Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-04
PITCHERS LOOSEN
ARMS IN WORKOUT
Now Are Allowed to Speed
Throws-Marberry Signs.
Boss Is Hurt.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

ball today echoed across the spa
cious field where Manager Wal
ter johnson is directing the ac-
tivities of the Nationals and marked the
beginning of the second stage OF train
ing for the American League pennant
chase, still month and half distant.
During the first week of conditioning
the activities of the young batterymen
were confined largely to simple exercises
designed to loosen their muscles, par
ticularly those of their throwing arms,
and so we'll did they succeed that they
were able to make a good job of offer
ing targets for the initial batting drill
for the batch of infielders and out
fielders who got on the job this morn
ing.
For the first time this year the brand
new diamond constructed by Ground
keeper Emil Haisman was put in use
and 1t was a tribute to his craftman-
ship that it held up we'll under the 20
and more pairs of spiked shoes that
executed lopes, sprints, turns and quick
starts and stops on it for close to two
hours.
After the customary period of tossing
and bunt-fielding as means OF warm
ing up, the pitchers took the rubber
In turns and with the batting cage IN
position devoted about 10 minutes
apiece to hurting base balls aimed at
the mitts of the catchers. A great
many found their mark, to. as the stick
WieIders naturally were handicapped by
rusty optics after Winter Of idleness.
But the FINGERS under strict orders
from Trainer Mike Martin merely were
having 'em in there, with no effort TO
use deceptive shoots, and as result the
reserve pitchers who were stationed IN
the outfeld got plenty Of leg exercise
in shagging drives.
Marberry Signs.
Fred Marberry who was expected to
prove the most stubborn of all the Ma.
tionals to get aligned for service, due
to the fact that he had had no COM
munication with the club in more than
three weeks, crossed everybody up by
blowing into camp yesterday and en-
rolling after a confab with President
Clark Griffith. thus escaping official
designation as hold-out by matter OF
O few hours.
Following the practice of the Wash
ington club, no announcement OF the
terms agreed upon was made. IL is
known that the figures offered him
called for q reduction in the salary ne
received last year, and 1t safely may De
'ventured that he had had to stand for
n cut. The important thing. however. Is
that he signed in time to obtain all the
preparatory work mapped out Tor nm
which means he should be ready Tor
effective service when the campaign
gets under way. He appears to be In
pretty fair physical condition.
The capitulation of Marberry left but
three Nationals outside the fold-Goose
C;oslin. sam Jones and Charley Gooch-
and the latter's status was altered
ghortly after Fjvpo signed. The acqul-
sition from Little Rock was among the
arrivals of yesterday. It seemed I'M
probable he would have made the trip
all. the way from his home at Ventura.
Calf. If unwilling to play for the sum
originally offered, and that proved to
be the case.
Boss in Poor Condition.
To the general rule of good condition
possessed by the 1929 squad of Griff- I
men. the only exception thus far known
Is Harley Boss, juvenile flrst basenan
obtained by purchase from little Rock
last season. This 20-year-old athlete, |
who came in yesterday from his home
at Jonesboro. La. has his left hand. |
with which he throws heavily encased
in bandages as a result Of an automo-
bile accident a week ago today. It
bears some ugly wounds received from
flying glass and 1t probably will be some
time before he is able to use it.
These cuts are deep and painful. but
do not represent the full extent of Boss
disability. for it seems he was num-
bered among the victims of influenza
this Winter. His was particularly Sc
we're attack and in consequence he is
woefully run down physically and far
under weight Trainer Martin has taken
individual charge of his case and is ex-
pected to prescribe a long rest as the
first step toward building up his health.
Nothing has been heard from Catcher
Cliff Bolton, now week overdue. but
word has been received from Pitcher
Paul Mccullough to the effect that his
hardness Is due to illness.
President Ernest S. Barnard of the
American League yesterday paid sec
ond visit to Griffith. who now is COM
PEELED to forego golf because of an at
tack Of lunnbago. Barnard is confident
the race In his circuit will be more
evenly balanced than last year.