Evening star., 1928-04-26

a rive from five victories in a
wv row II they are followed by
string Of four defeats
Very little. thinks Manager
STANLEY Harris al the Nationals and
after the fourth successive slam on the
heak handed his outfit In New York
Yesterday he decided that the athletes
i,nder his direction need more and bet
ter training for time at least. Sc All
hands were ordered to be at Clark GfAf-
fith Stadium this morning at 10 CLOCK
FOR a drill and the morning sessions WIZ.
continue during the present home stand
Of the club until there is decided M
provement all along the line.
In taking their t2-to-4 licking from
the Yankees yesterday. the Nationals
did show more punch than in their pre-
vious encounter with the world cham
pionS. They blasted II Safeties as
AGAINST three Of doubtful cleanliness on
Tuesday. but there was a general lack
Of concert In attack that took away
the value of most Of the wallopS at the
expense of George PipgraS. However,
The Nationals would have had to show
a mighty punch 10 overcome the Yanks,
SO forcefui were the latter at lambaSting
the OFFERINGS of Fred Marberry and
CLAYTON Van Alstyne. Fifteen hits for
20 bases would win almost any ball
game.
Griffs Make Motions Only.
1t is not only their hitting that the
Nationals must improve il they would
get along we'll during their stand here
that was 10 open this afternoon with a
game against the Athletics, Recently
there has been looseness in their
fielding q lack of speed in their per
forInancss on the paths and some head
less efforts in this same branch Of play
and q general let-down in spirit.
Probably the main thing the club
needs is a good kick In the neck. This
might arouse II from its lethargic state
and cause il TO play the brand Of base
ball 1t is capable OF playing. During the
losing streak, the athletes have done
little more than 60 through the motions
OF play There has been no fire. no
pepper noT anything else in the way
Of enthusiasm displayed. The Nationals
simply have been nine docile men,
mostly Young. In the field seemingly
working for salary and nothing more
Some Of the younger members Of the
squad, who are not yet beyond the re-
cTlIit stage by any means. have gone
about their tasks as nonchalantly as
have some OF the veterans. Two or
three of them apparently consider a
bail game as something merely TO be
endured What happens is not TO be
bothered about. so long as the contest
Is gotten out Of the way, is their at
fitude toward the business. Once over,
II is forgotten by them and so is base
ball It's not UP TO them TO worry,
they feel. That's something for the
manager TO do.
Ready 10 Crack Whip.
And that is Just what the manager
does. too. but his worries from now on
are not going to make life so easy for
these boys and the few vets also who
DO not care whether school keeps or
rot. While the Nationals we're working
their way North during the barnstorm-
ing trip with the Giants. Manager
Harris, irked by the attitude OF several
OF his charges toward the big business
OF the moment, threatened 10 crack the
whip. This must be done and that
must be done. or the party falling to
do his bit would feel the sting OF the
lash Right now the pilot believes
some Of his bad boys should be punished
unless they reform Immediately.
This new order Of morning drill viii
be punishment for some of the MEM
bers OF the squad. especially for some
Of the young ones. These supposedly
virile young men, athletes trained TO
the minute presumably. have been find-
ing il dificult to get from under the
covers before 10 O'Clock in the morn
ing. For number OF them. the noon
day meal has been breakfast. Only
milkmen get up early in the morning.
they have been declaring And one
haz been demanding 10 know why a
ball player. who does not go 10 work
until after O'Clock, should arise be-
fore noon. Yes. these morning drills
vii work hardship on several Of the
younger lot
Must Play Ball. Or.
But the new order Of things win mean
more than getting the athletes on their
feeT early for vigorous drilling on the
ball lot II also VIII bring about an
increase In speed In all lines OF en-
oeasor in connection with their game,
or the manager will discover why there
Is no improvement in individual in