Evening star., 1926-03-26

on A fifty htty basis Bucky Harris ,
ping. Tor tho Grants are to be enc
training season tomorrow and twice
Meeting the McGrawmen three
times within four days probably would
he thought enough by any club but
to add to the Nationals troubles the
Baltimore Orioles. for years leaders in
the International League. will visit
here Wednesday to wind up the Flor
ida campaign.
This quartet of contests is eXpecte ell
10 brighten National batting eyes and
pcrhaps strengthen National pitching
arms At present. both of these things
need to he done. The America n
League champs have fallen into q
mean losing habit in their condition
ing work and much of il has been
brought about by weakness at bat and
on the mound.
Afeld :he Nationals have heen just
rs good as could he expected at this
stage of the game. perhaps better And
once HariSmen get on the runWays
they make considerable progress. hut
they are not stepping into the ball
with the force that would make them
really formidable and their pitchers
are lacking in steadiness and cunning.
Generally. the National moundsmen
are about two weeks behind the pitch
ers of clubs they have faced.
Three Pitchers Tomorrow.
Two veterans and youngster striv
ing for a permanent pitching berth
will toe the slab for the champs to-
morrow against the Giants. They will
he Walter Johnson. Alec Ferguson
and Harry Kelley. OF course. the big
train will steam through ahead of the
nth ho l,1
form in the second threeinning block
and the Kelley youngster finish the
game.
johnson seemed in good form
wher he made his 1926 debut last
Monday against the Reds. although
he was found for six safeties and
n run in his three innings on the
hill In fact. Manager Harris and
Trainer Martin considered him in
such good form and physical trim
that since they have had him de-
crease his daily workout After
facing the Giants johnson will eXer-
else lightly until next Wednesday,
when he will take short turn
against the Orioles before departing
for Washington.
Ferguson evidently needs much
more work unde" fire before he may
he pronounced ready for big league
battling. even though he appears to
he and declares he is in great shape
physically. He has been very incon-
sistent in his work on the mound.
Alec pitched excellent ball against
the Braves, fell before the Phillies.
then proved too wild to be effective
against the Reds. He has been toll
ing diligently since his last slab ap-
pearance, however. and NAV show To
better advantage against the New
Workers.
Kelley started his training routine
a much better pitcher than he was
when with the club before and has
heen improving steadily. He seems
10 have acquired more speed and is
, ahle TO mix his deliveries nowadays.
Harris has great faith in the young
ster, looking upon him as the most
likely of the recruits seeking regu-
lar jobs.
Field Day for Athletics.
This was field day at the training
camp, and the athletes after going
through the customary morning drill
put on few special stunts. There
were relay races in which quartets
drawn from the in1eld and outfield
squads were opposed and match
srrints between members of the catch
~
were broken.
The outfelG squad was represented
by form dahle four. composed of
Maurice Archdeacon. rated as base
hab's fastest runner: Sam Rice. Earl
McNoely and Johnny Tobin. 1t en-.
countered an infeld team that in
cluded Stuffy Stewart. Ossie Bluege.
Buddy Meyer and Jock McNiff. The
outflclders barely Sed to take the
measure Of the infielderS on the slow
ti'aek.
Three National pitchers got deal
of rough treatment at Clearwater yes
rerday. while TWO DodSer hurlers had
the American Lea que hatsmen eat
ing out of their hands. The third
pitchers used by President Mana ger
Robinson. was given q sound slam.
ming. hIlt his team was so far ahead
at the time that il did not mean any
thing.
.Ipc Bush was the first National
hurlcr to take his medicine. and Joe
was given a more bitter dose than
he took in his debut 1T Sarasota last
saturday. He %wept through the
first inning IN great style. but not
1hc "econd. Fournier's tWo-ba gger.
Marriott's homer over the right field
fence. A pass To CorCan and singles
nv .l1"f caves ana Wy lit netteu the
l'odg rs three runs and all hut knock
ed Joe off his pins. However. he con-
trived tn hold the opposition scoreless
3n the third inning. although it got
q pass and a single.
CCvay Is Thumpcd.
Stanley CoveIeskie started where
Push left off and the Dodgers re-
neWei their attack. In the fourth
round they comhed the Pole spit
haller for four markers. Hargreaves
opened the inning with a double and
Tarnes hunted. Covey got the ball
80 Blue"e in lime for a play on Har-
greaves. hut BlueCe dropped it and
there were two of the enemy on the
paths. Wits single sent one home
pnd Maranville sacrificed. After
Wheat lined short to Joe Harris.