Evening star., 1928-02-21
KNOWS MOUND ART.
as
GR|FF COACH SAYS.
Memphis Graduate Reputed
Smooth Pitcher-Tate Is
Loser in Argument.
By DENMAN THOMPSON,

By DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor The star.
TAMPA. Fla. February 2i.-Clyde
Milan has a message for Washington
fans
Watch Griffin" that's it.
When il comes 10 discussing ball play
ers. Clyde is not given TO stopping over
with an excess OF enthusiasm, but he
is mighty keen for the little !eft-hander
and 1t isn't because he happens TO hail
from MilaD's home town, C!arksville.
Tenn. either.
When il Is considered that Clyde was
foT more than a decade one OF the
American Leagues premier f!y chasers
and since his season at the helm OF
the Washington club III 1922 guided
ii1e des.;::es Of New Haven III the East
erTs League tor couple Of years and
the Southern Association for a trio Of
campaigns il may BE- conceded that he
knows something about what consti-
tites ability II a diamond athlete.
AL right. Rodney. taS the boys used
to call him when he was Walter john
sens roommate and inseparabie COM
pan!oD.N stands qualified as judge Of
livery IN the rough or otherwise. and
he is willing 10 tell the world fair that
Griffin is the goods with a capital "G,"
and he does not mean perchance.
Milan Must Like Griffin.
Today. standing just OF the bunlpy
terrain where Trainer Miguel Martin is
enoeavoring 10 fashion what eventual
il Viii blossom into base ball dia-
mon6. while the dozen and more young
battery candidates Of the National were
going through their second session OF
Spring drilling, Milan directed this re-
porter'S attention 10 the 'littlest fellah'
- an array Of half dozen or so that
were fielding hot-Shot buuts from a
bal welded b. Benny Tate.
That's Griffin" Quoth Milan. back
with the Nationals this year in the
capacity OF coach to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the release OF Jack Ons-
low, and then he started TO dilate on
the attributes OF this youngster who
eSpires to make the grade as a SOUTH
paw pitcher with q club that has half
a dozen other left-handed candidates.
II addition to nire job hunters who
hurl in the orthodox manner. But
We might as well turn the mike" over
TO Zeb. Stand by. folks, Mr. Milan
b7oadcasting.
Hes Just natural born ball player,
that's all Rodney drawied in his 0ia-
lect-redolient OF Dixie. Reported to
me at Memphis two years ago. Won
% games for me then and came back
last season to put q more on the right
sice OF the ledger.
Hes the poetry Of motion in the box
You can't tell much about that now at
this early stage Of the game. but wait
until he gets his fipper in shape and
starts easing EN- piateward. Then
youTi see.
..rrasr r@+ . t,,r5 han .1ot ;,,-+ s..n,L-
up or yun, more than mere wrinkle
for hook, and knows how to mix EN-
up. Bright Lad. also. Why. we've dis
cussed certain plays casually in the
clubhouse and every time a similar situ-
stion presented itself. with him in the
box. he gave evidence that he had
learned the lesson by doing just the
thing We had agreed upon in the skull
practice. Never knew it to fail.
Nap Fuckers Fayorite.
you don't. ask cad. he knows. Anyhow,
Nap was something OF finger HIM
self. back in the old days with the
Brooklyn Dodgers. He was left
handler. too. They're an odd bunch.
YOU know, these left-handers. Sorta
c.2nnish-iike n some OF 'em are kinda
cuckoo, but they know their own kind
Well Nap hangs around Memphis quite
Bit, always taxes IN the games. and
every time he showed up at the park
n the last two years he would ask
me- 10 pitch Griffin.
I uSec 70 tell Rucker ! couldn't work
the k1d cut Of turn fer no good reason,
b.: he always hove .cto sight with the
same request. and finally I asked him
the ThTfcr O. j.. He's Just easy on my
eyes, that's ALL Nap replied. 1t does
me GOOD 10 see a youngSter who seems
to know what It's all about working out
there. There's nobody in this league
taat goes about MS chores in the same
competent, wori.n3an!.kc manner / get
q lot Of satisfaction. sitting back there
In the shade looking al pitcher that
knows how 70 pitch. and think IN the
future III arrange my visits To the parx
on days when Griffin is scheduled 10
work
Nap DIDN'T overgtate the case much"
Milan went on. Griffin Is as finished
performer as I ever have seen outside
o: last company. His capabilities are
not confined 70 pitching. either. They
iaik &bou. AiTock and other oid-timers
who gave their clubs fifth infielder
the cay they were ii the box, but
cc0Dt II any of 'nfn1 could gobble up
more batted varieties With such ease
s'lc assurance as th!s lad He's ali over
that in3e2c, selaGnl makes 6unl <.luck.
si4c fun3Dse* bal. about once IN blu.
moon.
SAID 10 Be Real Eunter.
And Gr.G.1'& raide i5n't confined 10
ceteESe, either, He is one of the most
accomplished bUuErs that ever tappc6
bal he can giaee 'enl With remark
abe rTeci&ioE3 ag1c ranked right I'D with
tt1e leadeTS 81 sI2e E1Qsnern In sacrifice
IiE Furthermore. he gets Down 70 frat
80 earn 'a8t that yi>ai inacldess fire.
19"nt!y EGafe t2e hall away. ia their
an1se'y ~ hurry the throws Wee Won
many q game shat way"
y ra!.g f.0Se ~ the lunch hour your
t'}freAsIprcef'. nuc!2 impressed w.,n tne
i1psen'la3lst'~s ~ yo9,3g Mr. Gnsf3n. an:
tetHailk+slg :aDnAeaf ~ aD afternoon trYsi
'pF c}fot~c.g2 a2, 8et ~ IL the general
direction u Tie rese"IoFy, only 70 be
a@.ttc after tew stfices by the vo.ce
G. Milan,
On. yef." ZeD called, With an in
aTltaD.e tsSnk.t In his eye, ot & blue
nae. usually referred 70 sG honest. Il
f>fgot u te!! yum. This chap IL quite
hitter 1}o"
EQt bs "eye on our way then We
cc4EcI3 l4stND ~ more for fear We
would De pttaUsfied ~ advocate. III ON
great :ani!jy newspaper. tnat Griffin
a.tt}e De retained ~ pitch for The Griff
nlen this season aad all the otnft
n.hAuc&inea be fired ~ ~ usucn rxces,
b2aGs9e.
t;:gi.l s.erio'4siy. Trough. # Milan coi..
fltefs Griffin ~ b. halt IA gp5d 4
p&'"her ~ ~ '4ifd ~ Huake ua DeiifVe
tlen 'spe hoy rDat ~ fair 1:le ia1l,
nt s'hl5silcs iseDed tg9m dub ilaaGQIar,
ieTA lsst T:sH - Lssi4.Q ~ year. .ilG
teel Z inches i11 helgHt and welghlnl
80. although MS appearance in uni
tom Y0llc .eaG one ~ suspect that h,
i!.>s .he beam ~ SaYefhl pDYHcs ai1pr
u utat figure.