Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-22
CLUB TO Be READY
AT START OF RACE
Good Physically, Pitching
Goes Well, Batting Will
Come, Says Pilot.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor, The Star.

HnOxI, Miss, March 81
X Despite the sorry showing OF
IL his Nationals at bat thus
far, Walter Johnson pro-
fesSes to be well satisfied with the
results attained to date in prep
ping for the opening Of the Ameri-
can League championship cam
paign a little more than three
wees hence.
The managers optimism could not be
attributed to the fact it was the first
day of Spring, according to the calen-
dar, for the sky was overcast for the
most part, the bit Of chill in the air
was accentuated by rather high
breeze and altogether the weather was
more suitable for gridiron activities
than base ball.
aside from the fact the boys are not
hitting. things are shaping up nicely
for u.s." the pilot asserted. For one
thing, there are no casuals in camp. We
have gotten by without any one being
hurt. That's a lot to be thankful for
and the fact they all are pretty well
limbered up now reduces the likelihood
of any serious injuriss.
Generally speaking, there is little to
be desired In the way of physical con-
dition, only two or three of the players
being burdened with too much weight,
and the spirit of the entire gang is
good. From a fielding standpoint they
are almost ready, now that their arms
have been sufficiently strengthened to
allow hard throwing and we have
nothing to worry us on that score.
tsPUT it is with the pitchers I am
- particularly pleased. Some Of
thu older fellows are not yet
ready to go nine innings, but they are
working up to it gradually and there is
plenty Of time remaining for them to
acquire stamina necessary for travelling
the route at top speed.
From the way he looks in the work
outs Crowder ought to pick up this
Spring just where he felt of last Fall
and no one could ask for anything
better than that Jones, the Oldest of
the lot, is taking things a bit easier
than the rest and probably will be
slower rounding into form, but he
ought to be ready when the bell rings
and from the way he looks now am
confident he will cross up those who
have pointed out that he never has two
good seasons in succession.
S'PURKE and Liska both are loose
- and FREE and are displaying
better control than usual so
early in the year, while I never have
seen Hadley in such excellent shape as
he is now, not evsn in midseason. He
is q stockily built fellow who has to
battle continually against overweight. but
he has worked so hard he Is down to
his proper pitching poundage right now
and II he can maintain that level ought
to have a really big year because he
has about as much stuff as any one
IN the business.
"Marbury has been toiling conscienti-
ously and to good effect, but probably
still Is farther from his best form than
any Of the others. He Is such heavily
built fellow he has to work much hard
er than a ma jority of his teammates
to get on edge. With him it isn't merely
a question of weight, for he is down
almost to the right mark now. It's a
matter Of wind, legs and strength OF
arm. A pitcher has to have all OF the
physical factors that enter into hurting
in q smooth and effective manner over
the distance Of a full game properly
co-ordinated, and with Fred its just
naturally q tough Job to get to click
ing all over at once.
ssTTs true the players have gone
much longer than usual before
getting their eyes on the ball, but
I'm not much concerned about that
because know what they can do.
None of them has done any hitting TO
speak Of thus far, and a couple in par
ticular-Judge adm Bluege-look pretty
bad up there at the plate, but they
will come around in time.
Established hitters like Rice, Cronin,
Manush and Myer give me no worry
when they fail to connect early In t1e
Spring. They have averages they main
tain year after year and they can be
depended upon to bat up to that
standard.
"They get all the hitting practice we
can give them with a somewhat linn
tied bunch Of pitchers available for the
drills, and with games more frequently
scheduled from now on they will get
even more. BY the time we leave here
I viii be very much surprised If they are
not all connecting with the ball with
normal regularity and we may not have
TO wait that long, for they are likely
10 break through any day, and once they
get started they viii keep on going
An in all the situation looks good"
WITH the Louisville club scheduled
w for the opposition here again to-
morrow, Marberry, Crowder and
Jones are due to get their first shots at
bog work this year, toiling In three-in-
ming shifts for the regulars while the
second stringers. under the direction
OF Coach Ed Charity, are contesting
with the Mobile Marines at Mobile.
This Junior varsity nine VIII nave
KuheI at firSt. DaShiell on second.
HAYES at short and Jordon on third, with
Harris, Burns and Harry Rice in the
outheld. Brown and Liska are expected
TO do the pitching against the Southern
Association outfit, with Ed Charity
probably on the receiving end Of their
shoots.