Evening star., 1925-03-12


game, leaving Bucky satisfied that
service when the curtain raises on tn
Harris now believes that he will
not have to worry about readylng
his infielders and outfielders for the
big business ahead. They are stand
ing the strain of long games re-
markably well for this time of the
training season and doing their Work
with the skill and precision OF sum
mer form. the game yesterday was
characterized by the brilliant field
ing of the Nationals. They handled
a total of SO chances perfectly. turn
ing in four double plays in the frst
eight rounds of the overtime mat
ines 1t was midseason fielding,
truly.
Harris would be happy, indeed, if
the pitching department was as far
advanced in development as the other
departments of the squad. He has
several hurlers in rather fine fettle
among those now taking the trip
that ends Friday but there are some
who are bit backward in their con-
ditioning work. These backward men
are likely to have much to do within
the next week or two.
Training Must Be Pushed.
This conditioning of pitchers must
month from now Manager Harris
must be ready to reduce his squad.
1t is this that caused Harris to leave
at Tampa a half dozen hurlers for
intensive grooming under the direc
tion of Scout Joe Engel. if any direct
ing is needed. The group at the
training base includes Walter John
son, George Mogridge, Warren Ogden,
Walter Ruether. Stanley Coveleskie
and Vean Gregg, all, with the pos
sibfe exception of Ogden, men who
have been in the game long enough
10 know how to ready themselves for
the nearly six months of campaign
ing.
1t seems that the only pitchers of
this lot as far advanced in training
as they should be at this stage of
the conditioning season, according to
Manager Harris, are Coveleskie and
Ruether. The pilot asserts this pair
sot a good deal of benefit from the
stay at Hot Springs, and that a few
more days of hard work at Tampa
will bring these veterans around to
form.
But it is another case with Johnson
and Ogden, who also sojourned at
Hot Springs. Walter was so late in
reporting that he got nothing much
out of the stay at the Arkansas spa.
Harris figures the man who led the
American League hurlers last season
both in winning percentage and eff
fcctiveness will have to endure a hard
training grind before he is quite fit
for duty.
Ogden, unfortunately, may be slow
fn arriving at the peak of condition,
Harris fears. Although Ogden Is
rather certain the shoulder that trou-
bled him in other years is now o. K.
as result of treatments undergone
since last Fall, the muscles around
the joint have yet to be tested thor
oughly. 1t probably will be some
while. too, before the young man who
did such startling work for the Ma
tiona1S last year will be able to give
his arm an honest trial.
Merely a Matter of Time,
With Mogridge and Gregg, condi-
ttoning, perhaps, merely is d matter
of time. Mogridge rarely has to
work very long before he takes his
regular turn on the hill. George has
been good Spring pitcher in other
years, and there is no reason to be-
lieve he has lost all his early cam
paign effectiveness. Gregg, although
no youngster, pitched good enough
ball last year to satisfy Harris he
has something to give the Nationals.
These six pitchers are making Har-'
ris think a great deal at present.
There is a great chance that one of
them will not go through the season
as a National. 1t is rather easy to
name one who will, of course. John-
son. naturally, is a fixture. But right
now every one of the others will have
TO prove his right to be retained.
And with such a short time remain
ing to prove their worth, most of
them are due for an intensive period
OF training.
But Jim Mcnamara and Benson
Brillheart, southpaws, are pitchers
who probably will not have to un-
dergo any extra work. They appear
TO be quite near the peak of condi-
tion now Each demonstrated yes
terday that he Is about ready to
travel the full route in a game. Nc
Namara. the big fellow procured
from wichita, worked through fine
four innings, holding the Giants to
one hit a scratch single by Frank
Walker BrHlheart went through
six s.ssIo,.s giving FIVE safeties, two
frs. Gid. t run.
Scratch Hit Brings Defeat.
Harry Kelley, youthful right
handler, was on the slab for the last
two framcs. He was trif1e lacking
in cot.rol. but displayed much pitch
ing ability. He walked couple OF
batters and in the twelfth the Giants
nicked him for a pair of bingles, one
of the blows being decidedly scratchy.
But it was enough to get them the
game.
jackson had walked to open the
frame, but Terry flied to Leibold in
left Southworth singled to left, but
fast fielding prevented Jackson from
advancing farther than second base.
Hartley rolled to McNally, and while
jackson took third Southworth was
forced out by toss to Harris.
Buckys relay to Shirley was too late
to nip the batter. though. Then
Maun topped a ball that rolled just a
short distance toward third base.
Bluege, who was playing deep, came
tearing in for a perfect pick up, but
Jackson was across the plate and
Maun within stride or two of first
before Ossie had the ball, so no throw
was attempted.
The Giants other run came in the
seventh. Walker began it with a
wallop that sent the ball soaring
over Leibold's head far enough to
enable the hitter to reach third.
right for single. Brillheart then
thereafter during his stay on the
mound. 49,
The Nationals staked themselves to
their run right of the reel. After Nc
Neely was thrown. out by Frisch. Har-
Virgil Barnes glove hand Rice sock
lx. .I.n Arxxr n rot Tnr ~