The Washington times., 1937-03-19
Players Seek
To Correct
Faults
By FRANK BUCK" oNEnL

ORLANDO, Fla, March 19.-It
was one by the village clock on
the eighteenth of April. Has a
familiar ring, hasn't it?
But it wasn't by the banks of
the misty Charles River, and it
wasn't the eighteenth Of April. It
was Orlando in March, and the
heroes Of this piece were not
booted and spurred. They were
clad in the raiment of the Wash
ington Baseball Club. To COM
plete the disillusionment, it WASH t
ITS, but 1887, and the characters
were Ben Chapman and Buddy
Myer, not Paul Revere.
With the exception of Chappie
and Myer, the ball field was de-
serted by the regulars. Harry
Conn, the batting practice pitcher
labored on the hill, throwing his
fast one and curve, which were
just base-hit fodder. In the out
field various members of the club
house staff chased the balls driven
to the fences by Chapman and
Myer.
"Why all the fervor?" de.
manded this very inquisitive re.
porter, who fingered late, alb.
SOrbing the mellow Florida
sunshine.
II learned something from
those Giants" answered Chap
man. "ThOSe pitchers had too
much for us. We've been hit
ting at slow stuff compared to
what they showed us. Maybe
on July we will be ready for
that kind Of fOrked lightning,
but boys, they were hot.
PULL TO LEFT
"The ball got inside of your
swing. You just couldn't time
1t for base hits. Well, when you
find something out, the best
thing to do is to try to correct
it. That's why I'm going to pull
this ball to left"
Chappie stepped into a speeder
and rifled the ball down the
third base line. He smashed one
into the shrubbery and finally
called for Myer to relieve him and
continue the firG Of hits.
Myer rode some out of the park
and then came back to the bench.
"This is a great thing fer u.s."
he said. THAT ball looks so
big that you get careless and
think you can punch it any
time you get ready. But you
over swing, or you swing late.
The ball gets in on you before
you're ready.
This is the best workout I've
had since came down here"
Buddy went on enthusiastically.
Il feel strong, and you can bet
that I'll be ready for opening
day.
Mihalic Is Good
Talking of opening day, did
you get a load of that rascal,
Johnny MihalIc? He handled
those pitchers all right, and he
played swell ball. I'll have to
get into shape to beat out
Johnny for that starting berth.
"And that" said Buddy with
q broad grin, "is one Of the
reasons why am out here to-
day working like a hound.
Mihalic showed me more than
the Giants did"
Joe Tinker, who knows ball
players when he sees them, is
around town telling everyone that
the GriffS will be a tough ball
club to beat.
Travis made a great play
when he stopped Otis drive
with his back to the stands"
Tinker Sid. "He broke on that
ball in fine style, or he never
would have come close to 1t.
The fact that he broke on the
ball, and not the fact that he
stopped it, is important to
Washington baseball men. If
Travis can get the jump on a
ball he will be all right.
sINGTON'S THROW
"Another factor in that game
was Sington's throw to third
base from right field. That
brought a smile to Bucky Har-
ris's face. 1t was q most impOr.
tant play from the Washington
clubs angle. If SingtOn can
throw, he win be a valuable
man, for he certainly can smack
the ball"
The Griffs go into action with
the st. Louis Cardinals at Day.
tona Beach tomorrow. And once
more they will be handicapped by
the advanced condition of the st.
Louis pitchers. The Cards have
been in Havana and really are
ready. Ed Linke, Jimmy DeShong
and Joe Cascarella will pitch
against the Cards.
It will be Buck Newsom, Jack
Salveson and Kendall Chase
against the Phillies on Sunday.
The order on Monday will include
Monte Weaver, Ray Phebus and
Dick Lanahan against the Boston
Red Sox.