Evening star., 1925-02-22

But happenings OF keen bearing on
the future of the Nationals have fol-
lowed one another so rapidly since
the squad arrived here that the fall
ure of the day to produce a new
thrill left a feeling that something
was lacking.
Call Halt on BriIlheart.
The conditionward climb of Brill
heart, so auspiciously' started, WIS
brought to a sudden end a short
while after practice started this
morning after conference between
Griffth and Martin. 1t developed
that j. Benson suffered a cut to the
little finger of the right hand last
winter, laying him up for over a
month, which was followed by a touch
of blood poisoning.
Feeling that the effects of the
siege of the treacherouS malady has
weakened the Virginia southpaw,
when Martin found out about the
incident he suggested, to his boss the
advisability of having J. Benson take
things very light for a few days.
Brillheart did not seem to feel the
need of any babying, but naturally
fell in with the suggested easing up.
That either elise Dudley of Harry
Kelly, the youthful righthand
rookie pitchers, will have a splendid
chance of sticking 1t out with the
Nationals this season seems apparent
in the light not only of their ap-
parent ability but also due to the
detection of Paul Zahniser. together
with the fact that most of the ortho-
doX hurlers now on the roster Of the
champions are veterans.
Calling the roll of the right-handers,
in point Of age and service. Walter
Johnson is SO years old and going into
his nineteenth season; Stanley Covel-
eskie, SO. and veteran on the mound :;
Vean Gregg, 40 recalled for a come
back when 1t was apparently destined
that Barney was not to be a National
again Joe Martina, who has been pitch
ing ball for IL of his 35 years Allen
Russell. another whose big-league exl
perience, If not his years, rightly earns
a place for him on the roif Of the vet
Grams. are the pitchers who must be
listed among the more or less uncertain
quantities for future mound duty.
Fred Marberry, %, and Curley Ogden,
26, are the only right-handers outside
of the rockies who are under 80, the
big-league danger mark, as far as
hurlers go. And so it would seem that
youthful right-handers with enough
"stun' to get them by in fast company
would have a good chance of sticking,
Hard-Working Youths.
Both Kelly and Dudley are quiet,
hard-working chaps, kHho are talk
ing their work seriously. KeIIy's IA
wins against defeats for the Mem
phis pennant-winning team, would
stamp him as a likely candidate.
reference to the manner in which
these two rockies go about their
work brings to mind the fact that the
squad at Tampa contains none of the
noisy, kidding ''bushers" usually
prevalent. True, there are not many
newcomers up this Spring, but all of
those endeavoring to earn a place
with the world champions are plod-
ding along in a praiseworthy manner.
This condition did not, exist last
season. There were several typical
fresh bushers" up for trial They
did not last. They seldom do.
Ball players usually pick them
selves out" said Clark Griffith, dis
cussing this phase of training camp
activities. Put a squad of rockies
together. along with the veterans, for
month In a community house: let
them have more or less free sway as
far as their general conduct is con-
cerned. Iney Will do their own
classification work.
Those with the poise and conduct,
which Is just as necessary as physi-
cal ability, will establish themselves
as worthy in this time. The sulker,
the know-it- all, the breaker of
rules-these, too, will readily fix their
own status. And then the rest is
easy for those who control the desti-
nies Of a ball club"