Evening star., 1924-03-03

Miguel was no doubt Influenced in
his decision by the fact the contest
between his array of rockies and the
aggregation of Tampa Cubans is
scheduled to be held at the end OF
this week and realized that all the
work it is possible to crowd in will
be advisable if his charges are to
make the most of their opportunities.
"ScOuts" His Opponents.
That his outfit will be up against
a team of considerable class was
secuted" prospective opponents a
couple of days last week at Plant
Field. which they have been granted
she use of in the afternoons to pre-
pare for the approaching battle.
These players were selected by popu-
lar vote through La Presna, q Span.
ish newspaper OF Ybor City, which ;s
a suburb Of Tampa. and the ability
they displayed convinced the trainer
that his Yannigans will not be up
against team Of mere high school
caliber.
The swarthy athletes have the un-
bounded enthusiasm for base ball
typical of all Cubans who learn Uncle
Sans national pastime. They have
been playing the game all winter and
already are in tip-top shape, the drills
they are holding daily now being for
the purpose of perfectinS team work,
as the players have been drawn from
different clubs in the City League.
act as secretary of Il club during
the exhibition season is sold" on
Joe Martina, the big pitcher from
New Orleans. who was due to check
in today to join the kid inielders
mentioned above: along with Allen
Eussell. Memo Leibold and Leon Cos
lin. AS Engel sees it Marberry al
ready has won his spurs and he also
has high regard for the pitching
prowess of Fred Wingfeld. the Roa-
noke. Va, boy, obtained from Chat
tanooga, but he believes Martina will
compare favorably with any Of the
newcomers and is confident he will
pc popular with the fans of Wash
inSton.
Is Big Fellow.
Martina's ability is on a par with
his size" says Engel OF the thirty
four-year-old rookie from New Or
leans who is six feet in height and
good-natured Italian who is not only
always willing to work. but has the
stamina to pitch three or four times
a week, If necessary. 1t will be no
hardship at all for him to finish up
a game now and then in addition to
taking his regular turn on the rub
Der, and because of his qualifications
! will be surprised il Manager Harris
doesn't find frequent use of him as
a pinch hitter.
martina has wise head on his
shoulders. He has been hurting long
enough to know all the tricks Of the
trade and Is game as a pebble. Tough
situations only spur him on to work
pitcher as any ] ever have seen in
the minors and I sure have looked
over a bunch of them since | started
on the road for Griff.'
According to Engel. Martina Is
not dependent upon base ball for a.
livelihood. as he conducts one OF the
largest wholesale fish and oyster
businesses in New Orleans. from
where he is making the trip by boat.
Chesbro Is Hard Worker.
Griffith's players always have had
q fine example in training set for
fails to do as much work or little
bit more than the most industrious Of
them, and they now have another In
Jack Chesbro. The new coach or
pitchers, although nearing the half
century mark in years, Is one OF the
first in uniform every day and the
last to leave the field, and while on
the Job is doing something every
minute. In addition to getting his
regular warm-up with the others and
dispensing wisdom on the art of base
ball as II should he hurled, he fields,
Sunts. pields a fungo bat In fly chas-
ing drills for the outfielders and now
has added n session Of pitching to
batters to his program.
Chesbro faded from the major
league picture some fifteen years ago,
but he still can generate enough
stuff to keep the swatters wary when
they are facing him and can illustrate
his pointers to the Juveniles by get
ting on the rubber himself. When
Chesbro came to camp he was greatly
overweight and loggy from inactivity,
but due to the stunts he has been
going thruogh the balltield every
morning and eighteen holes of golf
each afternoon his dermanic pro-
portions are rapidly disappearing and
IN another couple of weeks he ex-
poets to be able to outlast any one
In camp.