Evening star., 1932-03-05

HOXI, Miss, March 5.-The
K Nationals today finished the
IL first phase of their Spring
training, and, starting Mon
day, when the balance of the reg
ulars will be added to the Biloxi
stadium brio IA -brac, the morning
workouts will become serious busi-
ness for the pitchers.
Yesterday, for the first time, the
when they tossed it up to the batters.
Manager johnson gathered his army of
coaches for series Of conferences and
consultations, then issued his momen-
tous decision: the pitchers could start
putting stuff" on the ball
The pitchers, after hurried cheer,
went TO work on The batterS and the
number of clean hits was reduced
noticeably during the morning drill.
The balance of the regulars are due
In camp tonight or tomorrow. On
Monday they start the work of getting
rid Of a Supercargo gathered during
Winter of idleneSS, but If the lnflelders
and outfielders respond to the workouts
as have the pitchers, johnson will lead
a wonderfully well-conditioned squad
back north.
THE pitching staff as a whole is in
J. surprisingly good shape. Crowder
and Marberry, two men always
hard to get in condition, are almost
down to fighting weight, while yester-
day Crowder was seen, in the presence
of witnesses, to run after fly ball.
That in itself marks this Spring as an
unusual one for the Nationals.
Carl Fischer is somewhat overweight,
but a rubber shirt, long workouts and
Mike Martins medicine ball are rapid
ly turning the battle Of the bulglng
waistline into a sham-battle Buddy
Myer, the infielder who lived too we'll
during the Winter, joins with Fischer
in these workouts, thus enabling Mike
to kill two birds with one medicine ball.
CAMMY WEST is the newest arrival,
y pulling into camp late yesterday aft
ernoon. Sammy was accompanied
by his wife and the new car he is buy
ing on the strength of the raise he eX-
poets to pry out of Clark Griffith when
they get together for their salary talk.
West expects little trouble in coming
to terms with Griff, and Griffith is
positive he can get Vests mark on the
proper line without undue exertion.
The ceremony will take place when the
two can find time to settle down for the
two-hour talk that seems conventional
In these contract-signing Seances.
West has been taking care of his ell
bow through the Winter, and declares
that throwing is now a pleasure. The
once -ailing elbow is now behaving itself
and West is prepared to throw strikes
from any part of the outfield.
r YNN GRIFFITH, the chesty rookie
- southpaw, has good chance to
land himself job with the Ma
tionals this year, although the pitching
squad already boasts three southpaws
in Brown, Fischer and Burke. Griffith
is big, has excellent control along with
his other accomplishments, and is quite
positive he is ready for the big league.
He thinks he can pitch" says Uncle
Clark, "and that's the best thing of
all When these fellows have conf
dence in themselves it adds to their
effectiveness. But he shouldn't be
chewing that much tobacco. He'll
choke"
Griffith (the pitcher has one of those
little peculiarities that distinguish a
left-hanader from an ordinary. rational
human. BY the judicious use of a
shoe horn and some vaseline, he in
serts a half pound of chewing tobacco
in his jaw before starting to work. BY
carrying this load in his right jaw, he
claims he can balance himself better
while working.
His boss, however, thinks that so
much tobacco is bad for a young man
trying to get along, and the chances
are that Lynn will be chewing gum be-
fore the team gets back to Washington.
TOMORROW will be a day of rest
l. and peaceful meditation for the
players-their last for many long
weeks. There will be no workout to-
morrow, but games are scheduled for
every succeeding Sunday until the sea-
son opens. The day will be spent in
various ways by the boys, but nothing
strenuous will be attempted by even the
most ambitious. Fishing, restful sport
as it is practiced here, will be the main
course, with sun bathing and just plain
Kleeninp as the side dishes