Evening star., 1925-03-22

| am still in doubt whether the
playing of this Spring series Is good
thing for the training of the teams.
1t is almost impossible to subdue the
lighting spirit and make the games
merely an exhibition. 1t is the ma
ture of any real ball player to fight
TO win. With the enemy right in
front of him, he forgets that nothing
is at stake. AS result, they are
likely to strain themselves before
they are ready.
l have repeatedly told our players
that our system of gradual training
will not be changed whether We are
beaten or not. The coming season
is much more important than the
present series.
Vets Being Nursed Along.
1t is a great temptation in game
like that twelveinning fight we had
in West Palm Beach to send in a
strong pitcher at the last minute and
cinch a lead Just the same, we de-
clined to let any pitcher go more than
three innings, and they worked in reg
ular turn regardless of the score.
Bucky Harris allowed one of his
pitchers to go six innings, and
another to go four-I refer to Nc
Namara and Brillheart-but they
were young fellows in good shape.
/ notice that Harris has been just
as careful with his veterans as we
have been.
Though we won the first two games,
! don't think the result was signif-
icant of the relative strenth of the
two clubs. Our good start l believe
largely due to the fact that We did
not extend ourselves. That may
sound odd, but it is true
The Senator's are at a disadvantage
in this series because of their having
prestige to sustain. 1t means more
for them to lose than it would for
u.s. For that reason, 1 think they are
inelued to press, as they say in
golf. Our club really has nothing at
stake and can go at it with an easier
swing.
After watching the Washington
club in these gaines l believe it even
stronger than last year. There is no
doubt in my mind of the Senators
having q good chance of repeating
The fight will be between them and
the Yanks.
A feature that has pleased all OF
US is the ease with which Roger
Peckfnpaugh is going at his work
His bad leg is coming around nicely
and he wisely refuses to overexert
himself.
Good Young Talent Plentiful.
So far there has been little oppor-
tunity to see just how good are the
youngsters with the various teams.
but l am sure of one thing: There
are more prospective stars in the
camps this year than / ever have
seen before. Good material is so
abundant that managers are puzzled
in making selections.
In our club Frank Walker, who
has had an unusual chance, is doing
excellent work. Wisner, Dodson and
Greenfield, among the pitchers, are
developing rapidly.
~ For Washington young Mcnamara.
the left-hander, pitched strong
steady game his first time out. All
of these youngsters this spring ap-
pear to have more balance, more fin
ish, than usual
l had another indication the other
day of the game gradually becoming
more national than local. over at
st. Petersburg AL Lang, the former
mayor, and other leading citizens
had a reunion of all the major
league base ball people in Florida
In the game. Local lines and even
league lines were forgotten. It~was
gathering of general good for the
game. When people take an interest
like that there need never be any
worry about base balls integrity.