Evening star., 1925-03-22

There Is every reason to believe
the Nationals will be as At for the
start Of the American League cham
pionship race. as any other OF the
seven aspirants to the flag. After
several weeks Of preparation, the
club was somewhat sluggish COM
pared with other clubs encountered.
But the world pennant winners dur
ing the last few days have advanced
wonderfully. With another week of
careful yet strenuous work they
should quit their Florida camp just
about ready to start the struggle in
defense of their laurels.
An arduous transforming trip
must be concluded before the cur
tain raises on the 1925 campaign of
the Johnsonian circuit, but the
games to be played during the tour
should serve to keep the club in the
fighting trim It will have at the end
of it's stay in the Gator" State in
stead of dissipating the benefits de-
rived from the training camp work.
How Harris Figures 1t.
Stanley Harris. pilot OF the world
champions, firmly believes that a
club should play itself into condi-
ton. Made manager on the eve of
the training season last year, Harris
did not have an opportunity to test
but Immediately at the close OF the
world series last fall he set about
preparing for a training campaign
that he considered would be ideal.
and the one now about to end may
prove right Harris contention that
! the best way to prepare for base ball
! Is 10 play base ball.
The Nationals have been doing
| mostly that. for the past two weeks
| With the exception OF Sundays, they
have had but one day, without game
since March 10 and they probably
will have but three more off days be-
| fore the league season arrives.
There has been some criticism con-
cerning the Nationals pre- campaign
schedule, particularly that part of II
which has to do with the Giants, bu;
results so far do not Justify adverse
criticism. Physically the men are in
| fine fettIe, team play is more ad-
vanced than usual with the Nationals
at this stage of the training season
and the pitching rapidly is rounding
| into a form already attained in other
departments OF the game.
| Manager Harris is very we'll salts
| fed with the results so far and feels
| that the Nationals, barring illness and
| injury. will step into the champion
ship ring next month better prepared
| for the long battle than they were at
the outset of the American League
argument in 1924.
Believe me, we'll be hard club 10
beat" Bucky declared today. II am
not claiming any pennants now, for
there are seven other clubs in the
league and they are by no means to
| be despised. But our club now is bet
ter than it was last year, and will be
still better on April IA.
IRheid Is in Great Form.
"And when we get into that race
| Just watch US step, Just consider that
our infield is in great form. We have
been putting up fine defense for this
early In the training season, and
| there Is no reason why 1t should not
| be better when we get down to actual
| fighting.
All of US are in splendid physical
condition. particularly Roger Peckin-
paugh. Any of the fans who thought
Peck was through after his injury
| In the world series will be greatly
surprised when they look him over
next month.
The clubs outfield is doing won
derfu1ly well in the gardens. Goslin
| Is a more improved fielder than he