Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-01

Starting today the allimportant fea-
ture Of batting practice is instituted,
Mike Martin having given his con
sent to have the field he has recon
structed used for the first time. AS
Set the diamond is in far from first
class shape, but few days more of
grooming to iron out the wrinkles
infield drills will be possible. so that
the Nationals will not have to journey
to St. Petersburg next Saturday for
their initial contest of the year
against the Boston Braves without
some preparation in the way OF Snar-
ing hops and FOUNDERS.
Field Ready March -.
Except for the annual battle in
which the local Cuban All Stars are
opposed by an aggregation OF hedg-
ling Griffmen directed by Martin,
which is scheduled Tor next Monuay,
there will be no contest on the local
field until March 10. Then the
Braves are due to come here for
return engagement. In The two weeks
intervening the trainer hopes to put
the grounds in first class condition.
According to Martin there Is not
sore arm among the lot OF Kids whose
exercise he has been supervising and
he is confident they will be able to give
the regulars some highly beneficial
work in the wand drills. For the first
few DAYS each hurler's tour of duty
on the mound will be limited TO 10
or - minutes and all nave been
warned that they must take IL easy.
In striving to make a favorable i'm
preston Young pitchers are prone TO
cut loose as soon as the opportunity
of toeinG the rubber is presented, with
the result that they frequently pull
I'D for GpthAcE
in their training. Miguel has ordered
that for the present the fingers con-
fine themselves to merely Offering
targets for the batsmen avoiding any
effort TO put something on the ball.
Mike plans to be on hand every min
ute of the drills. too, 10 see that none
of the ambitious juveniles tries TO
sneak anything over,
All i'm Good Condition.
Apparently there is not single
athlete who has reported thus far who
is not enjoying the best of health.
those who have been sojourning at
Hot Springs clearly showing the bene-
fits of the preliminary work done
there.
Bush Coveleskie. Rice. Goslin. TobiD
and Judge all appear to be in the pink.
The latter. in fact. worked so hard
following the pace set by Coveleskie,
that he claims to have lost 10 pounds.
but the iowls he developed each Win
ter still are in evidence and il is sus-
pected that Joe is spooting.
Peckinpaugh. alone OF the contin-
gent which visited Hot Springs, failed
to show up. Roger having been grant
ed permission to stay over for few
DAYS in view of the fact that business
affairs at home made MIN tardY in re-
porting there. He will come on later
in the week and incidentally may have
Ruel in tow.
One of the athletes fresh from the
Springs is authority for The informa
ton that Peck received p letter from
Ruel in which Muddy signified his
intention of joining him a Memphis
tomorrow. While Roger is enroule to
camp.
Ruel May Sign Soon.
President Griffith asserts nothing
new has developed in the case of
Ruel, who has been stoutly contend
ing for salary increase greater than
that offered him. hut if Muddy is
headed for Tampa all differences prob
ably VIII be Strengthened out at
personal confab.
II is probable Grin ana Goslin will
gel together on The question Of the
latter'S contract today. Goose's status
is q bit different from nat of Ruel
and Ruether in thai he was given
permission To report before signing.
BY dint of much searching Walter
johnson succeeded in locating house
for the period Of a month that will
intervene before the training season
ends here. His family came on from
Daytona yesterday and this is moving
daV