Evening star., 1928-03-07
HARRIS CONFIDENT CLUB
WILL PUT UP GOOD FIGHT
Players Not So Far Advanced Physically, They Are
Being Trained Cautiously, But Hurlers Are Ex.
pected to Make Good Showing.
By DENMaN THOMPSON,

By DENMaN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor The Star.
"ANrA. Fla. March furnishing
touches today were being put on
by the Nationals for the OPEN
i ing game OF the list of more
thar ~ exhibitions scheduled
for them prior To the start of their
championship campaign i'll the Ameri-
can League, little more than a month
hence.
For the inaugural of the grapefruit;
circuit contests the EayriSmen will
hare as their opponents the ST. Louis
team Of the National League, led this
year by Bill McKechnie. former pilct
Of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and as the
tilt IS 70 b. staged at the training base
Of the Cardinals, at Avon Park. rather
strenuous DAY is IN prospect for them.
II Will involve oo-nile trip by motor
his. With three hours allotted for the
journey each way. and means that for
the s.zeable squad that is 10 make tho
Obtained before ard during the game.
although those left behind will be put
through a long session at Plant Field
here SIS usual.
''Car players are not as well advanced
as 1 would like to have them for real
base bali such as may be expected
against the Cardinals tomorrow" MAN.
sge- Harris said. but much prefer 10
have them take plenty of time 10 get
into condition rather than attain top
form 100 soon. even if it does handicap
the club BIT III the early games.
Plenty of Spirit in Squad.
What ;hey may lack In the way of
physical preparedness should be made
UP for IN fighting qualities. for We have
that kind OF bunch, you know.
have noticed that some Of the teams
that train II Florida. most of them. in
fact. all put on speed from the moment
they land II order 20 get in shape as
quickly as possible, and as a result they
usually are ahead Of us when the ex-
hlb.tions start. This enables them to
make q better preliminary showing
but prefer 70 have my players attain
their peak little later. so they won't
50 stale by the time the season gets
under way.
After all. we are training down here
to At ourselves for long grind that
covers the better part o: six months.
and / believe il IS good policy not TO
lose sight Of that fact. OF course. We
don't like 10 lose any kind Of a game.
exhibition or otherwise, and you can
expect Us TO try hard In all these Tits.
but Il is the games you win from April
10 on that count In the standing OF the
teams. and they are the ones We really
are pointing for.
Il have noticed In the papers that the
Cardinals have been playing practice
games between themselves for several
Gays. and suppose they will be ready
TO leap al US with all they've got. We
haven't put in a single inning yet, as
our regulars have been out now for
only FIVE days. But the pitchers have
been toiling for more than two weeks.
and I think we win be able to show
them something in that respect
Wells to Get Trial.
81 originally intended TO use Grifin,
Roy and Hopkins in the box tomorrow,
sending each over the three-!nning
route. as they seemed among those most
advanced. and TO have Lisenbee, Van
Aistvne and Wells split UP the pitching
between them in the first game here
against the Boston Braves next Sat-
urday. but have altered that program
q bit. Griffin and Roy still are on the
card for toi! tomorrow, but instead Of
Hopkins am going TO use Wells. This
big left-hander appears 70 be in such
fine shape right now that want TO get
Q look al him in action. so I'll give
Hopkins chance later on"
Harris was undecided as 70 how his
team. aside from the pitchers, would be
constituted for the initial fray. al
though Hugh AlcNulien and Pete
Cooper are almost certain 10 whack up
the receiving duties. but It Is likely 10
be made up for the most part Of
rockies. as the boss wants TO see as
much as possible Of them under fire
% get al accurate line on their capa-
bllities
Morning and afternoon workouts
were held again yesterday. but were
definitely discarded when Harris found
that the second squad felt logy after
lunch, 50 today the all-moEning pro-
gram again vas put into effect, with
the first bunch starting at $50 am,
telling until II, when the second group
goes INTO act.on and carries on until
they have had enough. This viii enable
al 10 get their fiji Of toll without undue
hurrylng As Coach Milan wisely oh
served. Work taken slowly In the
Spring tends 70 strengthen gradually
tie players. but II their practice is
speeced Up TOO much it weakens them"
Coslin in Batting Mood.
Goose GoSl!n proved the outstanding
figure of the drill yesterday in hitting
way. Usually SLOW IN getting under
way ne started OF this Spring betting
ts3e ball On the nose right from the
outset ard never has appeared In bet
ter condition. Jack Kloza. who opened
III SQcn an impressive manner On Mon
Gay. hls first Gay out, failed To cupl!-
cate MS initial drives and the reason
sHs.f1sc Mas stiffness He demon
S-Ea1o That s4e can get oyer the ground
a. Z tsSt pace. however, and seems 10
nAEe very sturdy throwing arm.
zone q: TIE pitchers already have
stafieo ~ tinker with their curves with
TIE ja4J knowledge and consent OF
Trainer Martin and with the acyer. of
snoli4er Eeek the ban On fl,yckg prob-
hc1y W! De lifted for All ezcep. a few
~ re o-cef men. Fob Burke is num-
1fso Anps1g those VINO are using
wfA.kleE aac Martin is enthualas,ic
topst his condition.
u VIII oe recalled that the Winter be
!cfe last EuTks's apparent fYai!ness ,Dns
ffA@ Ffa@ln Tor summons u WanI.
fRNjn. Were hs Vas given A thoro1,gp,
.'Si'eetAJ2 ana sent home with instr1Ic-
ttp5LA t)'.s, !fF q Diet designed 70 b0iid up his
went Ihs special menus failed Ln
H-eEs ffaei purpose, but for all the
.%@k ~ meat cn his 9 feet ard ] inch
o. frame the yogngster proved he VS.
hi.Eth}tR bIt xeakljng curing t6e
1927 season. " -"
Burke in Good Shape.
Elfkf Is 90 per cert stronger nny
11&'1 ne Eas when he jais3eo the el,,n "
iAafflh ASSERTED To-Day. lie noesn.t
E&fe 10 take IN more weight u he ~
iseDPe, foF hc can work Ike Iorse
nov ~ coufSe. with a few arded
Ej1i5dE te should be- even bettNy hu,