1t is with the announced purpt
champion outfit that President Clark
will hike northward tomorrow.
Both the big boss and field leader
Of the Nationals are we'll aware that
holding honorS won in the national
pastime oftimes is a tougher job than
winning them. They fully realize
that the Griffmen as constituted now
are far from an impreenabie machine,
and that to keep pace with the inn
provements made or contemplated by
rival outfits considerable patch work
VIII be necessary.
only good fortune in the compare
t:Nlly few accidents to athletes suf-
frred by the Nationals this year en-
sb!ed team that was Woefuily lack
Ing in reserve strength to land a the
top of the heap. An experienced and
capable catcher to understudy the
rather fraii and much overv2 orked
1suel is an imperative need. At least
Two versatile athletes OF proved worth
viii have to be available to back up
the inner line of defense. and a right
hand hitter with penchant for ex-
1ra-base blows is essential for the
outfeld.
Pitching, by far the most important
single factor in teams defense,
would receive preferential attention
from Washingtons board of strategy
If the corps of 1924 held over intact,
but the fact that there is much doubt
whether Johnson will return max es
1t all the more necessary for con-
Sideration to he concentrated on this
department. Johnson contributed no
1cwer than % victories while losing
hut seven times in the 80 games he
participated in, and the loss of
hurler of this caliber cannot be
laughed off.
Griffith II Mum on Details.
Griffith and Harris are going to
Hartford with some very definite
ideas about what they hope to accom-
plISh. one or two dickerS have been
under consideration for some time
and others will be broached when the
moguls controlling the destinies of
the soughtfor talent are met, but
following his usual policy the presi-
dent of the local club declines all in
Nftations TO be specific about his
plans. His experience has been that
announcement Of intentions frequent
ly spoils the chances for a deal or
makes it more difficult to consum-
14ate.
No matter what degree of success
attends their efforts this week the
leaders of the Nationals will have
more travelling to do in their search
for talent for next week brings the
annual Winter meetings of the
major leagues where a majority OF
the big deals usually have their
inception. The American League
constitution specifies the second
Tuesday in December for its yearly
pow-wow and Griff's understanding
is that the confab this year is
scheduled for st. Louis. Whether 1t
is held there or is switched to New
York where the National Leaguers
are to foregather on the same day.
December 3, it is assured that the
Washington club will be represented
at both.
starts Lining Up Players.
Trying to persuade Johnson to
spend a nineteenth season in local
livery and efforts TO acquire new
playing talent are not all that oc
cupy the attention Of Griff these
days, however. He knows the cost
OF gratifying his lifetime ambition
for league pennant and world title,
one of which involves adjustment Of
salaries for his athletes. At present
Harris alone of the Nationals is
under contract for service next year.
1t Is customary for players of a
world champion club to appraise
themselves considerably higher than
would be the case If their team
failed to finish in front. That's only
natural.
So far as is known no demands"
have been made for salary boosts by
players on the Washington club thus
Tar, but they are in order, of course,
and while Griff processes to antici-
pate no difficulty in getting his men
lined up il may be regarded as sig
niticant that instead of waiting till
the end of the year to get in touch
with the players he already has
started utilizing the mails to comply
with the rule requiring notice of
Intentions
Griff has a perfectly good explana-
tion for this. however. 1t is that
he Is planning to so to Tampa right
- after the holidays instead of waiting
to go South when the first squad
entraius for the Spring practice base
He has made arrangements to leave
Washington on January for Tampa,
where his two children will be placed
in school and where he will person
ally supervise preparation of train
ing camp facilities for his athletes.
He hopes to finish all preliminary
sparring with players over terms be-
fore he closes his desk here.
Another Long Training Period.
1t already has been decided to ad-
here to the procedure used last Spring
when Washington players put in the
longest training period in the history
of the club. Manager Harris again
will direct the preliminary activities
of a squad of veterans al Hot Springs
for a couple of weeks and the pitchers
again will begin to unlimber in mid
February. Starting work at Tampa
on February 16 the hurlers will have
more than two months to prepare
for the opening of the championship
campaign, which is scheduled for
Wednesday. April Is. but it will be
necessary for them to start, work
carly so they will Ne in shape for
the exhibitions against the Giants