Evening star., 1928-02-26
BY DENMAN THOMPSON

TAMPA. Fla. February 25.-The
end OF one solid week Of work
today found the battery candi-
L dates OF the Nationals In fine
shape without single excep-
ton. Although the training maneuvers
they have gone through daily since last
Monday have been of the most ele-
mental order they have effected the
lOosening UP of muscles so essential
after Winter of idleness and laid the
foundation for the more ambitious pro-
gram of exercising now due.
Following complete rest over the
Sabbath. the athletes on Monday will
be speeded up bit each day In order
to have them fit to furnish some real
batting practice for the regulars who
are due to report and take their initial
workout on Thursday. so that the team
will be able to give a good account OF
itself when the exhibition schedule of
more than 20 games Is opened week
from that day.
To date. plain tossing that never has
been permitted to develop beyond the
use of half speed has marked the pitch
ing efforts OF the II fingers in camp.
In every instance the initial soreness
attendant upon the resumption of ac-
tivities following months Of loafing has
worn of and there Is not a lame wing
In the squad. With the advent Of the
new week. the lid will be tilted a trifie
with permission granted for the per-
formers to bear down in the matter Of
speed and to start oiling up their curves.
Task for Pitchers Ahead.
Another period OF soreness then must
be reached and passed. whereupon the
moundsmen will buckle down TO the
task OF sharpening the hitting eyes OF
the infielders and outfielders. as well as
to cope with alien batsmen by the time
the st. Louis Cardinals are encountered
at Avon Park. on March 8. in the first
Of the Grapefruit League contests.
In the matter of general condition 1t
Is doubtful whether any advance squad
Of Griffmen In other years ever was
further advanced than the group of
youngsters now toiling here under the
kdirection Of Trainer Mike Martin and
Coach Clyde Milan.
Where. as a rule. several Of the ath-
letes have shown up in years previous
probably far overweight. this Spring the
only candidate in the delegation who is
toting an excessive amount of avoirdu-
pois is an added starter, Joe Domingo.
the c0-year-old native Tampan, who
| has been promised an inspection Of his
of some 10 or Is OF the 200 pounds
now encumbcring his ample framc.
| Just a Trihe Overweight.
| Aside from this Spanish-American
aspirant for box fame in the big show
/ there are but three who can be indicted
| for bit too much heft. They are
Milton Gastcn. the veteran. obtained
| from the Browns In exchange for Earl
! McNeely and Dick Coffman. Bump
/ Hadley, leading finger OF the Grifimen
last season. and Luther Roy. former
Cleveland performer. who was pur-
| lean Association. None OF this trio is
/ far overweight. however. A matter of
but few pounds--just enough TO work
on-as Martin puts 1t.
| Ed Wells. the Southpaw who saw sew
eral seasons OF service with the Detroit
| Tigers before going 10 Birmingham last
| year. where he established the remark
able record Of Is victories as against
but ! defeat, and who with CASTOR Is
regarded as one of the most notable
additions to the pitching staff. asserts
he never felt better. and this state
mert is not belied by his appearance.
The tallest man on the team. rising 10
an altitude of 6 feet and : inches,
Wells tips the beam At little more
| than $50 pounds OF bone and muscle,
Zach Carries Age Well
| Like such veterans and near veterans
as CASTOR. Hadley. Liscnbee and Van
/ Aistyne. Wells is free in his movements
and this goes also for old Man"
| Zachary. whose 3, Summers give him
by the margin Of ever CASTOR the
| distinction Of being the most aged
finger now in camp, For that matter.
aside from Sam Jones, who confeSSss
/ To IS years. Zach Is the oldest mounds
man on the roSter. although the junior
/ of a number Of other Nationals, includ-
ing Manager Harris. Muddy Reel
George Sister, Joe Judge and Sam Rice
the latter the dean Of EN- all
Among the real youngsters Is = quar-
tet Of southpawS that includes Bob
Burke. IL: Lloyd Brown. -; Cricket
Grifiu. %. and Charley Lane, who may
or not yet have attained voting age, who
are eyincing n spirit In their WORK tha,
usually Is seen only ON q varsity campus.
while the right t-handerS~-Paul HOPKINS,
~. and Columbus Sans. who Is even
youuger~-while quieter by nature than
their So,fthpAw brethren are f,,lly nS