Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
UNSIGNED PLAYERS
TO REPORT ON TIME
Marberry and Four Others
to Talk Over Terms at
Biloxi Camp.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

For some reaSon-perhapS
many were pinched by the
stock decline-the boys are fall
ing over one another in their rush
to make certain of fat pay check
the first of May. Major circuit
stars who in December proclaimed
they wouldn't lift hand to help
their clubs unless their heavy de-
mands were met have come to
terms-and reasonable terms, too,
it seems-with the club owners
and there is no reason to believe
the Washington club will expert
ence any great difficulty in swing
ing into line the few players it has
yet to sign.
In fact. President Clark Griffith has
been unusually successful in rounding
up his stock of diamonders. OF the 81
Nationals in reserve the preXy had
signed 81 before departing last week
for his clubs training camp site, blloXl'
Miss And the five unsigned can In no
way be accounted hold-outs.
According to President Grlfntn no
player may be listed as hold-out until
he fails to report at training camp at
the time ordered. And in that event ne
would be no hold-out if he had rea-
sonable excuse for hardness. so the
stand-ofish attitudes of Fred Marberry,
AID Liska, Carl Fischer, Jack Hayes and
Jimmy Mcleod isn't bothering the
washington prexy at this time.
All have notified the Nationals boss
thew will blow into Biloxi at the time
ordered-February 25-prepared to talk
turkey with him They also have in
dicated in their letters to Griffith that
there are no great differences TO con.
slider and that If permitted they will
proceed with their conditioning work
while holding salary conferences with
him. That doesn't sound much like hold
out stuff.
WHEN the bell rings big Fred Mar
w berry, veteran strong-arm hurler
of the Nationals, very likely VIII pc
ready to go for his club as he Is capable
of going when at his best. 1t Is the
inclusion of bonus clause in the con-
tract proffered Marberry because OF
Grifith's hope of prodding the pitcher
to hasten training work that annoys
the big Texan at present. Marberry Is
a VIGOROUSLY slow trainer and for sew
eral seasons has not come around to
GOOD hurting form until late in May
The bonus proposition does not appeal
to Fred. He wants to be assured of
stable fat salary Fred can't be blamed
for that. nor can Griffith be blamed for
wanting to get the best out of the pitch
er early in the campaigning instead OF
waiting until the season is one-third
gone.
Fred always has been a stubborn fell
low to handle when contracts are writ
ten about, but always reasonable when
he and Griffith have had heart-to-hear
talks. In the talks it becomes a matter
of give-and-take and so far as known
Fred never has gotten the worst of 1t.
Quit likely Fred will be in there in
good trim and working on bonus basis
when the season opens on April IA.
He'll be liking it and trying earnestly
to make that bonus.
r IKE Marberry, Liska and Hayes pre-
~ fer to talk over matters with
Grifith instead of completing ar
rangements by correspondence. They
did not swing into line last season until
after reaching Biloxi. Then each sign
ed on the dotted line after talking with
the washington president less than is
minutes.
It is understood the salary proposition
In his 1881 contract satisfies LiSka, but
the underhand pitcher wants change
in the bonus clause. According to
washington club official the difference
Is so slight that it may be easily adj
justed.
A compromise with Hayes is expected
to be effected It seems that Jack feels
he is entitled to a raise because of his
great ability as an infielder even though
he may be infreouently used by the club
because he is not a regular in the line
UP. Jack is mighty apt to get part Of
the increase he asks.
Mcleod probably is baking because
most ball players balk every year when
terms are discussed. It's just as natural
for the ball player to endeavor to get
all he can as 1t is for the owner to hold
down his pay roll. Jimmy isn't likely
to stick around the club this year,
though. Not because he Is asking more
than Grifith wants to give him, but
that it Is believed he is being wasted
on the Washington bench. season
with a fast minor club should work
wonders for Jimmy and he probably
win get it.
There are some oddities in the Ma
tionals' schedule for 1881. Although
the club twice Jumps from Washington
to the Western sector, 1t is not slated
to return from the Western sector to
the home lot at any time this year. But
the Nationals have very junpy pro-
gram with the Athletics. There are
many leaps between Griffith Stadium
and the home of the world champions
on the card. So scrambled Is this part
of the schedule that once-on Monday,
August 3-the Nationals. will have to
play a double-header in Philadelphia.
And then there is Washington's fine
sunday schedule. The league list in
cludes in all "a Sundays for games. On
10 Sundays the Nationals are to play
here.