Evening star., 1925-03-28

this afternoon.
The Nationals expected to face Art
Nehf, southpaw, who hurled against
and defeated Johnson in the memora-
BILE 12-inning opening battle of the
championship series, at the outset OF
hostilities today. But tn" portsider
was not clever enough to check the
Nationals at Sarasota last Saturday
when they repulsed the Giants for
the first time in three engagements
this year, and they were not particu-
1arIy worried by the prospect OF fac
ing him again.
All other games of the Nationals
Spring exhibition series pale into in
significance in comparison with the
contests in which the Giants are en-
countered. OF course, the players
have the desire to win in all of the
practice tits, but they entered the
first three matches of the schedule
with the Giants not only with a de-
sire to win, but also with a spirit
characteristic of a club in cham
pionship campaign rather than in a
Spring transforming series.
Criticism Still Is Heard.
While the fire Of criticism condemn
ing the management of the world
champions for arranging Spring Sc
ries with the Giants that fiared up
when the schedule was announced has
subsided to a great extent, II stlll
sputters into a siZable flame at times.
within the past few days a noted
base ball writer has put himself on
record as believing that Manager Har-
ris' action in negotiating for the
games was that of a rash and short
sighted young man.
According to the latest critic, the
Washington club could by no posi-
bility reap anything except a slight
financial advantage, and he is at d
loss to understand why President
Clark Griffith, who is so canny in
base ball matters that he has been
named the old Fox should have
assented to the Harris proposition"
Just why this series should be so
harmful to the Nationals is difficult
10 understand. No one comes out with
any statement that the Giants viii
have their morale wrecked or their
mechanical effectiveness impaired if
they are beaten i'll the majority of the
games. Yet that is what some of the
critics Seem to think will happen to
the Nationals if they are drubbed
more often than they triumph
Not PLEy1nE on Fast CIOry.
They say much about a loss of pres
tige and the development of an in
feriority complex by the world cham
pions If they fail to carry on from
where they left off last October That
may be good in theory, but it Is not
likely to hold up in a practical test.
The Nationals had no prestige to
sustain them or overawe their op-
ponentS last year, and so far 1t does
not appear that they intend to play
their games upon past glory this
year.
Manager Harris is fast forming a
real base ball club, with real playing
strength and ability, and whether 1t
scores over the Giants or is runner
up to them in the transforming trip,
it still will be a real base ball club
that will fight gamely to repeat its
American League triumphs of 1924.
Ideal training weather has been
working wonders with many of the
veteran pitchers in the Nationals
camp. Stanley Coveleskie and George
Mogride have conditioned themselves
splendidly, and now it seems that
Joe Martina, who has more summers
behind him than most of the hurlers
in major ranks, is about to blossom
forth as really dependable box
artist.
Oyster Joe came to the Nationals
last Spring from the New Orleans
club of the Southern Association with
the reputation of being a steady, II
not fiashy. performer, possessing a
strong arm, despite his years of
service in the minors. But training
season made poor by unusual weather
here did not properly fit Joe for the
American League campaign, and he
was no bowling success last year.
Earns Serious Consideration.
Now Joe promises to force much
consideration of his merits by Man
ager Harris when the latter begins to
reduce his pitching squad. In prac-
tice yesterday Martina revealed
enough to warrant Il thorough trial
before he may be regarded as unable
to hold to the pace demanded of
major league pitchers. His workout
was far better than any previous one
fhis season, either on the practice
field or in competition. He has speed
excellent control and change of pace
of high order.
Martina's performance was the
brightest spot of the strenuous grind
the Nationals were called upon tc
undergo on their last gameless day
in camp. Almost all of the pitchers
had long turns on the hill in batting
practice, and every member of the
squad participated in fielding drills
Several of the athletes, especially
Johnson and Ruether. were given
more to do than on any previous day
I'm camp, but they bore up Well under
are so well conditioned now that they
can withstand a deal toll