Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-24

formidable hurdle Tor the Grift1nen I
straight title.
1t is widely conceded that with t
recent race, and with a coach OF the
inject scrap into them, the AS loom
will have to contend with this year.
This is sufficient to justify the pre-
diction that red-hot battles will ensue
whenever the Griffs and Macks tangie
next Summer, but another and very
potent reason is the newspaper prop
uganda INDUCED in by individual
members of the Philadelphia club this
Winter.
From time to time during the pres
ent off season the public has been IA
vored with long statements from va
rtous athletes on the Philadelphia
roster to the general effect that the
Athletics will breeze in under the wire
and that the Griffmen haven't got a
chance.
Notable among these loquacious per-
formers have been Mickey Cochrane,
who set the style, followed by Ed
Rommel and Bill Lamar. They have
explained at some length and in great
detail that not only are the AS the
class of the circuit, but that the Ma
tionals are merely a bunch of lucky
old StiffS who are due TO Succumb to
rhe ravageS of time and pull up IN
the second division, where they be-
long.
Griffs Resent AspersiOns.
The Nationals keenly resent these
aspersions on their age and ability.
They are so hoped over the effort
apparently being made by some OF the
Macklets to present the washington
club to the reading public in an I'M
favorable light that they intend TO
go the limit to make the men or Nc
Gillicuddy eat their words.
I'VE are all fed up on this news
paper stuff about how the Athletics
are going to trim u.s." Is the way one
of the most prominent cogs In the
championship machine puts it.
Hardly a day passes that you
don't pick up a paper and read where
some one of that gang in Philadelphia
has gone on record as not only pre-
dieting a title for the Athletics, but
prophesying that the Nationals Will
prove a dismal flop. We have been
represented by those birds as having
trained on horseshoes in order to get
where we are. and being headed
straight for the cellar. They infer
that we are merely a bunch OF
spawned has-beenS who should be
inmates of the old mems home in
stead of euchering some deserving
club such as theirs out OF just Dues
"TheY have thing or two to learn.
however, and one of them is that
remnants are not won in the Winter,
nor through the columns or news
papers. It's all very we'll for them
to spout now about how they are
going to win and how We are going
to lose, but they won't be able to talk
themselves into championship. VIC
tories claimed in hotel Hobbies don't
get into the record books. Ban games
are decided on the field, and it strikes
me that they would do better to save
their energy until along about April
10. From then until the end OF Sep
TENDER they will need all they've got.
It will be time enough next 1aii tor
them to gloat If they have anything
to gloat about
Keen Rivalry Likely.
Although he was not speaking for
publication, and for this reason he
will not be named. the athlete quoted
here Is one of the greatest perform :
ers on the Nationals roster, and
there is no question but that his
views represent those of the entire
club.
The champions, to q man, can be
counted on to spare no effort TO
knock off the AS this year. regard
less Of whether they continue to
prove pennant contenders or fall
out of the race.
All Of which means that a rivalry
paraIleling that which existed be-
tween the old Cubs and Giants may
be witnessed in the American League
this year. 1t will be at least 80 far
as the Nationals are concerned. for
they are determined to get Phila-
delphia."
Manager Harris has his eye peeled
for backstopping material to assist In
the training Of his hurlers here. He
already has picked up one catcher In
the person of Manuel Lopez. regular
receiver for the Tampa club of the
Florida State League. who is assisting
Benny Tate in warming up the fling
ers, but asserts he will need still an
other, despite the fact that both Hank
SEVERED and Muddy Ruel are due here
next week.
Harris points out that he has quite
q bunch of pitchers on the roster this
wear and that they will be handi-
capped in their work unless plenty of
rnittmen are available. He is anxious
to avoid any chance of burdening Ruel
particularly, as Muddy is not a very
husky chap and overindulgence in toll
invariably draws him down too fine.
Harris hopes TO corral Some semi
pro in this vicinity. believing that five
catchers will just about fill the Spring
training bill.
Tossing that had some semblance
of real pitching was INDUCED in by
the rockies yesterday for the first
time, in addition to the other custom
airy stunts. Some of the FINGERS
limbered up their arms before the ses
sion of volley ball, which is now an
established feature of the daily drills
and the others took their turn when
it was finished.
Johnson was numbered among those
who lobbed 'em into Tate'S big mitt
The big fellow also put in period at
fielding bunts and took jog around
the field, but passed up the volley
ball on advice of Trainer Martin, who
wants to make sure that Barney's un
derpinning is sound before he INDUCES
in any strenuous exercise.