Evening star., 1925-03-15

Only today President Griffith SO
far forgot himself as to say, We've
got smart ball club again this year
and I believe it will be a winner
After such a break, President Grit
fifth, warming to the subject, added
Now, I'm not predicting another
pennant for the Nationals. You
must remember there are seven other
clubs in the American League and
none is a poor one. We don't have
really poor clubs in the American
League, but, somehow. I've an idea
that the club beating us out will be
the pennant winner. And from what
I've seen of the Nationals on the
road the past few days, I rather
doubt that any other club will beat
them out"
From all of which it may be
gathered the chief owner of the
Nationals thinks a great deal of the
capabilities of his outfit. No one
with the club on the trip from Palm
Beach back to Tampa observed with
greater interest the performances OF
.the world champions than did their
principal owner! He was particularly
with the Giants and expressed him
self as being well satisfied with the
progress made by the Nationals In
their preparations for the 1925
American League campaign
Work of InfieId Gratifying
"It has been some years since a
Washington squad put as much punch
into its games so early in the train
ing season as the present squad is
doing" said Griffith today. II was
greatly surprised by the remarkable
work of the infield in a couple of
the games, usually infeld play is
not so smooth al this stage of train
ing, but the Nationals infield went about
it's job as though in midseason.s
II have never before seen any Of
the National players in such excel
lent condition so early as are Bluege
and Harris. Those two boys right
now are as fit as one could care to
: have them. Why, in the games so
far they have done the sensational
fielding that made them such narvels
last year. Really, 1t looks as though
our infield, which has been a great
one the past two years, will be even
greater this year.
THE enthusiasm with which the
men tackle the grind of training is
wonderful, I think. There does not
seem to be a shirker in the lot, and
I might say that I have looked over
very few squads in which there was
not some fellow who appeared to
think he could get ahead without
really working. It's a great looking
bunch to me greater than last year.
It ought to produce another wonder
team for Washing ton"
President Griffith is not the only
one connected with the Nationals for
a number of years who speaks glow
lngly of the present lot of players.
Your Uncle Nicholas -1Altrock, who
certainly knows a ball player when
he sees one, is "all het up" over the
squad
1T has been my good fortune to be
associated with a number of fine
clubs. but 1 never was with finer
one than this 1925 Washing gton Club.
The men are fine personally and are
unusually intelligent ball players. 1t
ought to be a powerful team" quoth
Nick
Five Games Listed This Week
Five games are expected to keep
the men on their toes this week.
Minor leaguers will be encountered in
two of the games, the Nationals being
scheduled to meet Columbus of the
American Association at Winter Ha-
wen on Monday. and Indianapolis of
the same circuit at Plant City on
Thursday. The world champions
have a. date with the Braves at ST.
Petersburg Tuesday and with the Reds
here Wednesday, Next Saturday the
Harrismen will go to Sarasota for the
third game of their series with the
Giants.
Phil Tanner, young infielder recon-
mended TO the Nationals by Pitcher
Walter Ruether. worked out on Plant