Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02

/ Walter Johnson of the
flock of Nationals he has in
training for the impending Ameri-
can League championship cam
paign. But it's too early to know
what's what and the pilot of the
Washington base ball club is do
ing more wood-Sawing than talk
ing. 1t is certain, though, that
Johnson is tickled by the earnest
way the players, veterans and re-
cruitS are attacking the training
business in the camp here on the
Mississippi Sound and it is no
secret that he expects results much
earlier this Spring than last.
Already the pitchers are through with
casual tossing about of base ball and,
starting tomorrow, each will be given
individual attention in conditioning
work. Therell be no cutting loose with
the salary wings, of course. That will
not occur until another week rolls
around But each pitcher is to toll with
all experienced receiver, that control
may be helped while the arm is grad
ually brought around to trim,
For the first time in years the train
ing field used by the Nationals is we'll
regular infield, four pitching ranges have
work. In addition to the slab in the
regular infield four pitching ranges have
been prepared on the ground used by
the Washington club foF~practice Slabs
have been sunk and home plates placed
at the proper distances from the pitch
ing boxes. Working on regulation
range is expected to help the hurlers
much more than If they were perform
ing without the slabs for footing and
nome plates for targets.
Liska Furthest Advanced.
While none of the pitchers is to be
hurried in his conditioning regime it is
evident that some will round into good
form much quicker than others. Prob
ably the first to be allowed to test his
arm to the fullest extent will be Ad
Liska, the underhand finger who made
his big league debut only last year. Ads
peculiar style of delivery strains the
shoulder and arm muscles much less
than the orthodox overland throw. 1t
is little more than natural swing, with
no twisting of the muscles. In practice
today Liska was allowed to send the
ball to his receiver trifle faster than
the others were throwing, and he de-
clared he felt no strain whatever. But
Trainer Mike Martin did not let Ad toll
very long.
Fred Marberry, ace of the Washing
| ton stan last year, reported in such fine
physical trim at this camp that he
needs little work to loosen his legs and
improve his wind, but his arm is to be
nursed carefully. Right now johnson
looks to Marberry to again carry the
and intends to take no chance of Fred
suffering a setback in the form OF an
early season sore salary propeller.
Again, though, this promises to be a
tough training grind for Bump Hadley.
Not only did Bump arrive at camp with
considerable extra poundage spread
about his person, but also with uncer-
powerful than his tootsies and the
/ tootsies are bad, indeed, at present.
Bump hasn't fallen arches in the true
sense, but unfortunately he never de-
veloped a pronounced foot arch and he
suffers from the next thing to fiat feet.
| 1t pains Hadley greatly to do much
running and running he must do to
wear of the extra flesh he carries and
to better his wind. This camp will be
no pleasant place for Bump,
Easier for other Veterans.
In all likelihood the other veteran
members of the Nationals mound corps
viii not find the going so rough. Sam
taking to training as a duck does 20
water and SO are the left handlers. Bob
Burke and Lloyd Brown. All came here
In good shape considering the Winter
lay-off. Myles Thomas seems to be a
tribe underweight. But he declaS:-s
ne feels well and shows an abundance
OF pepper in drills.
Don Savidge, comparative rookie, car
rleo over from last year, and Carlos
Moore, Herbert Pyle and Paul Daugert.
out-and-out recruits, are willing work.
erS and are apt to stick around some
time before final judgment is passed
on them. In experience, Moore seems
to have the call over the others. but
Pyle, well set-up fellow, may make a
great bid for a berth
Muddy Ruel, who did little catching
iaSC season, seems bent upon regaining
his post of flrst-string receiver with the
Nationals. He is one of the hardest
working athletes in camp and ALREADY
Is getting the kinks out of the throw
ing arm that troubled him so much the
past two campaigns. Old Pat Charity.
now listed as player, but who is more
OF coach, is stepping along well, too,
as receiver, while the youngsters,
Gordon Phelps and Nelson Jester are
not averse to toll and thus far have
proved very valuable around the camp.
80 lar, pretty good, thinks johnson
ana walter is credited with knowing
his onions.
Tate Heads for Biloxi.
Looks as though Benny Tate. stockv
little catcher who did such valiant work
1or the Nationals last season, at last
Is seeing the light in so far as playinp
cerned
Chased as holdout when he baked
at terms offered for this year and re-
fused to report here last wednesday
as ordered Benny is about to keep
taith half way with the club. Presi-
dent Clark Griffith today received 8.
wire from Benny which announced the
catcher was leaving his home in West
frankfort, Ill. for Biloxi and would be
at camp the first part of next week.
Grinth is ready to talk over terms
with the little receiver and declares he
Is not inclined to be harsh because
Benny did not report at the time or
dered. According to Grifith, Tate al
ways has been more or less provoked
because he was not permitted to do all
the catching for the Washington club
and while the prexy usually does not
tolerate disobedience of orders he adj
mireS Tate's spirit and expects to have
the catcher in line soon.
One more catcher will be a big help
here. There are plenty of pitchers who
will need attention from now on.
While Tate will be welcomed gladly.
1t appears the club authorities are not
worried much by Roy Spencer's aloof-
ness with respect to the terms offered
him. Spencer, 1t seems, informed the
club it would have to meet his terms
or struggle along without him. Perhaps
Roy failed to see the official American
League averages that ranked him nine- ,
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