Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-07
HURLERS ARE KEEN
| FOR RUGGED TESTS
Big Hitters of Club Just as
Eager for Their Free Swings
at SIabmen.
BY TOM DOERER.

Miss, March T.
X With all hands present,
IL Uncle Clark Griff1th's grand
Nationals in vention
here for their 1888 flag prepa-
rations were looking forward
this morning to one more day of
lobby strolling as the weather
man predicted another spell of
chill and showers.
The squad was filled late last night
when a big part Of the Nationals
punch roared into camp. Heinie
Manush, regular outfielder, and Dave
Harris, utility gardener, checked in,
both clouterS rarin' to be up and at 'em.
The late corners lost nothing through
their hardness in reporting. Rain yes
terday once again broke up practice to
mar the record of the Nationals ideal
training spot. Only one day was lost
last year through bad weather condi-
tons here, but the boys this time have
been checked three times by rain and
chill.
Uncle Clark is feeling the bad weather,
having been confined to bed for three
days with an attack of lumbago Some
OF the ball players are complaining of
pains and twinges and Doc Martin Is
chasing around with his soothing syrups
and his liniment bottles.
This weather setback Is making 1t
rough for the young pitchers and
catcherS who were in top form at the
end OF last week and all set to work on
the hitters. Ed Linke was nominated
to pitch to the hitters yesterday and
named again today, but Manager Joe
Cronin announced that he may let Bud
Thomas. the tall right-hander, 20 to
the post when practice is resumed.
WHILE the boys were sitting around
w hoping and wishing and visualilng
long cloutS and sharp hitting an
order OF bats arrived to make them feel
more irritable about the shower and
cold weather.
Lobby sitters spent all Of yesterday
mapping out what they were going to
DO when the weather would permit
them to swing war club. Goose Cos
lin, looking in better shape than he
mas for years, according to those who
know the big Jersey hitter, took a peek
at the pile at bats heaped in Frankie
Baxter's room and began getting the
feel OF club which he selected.
Not only am going to have a good
year with that stick" the Goose said,
but I want to say that this outfit as
Cronin and Griffith have welded it is
sure-flre to be up at the top of the
race. With Manush, Schultz Cronin,
the other hitters and myself feeling
perky, there ought to be trouble in
store for the pitchers on the other
clubs"
Schultz, big fellow, with a pair of
@@I-
piled war clubs and picked out one to
swish around for few minutes.
Schultz Is going to be a very i'm
portant factor in the building of this
title-bound club" said Cronin, watch
ing the big fellow cut the air with his
bat
Fred is a powerful fellow, a good
f1elder and hard man to fool at the
bat. look for him to show marked
show the league some batting figures
this year which will prove that we
knew what We were after when we OBJ
tanned him from the Browns"
TAMP GRIFF rockies are keen to
~ take few filings at the big hit
tiers here, believing that their
and ready to trick some of the batters
who have not yet had a cut at the
ball.
i sure am anxious to see how hitters
like Cronin and GoSlin will take to my
curve" said Linke. There Is going to
be lot of kick in trying to fool a
batter like Goslin and the experience
will help me. When you see fellows
like Crcnin and Goslin swish their bats
thl ough the air in an effort to get
hold of your favorite slants-you sure
must feel good. But perhaps they'll
not do much swishing. Those babies
will give the rockies plenty, guess"
| Cronin, however does not think the
hitters will do SO much heavy stuff
against the kids, believing them to
have made remarkable progress In their
preping and to be in mighty fine shape,
despite the Biloxi weather.
COL. BILLY SMITH was preparing
~ for visit to Mobile today to
arrange for Saturdays battle with
Atlanta. Cronin spent the morning
figuring out his starting combination
for the first combat. then tossed the
compilations into the waste basket. say
ing he was going to wait until Thurs
day before settling upon the who and
why of the list.
Either Bud Thomas or Linke will
get the call to ascend the hill in the
opening tuSsle Bolton will catch. OF
that much Joe Is certain.