Evening star., 1925-03-29

letes are in splendid form for their
ith fair weather the series of exhi-
: base bali effectiveness in every way.
last year 1t was feared that Peck
might be through with base pail after
he suffered the leg injury that forced
his retirement from the 1924 world
series.
The veteran, however, instead Of
showing any signs of permanent dis
ability as result of that hurt, has
withstood the wear and tear of field
ing and base running surprisingly
we'll Nor has Judge noticed any hint
of return of the ailment that af-
fected his knee and put him out Of
commission so often in other seasons.
Bucky Harris, a great natural athlete,
is in his usual superb condition.
Sam Rice and Goose Goslin are
ready now to step into the cham
pionship campaign as outfielders. The
Goose, who was so slow in rounding
into condition last Spring that he had
to be disciplined by Manager Harris,
is down to a good playing weight and
much faster than formerly. His field
ing technique is better, too. Earl Nc
Neely, the remaining member of the
regular outer-garden trio, is covering
his center territory better than he
did last Fall, and the throwing arm
weakness that was noticeable then
has been remedied to some extent.
Eight of Pitchers Ready.
Fourteen pitchers are on the roster
of the Nationals and eight of them
are in superb condition physically.
according to Trainer Mike Martin OF
the lot, Jez Zachary and George
Mogridge, southpaws, who have seen
considerable service with the club.
appear to be the most advanced, but
Walter Ruether, lefthander procured
from Brooklyn, and Stanley Covelcs-
kie, righthand spitballer bought from
Cleveland. press the first pair closely.
As it is now, these four are likely
to be among the quintet Of hurlers
Manager Harris will look 10 for reg
ular service during the titular strug-
gle.
Allen Russell, spitball veteran, and
Joe Martina, aged recruit of last
year. have developed rapidly within
the last two weeks, while J. Benson
Brillheart, for the third time trying
for a berth with the Nationals. and
Harry Kelley, youngster purchased
from Memphis of the Southern Asso-
citation, are fully ready to pitch d
route.
vean Gregg, 40-year-old portside
hurler, who would stage a big league
comeback. has made much progress
in training, but he and Fred Mar
berry, the young Texas giant who
was the Nationals iron man last
year, still have deal of WORK to do
before they may be considered well
prepared for active service.
johnson Needs More Work.
Walter Johnson, who led the
American League pitchers last year.
despite it's being his eighteenth in the
circuit, is not progressing as rapidly
in training as Manager Harris would
like. Reporting late and with some
extra poundage on his frame. Johnson
has had to work out carefully and has
not been getting any great amount of
power into his pitches. But with
strict nursing the dean of the
moundsmen is expected to be OK
when the gong rings for ths 1925
season.
Curley Ogden, who performed so
sensationally for the Nationals when
he came to them from the Athletics
last Spring, has been disappointment
so far. An operation 10 cure a pitch
ing arm ailment was performed on
Ogden last Fall. but no one knows yet
whether it was successful. ogden has
not done we'll in two starts, although
Manager Harris insists the big fell
low will round into form soon and that
he will be retained until he shows he
is of no value to the club.
Jim Mcnamara, young lefthander,
acquired optionally from Wichita. has
been doing some good hurling, despite
a sore throwing arm, but his retention
is rather doubtful. Manager Harris
is to cut his pitching squad to 10
men at or shortly after the start of
the American League season, and it
now seems that the three siabmen TO
be separated from the world cham
pions will be chosen from among
Russell, Martina, Brillheart, McNa-
mara and Kelley.
RueI is In Fine shape.
Herold Ruel is in excellent physical
condition and again prepared to hear
the brunt of the Nationals catching
burden. \ He is heavier than when he
entered the campaign last Spring and
much heavier than when he entered
the world series last Fall He has
been throwing better, too. Bill
Hargrave is about the same type of
catcher he was last year.
Bennett Tate, the youngster of the
lot, has improved in ability, but still
is overweight. However he Is likely
to lose most of his extra poundage
during the northward transforming
trip.
The Nationals are far better off in
reserve talent than for several years.
Spencer Adams, who came from the
Pacific Coast League, and Mike Nc
Nally, veteran American League sub.
stitute, are greatly superior to Tom
Taylor and Ralph Miller, upon whom
the Nationals had to depend for work
from second to third base in the
latter part of the 1924 race. The out
field substitutes probably will be
Harry Leibold and Wild Matthews.
Leibold still is one of the best out
f1elders in the game, even though a
veteran in service, while Matthews is
stronger than he was last Summer
and still full of that indomitable
spirit that made him so valuable an
asset while with the Nationals. Roy
Carlyle. outfielder, brought from the
Southern association for trial, lacks
fielding tinesse and has yet to. prove
his ability as a. batter.
Despite yarns concerning Peck's
tottering limbs and Johnson's weak
ened ankle, the club generally Is trim
physically and its spirit is good. too.
Players and managers viii have their
Continued on Third PaSa1