Evening star., 1932-02-28

IL stone at a pelican, or a sea-
gull-or, maybe, it was only
a horSehy-down on the beach
this afternoon. Mr.. Griffith was
in a playful mood Not that he
throws stones when he is feeling
happy, but the fling was accompa-
MED by a thorough enthusiastic
smile. And people never throw
stones and smile down here when
they are angry.
He could have been laughing at your
correspondents down home" haircut,
which had just been perpetrated upon
him a few hours before.
But he was not. What Mr. Griff was
feeling so playful about was a few lit
tie things he had seen on the ball field
today at Biloxi Stadium just before
the boys came romping from it to an
swer the melodious whistle Of the lunch
con call.
Did you see those boys perform?" de-
manded Uncle Clark.
And your correspondent had. For
instance he saw Mr. General Alvin
Crowder, from North Carolina, get
shooed away from that mound by the
excited Mr.. Griffith. The sun-tanned
rugged young man with knotty right
arm was spelling out the rockies names
with his pitches, slamming a few
curves for good measure and causing
Eddie Ainsmith, his catcher, to wonder
If some one had not been fooling him
that this is still Spring and this Is
Dixie, and not Washington next June.
Wand Drills Start.
And he observed AL Schact wobble
from the mound as those pitchers and
catchers lunged at the ball with nice,
new backstop behind them. And how
those boys sprinted for the flies. Whle
Howard Maple popped eyes with the
fastest chasing you would want 10 see
for a heavy, little man.
Yes, there was much to be seen and
Mr.. Grifith and Walter johnson wore
no smiles down on that held. FOR
paradoxically the boys were too gooo
for their own good.
Back on the beach Grill was taking
OF the mornings scenes.
Neither Crowder nor Fred Marberry
won me a game until month OF the
season had elapsed last year, SAID
Griff. "They were in not what you
would call good shape when they came
into camp. Fred was loppy around the
waist and the general was sluggish.
Now take yourself a good peek at
that pair. Both in there working SO
hard that they alarm me, because l
am planning for nobody to do any heav-
ing of any kind until the crowd mas
heen at work for two weeks. A team
that takes its time in training and
works up gradually, getting to the bell
In good condition, is pennant-Wlnnlng
type of outfit.
Spirit PIeases Griff.
"But 1t makes me feel happy and
optimistic to think that the boys are
working with such spirit. Their actions
back up the words Of promise mace 70
me by this pair upon tner arrlVal at
camp.
"Crowder said he was going to break
the link of former years and win at
the start. He worked hard all Winter,
often spending sunny afternoons In
Winston-Salem pitching the ball. Mar
henry went on a diet to get here In
shane. and his condition is marvellous
The folks back in Washington VIII never
know the big boy"
And there you have few OF the
things which are making Grin grin
down here. though he admits his catch
ing problem is a tough one, and that
there is nothing he can do about it
hut trust to luck, improvement IN Boil
tons ability to get under fouls, and the
n hone that Roy Spencer will indulge IN
n the expensive luxury OF but Few injuries
j during the season.
Griff admits he wanted to trade Joe
n Judge for a catcher There were a
couple of deals on the fire. in which
= Joe figured, but they all dlmmed out
n into a mist. Show Mr.. Griffith where
you can get him a catcher and you
will be surprised how he will dicker.
But inability to find himself one gives
II the inexperienced Bolton the chance
for which he has been looking.
Fischer Overworked in 81.
But the interesting part of Grif's S
beach-talk today is the fact that he
admits that without Crowder's and
Marberry's help during the flrst month
of action his team is lost. Last year
M Carl Fischer was thrown into the
breach, with the result that the curly
haired southpaw hurled his ears back
until he was of little use TO the club
" during the latter days OF Its night.
n Fischer won nine games in row, tired
out, and then never seemed to recover
from the hectic start.
But Fischer too, is working around
TO form down here and. take his Woro
for it, is going to turn in peak year.
If Marberry and Crowder move as they
promise, Carl will get his work in regu-
lar portions and that flying start which
Grif promises may be something more
than stuff in the funny papers.
wi Hkoc m mint m tho VI
correspondents the speed of the men
haired sage of base ball, still is the
fastest man on the club. He has never
been caught coming in on hit in his
base ball career and he can start away
from a bag like no other man in the
game"
''All of my men are fast. You know
I've always demanded speed on the
bags. I'm noted for that, it's one OF
my pet likes. My club in 1924 and 1925
was the fastest outfit around. lot
of people wanted to know how We rated
being American League champs during
those years. 1t was because we had
fieet-footed players"
And then Griff went on to extol the
speed of each Of his players.
LET me get something out Of these
youngsters and the fulhllment of the
promises made by Marberry and Crow.
der and I'll show EN- how speed plus
some brainy pitching arrangement Will
do something once more"
No wonder this ruddy faced diamond
general is grinning. He believes he sees
something out here in the baseball
ofRnG.