Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-09
TRAINER IS LAVISH
IN PRAISE OF CLUB
Highly Conservative Mike
Sees All Good-Griffmen
Topple Braves.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

YEAO4A44N~d i OAN ~ 1c0O AGSAA
M club when it enters the
v Y American League pen
nant chase next Tuesday
afternoon will be the best ever
to represent the city since Clark
Griffith assumed the leadership
back in 1912. Which means it will
be the best ever to represent the
Capital in the junior major cir
cult, for before Griffith came
here the Washington club never
amounted to much.
Authority for rating this 1881 edition
of the Nationals so highly is none other
than Michael Francis Martin, now en-
tering his twentieth season as trainer
of the club. Mike is conservative, ultra
conservative, when discussing the worth
of the ball club to which he is attached.
He isn't given to spouting about the fine
qualities of his charges. Never has been.
But the Nationals of today have aroused
him as never before.
The best Washington club I ever
have handled" declared Mike yesterday
shortly after the Nationals breezed in
from their Dixie training trip. Nothing
like it before in my days here. Posi-
lively.
why, it seems to me to have every
thing in the way Of good ball club
Understand, now" went on the guarded
and careful Mike, I'm speaking OF the
clubs condition. With very few excep-
tons the fellows are in tip-top trim.
Look EN- over. What a lot! There's
Hadley, weighing less than at any time
since he came to the club, his wind fine
and ready to pitch at any time. And
Marberry. How I've worked on him the
last two weeks. III say he's right so far
as condition goes
That's saying a lot" Mike was told
"Those two always have had their trou-
bles rounding into form"
Sure, know that" Mike admitted.
'But they are right, and that goes for
Just about every enc else we will need
for the season. Look at Bluege. Last
season at the start he was inclined to
nurse that leg he had had patched the
year before. l know he doesn't even
think about the leg having been hurt
now Vests sore arm Is gone and /
believe gone to stay. It's that way with
all the fellows who had ailments with
the exception of Liska. He's the ONT
pitcher to have arm trouble.
tits a great-looking bunch. The best
WdSIDIlk i CNCI AuAA04C0s
Then forgetting for the moment that
he intended to speak of the clubs con-
dition only Mike confided, land I be-
lieve it's club that will go long way
this season"
COMING from Mike, this means
~ much and lcoking over the club
yesterday in its first home show
ing of the season one saw much to
lead him to believe Mike is right, per-
haps even more than right If possible.
Mainly noticeable was the clubs
speed. Not only on the hoof, but In
handling the ball There seemed that
about every member Of the Nationals
that every base ball manager 50 prizes
IN q charge-"action." That's what
the base ball folk term good playing
form. When they say q player has
''action" they mean he knows how to
or has the knack of getting the best re-
suits with the least expenditure OF
effort. And these Washington players
appear to have action, plus.
This afternoon the Nationals were to
l. do battle with another major league
outfit. being slated to tackle the
Phillies of the senior big-time circuit
in Griffith Stadium. Tomorrow they
will journey to Baltimore for the opener
of their ome-and-home series with the
Orioles of the International League.
Against the Phillies this afternoon
the Washington club was expected to
encounter a more formidable attack
than that put forth yesterday by the
Braves, for the Quaker City bunch Is
noted as one Of the best collections Of
ball-pounders in the National League.
However, the Braves did considerable
hitting in taking their 8-to-5 licking in
Griffith Stadium. 1t was only because
the Nationals did just bit more hit
ting punched their blows more effec-
lively and received some help in the
way of wild pitching by an enemy
Tnoundsman that they triumphed in
their 1881 home debut.
MANAGER WALTER JOHNSON
w sent two pitchers into action
against the Braves, and was well
pleased by the showing put up by that
old war horse, Sad Sam Jones. The
somber one, first TO ascend the hill,
went through seven sessions, in which
he was nicked for II safeties and Is
sued one pass, all Of which netted the
Braves four tallies. Had he been bear
ing down on the ball more. Jones might
not have been 80 severely punished
What johnson liked about Jones work.
out particularly was that, apparently
II did not tire the pitcher in the least
Sad Sam finished seemingly Just as
strong as when he started
Carl Fischer went through two
frames and was inclined to be wild
He flashed speed aplenty, but the
youngster still seems a trifle shy of
being dependable major Lacquer. How
ever Fischer is not being counted on
heavily by the club at present.
THERE was nothing weak about the
i Nationals in attack OF three BoS-
ton hurlers they garnered Is hits
and scored at the expense of two Of
the moundSmen. In five innings they
reached the veteran left-hander. Wee
Willie Sherdel. for eight hits and trio
OF tallies. The remainder Of the runs
were cleaned of Fred Farmhouse with
FIVE hits, six passes, a hit batter and
three wild pitches. Had Bill McAfee
not been rushed TO Frankhouses relief
to record the third out in the eighth
the game might have been going on yet.
The Nationals Is hits were good for
"a bases. Homers were contributed By
San West and Heinie Manush. Vests
made within the park. was somewhat
scratchy, like that slammed by Rabbit
Meanwhile Of the visitors. but Manusf's
Fo,Jr-haSe blow was driven over the