The Washington times., 1936-03-11

Perects
Motion
By FRANK BUCK" O'NELL

ORLANDO, Fla, March II.
The more you see of big league ball
players, fellows who have been
around for several years and have
won a certain share Of fame on
the diamond, the more you wonder
who we're masters during their
apprenticeship. Maybe you over
look their faults in the heat Of a
pennant campaign, taking victories
and losses, striking an average and
accepting the figures as gauge Of
their ability.
It Is here in the training camp
where rookie and star are put on
the buffer, that the faults are
brought to light. And that brings
us to Buck Newsom, veteran Of
eight years of baseball in minor
and major leagues.
Newsom worked in batting prac-
tice yesterday under the tutelage Of
Bucky Harris, seeking to perfect q
control groove. It was just a varia-
tion of what golf professionals
strive to achieve when they take
a spade mashie and shoot so balls
for a green. Grooved swing in
golf; grooved motion in pitching.
The only avenue to perfection.
Harris a Task Master
Harris stood behind Newson
observing every move the big fel"
low made. When Buck delivered
the ball from an overland motion,
letting the ball go from shoulder
height or slightly lower, Harris
approved. When Bucks arm left
the correct arc, Harris told him
and made him go back to the cor
rect style.
If you think back to the days
when Newsom Joined the Griffs,
perhaps you'll recall that he used
a windmill motion, dervish Of
arms and legs, from which a ball
emerged sooner or later. Some
times the glistening spheroid
found the plate. AS often it
missed the target. When Buck
delivered the ball from a sweeping
overland, it was effective. When q
side-arm style was used, the bat
tiers connected all too hard to
suit the heart Of Harris.
The margin Of error was too
great in this. windmill style.
Smoothness and deception were
lacking. When Buck wanted to
use a chance of pace he had to
change his style, and it was not
long before this fault was COM
mon knowledge among hitterS Of
the league. When batterS know a
pitchers weakness, the hurler Is
working uphill.
Newsom put his whole heart in
the drill. So much heart, in fact,
that he became involved in a
wordy war with Joe Kuhel, who is
so enthused over his new batting
stance and the results he is achiev-
ing that he'll bet he will hit any
pitcher in the world, right-handed
or left-handed.
"G'wan, put somethin' on II"
grOwled Kuhel.
"Hit this 'un," grunted Buck.
Splat, the ball hit the bat and
Kuhel chortled:
I'm sliding into third"
Newsom sped over two more and
then arched a curve over the cor
ner:
''Now you're walking back to
the BENCH" he said.
REAL COMPETITIVE SPIRIT
Sounds almost silly, q word
war between teammates at this
time Of year, but it mirrors the
competitive spirit that pervades
the Griff camp at this time.
Cecil Travis was sensational at
the bat. The drawlin' Georgian
hammered the ball over the lot.
He connected for no fewer than
four straight safeties off Newsom
and continued to whack the Of.
ferings Of Lanahan and Pete Ap-
pleton.
This last boy was in fine form.
His curve ball snapped down like
a jug handle, and the hitterS
had no little trouble in meeting
it squarely.
Weaver in Fine Drill
Ringside-beg pardon - foul
line critics had a chance to OBJ
serve Monte Weaver in action
as the math teacher hurled for
20 minutes in practice. Weaver
is in as good condition at this
time as he was three years ago,
which makes him a pretty fair
sort of pitcher. His fast ball was
something to watch, and while
he only flipped the curve up to
the plate, it broke nicely.
Harris definitely is counting on
Weaver to regain his place among
the regular pitchers Of the team.
The storm that lashed the east
coast of Florida for the last two
days checked practice for a while
yesterday morning, but after
lunch the Griffs went through a
complete workout that sizzled and
smoked. The Rookie VS.. Regular
six-inning game will not be
played today. In its place the
school of strategy will go into ses-
sion.