Evening star., 1919-12-31
JOE JUDGE AT FIRST BASE
ONLY PLAYER SURE OF JOB
Shannon, Leonard, ENerbe, Harris, Washburn
and O'NeM Must Contest for Berths
at Second, Third and Short.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Acquisition of Maurice Shannon of
ehc Red Sox along with Bobby Roth
in exchange for Foster. Harper and
Menosky. in addition, brands as bunk
those tales to the effect that none OF
the insurgent clubs would have any
dealings with the loyal five. In ad-
dition it may tend to complicate
rather than solve the problem Clark
Griffith has on his hands in welding
an infield for Washingtons 1920 color
bearers.
The addition of Roth will make"
the outfeld in the opinion of Grif-
fifth. who believes that with Milan
in left, Rice in center and Roth IN
right, he will have as well balanced
trio of gardeners as there is in the
circuit 1t will not be the best hitting
outfit The Tigers. with Cobb. Neach,
F1agstead and Shorter. appear to nave
the sluggins honors slowed away IN
camphor Nor will il excel all other
sets in fy-catching or throwing, but
ii is doubtful if any cluster of ram
gers Will have anything on the new
Capital array in the matter OF speed.
and with all the requisites for picket
duty considered there will not be
better rounded combination IN the
league.
Judge Alone Sure of Job.
But 10 get back to that infield-al-
though shannon comes here as sec
ond baseman, and is being figured
upon to play that position, ne orlSl-
uaIly was shortstop, and the berth
ultimately assigned him will be that
which he demonstrates he is best
fitted for There is only one player
now on the roSt er of the club VINO Is
assured of his berth on the inneio
and that is Joe Judge at hrst' inc
other three positions must he con-
rested for and there promises 10 De
. merry scrap staged at Tampa with
no less than half dozen athletes
striving to win half that many po-
sitions-
Guiding Hank Shanks, whom Gr1iilth
VOWS really will be held for utility
roles next summer if he does not
figure in another deal in the mean
time, there are Leonard. ElierDe. MAJ
ris. O'Nein and Washburn TO be con-
siGered. ,o
1t is Griffith's intention. of course
to start the drills down south with
shannon at second base and the chle1-
tain is confident he will make Soou
there but the other candidates VIII
receive consi 7eration and be looked
over in the position, particularly Har-
ris. the Buffalo boy. who made such
favorable impression IN a rev games
here last fall. although handicapped
by damaged digitS on his throwing
hand. Joe Leonard now may be sald
to have the call on the third-baslnS
job. He played at the hot corner with
the Cleveland club before GRIN
brought him here, and has done his
best work at that station since dom
ming the local livery, but viii have
TO convince his boss he is better
man for the place than any of the
others to win it
Has One bad Weakness
Leonard is a fair hitter and by no
means slouch as fielder at third
but has grave fault. one that proba-
bly, precludes the possibility of him
ever making good at second base. for
instance-he is spike-shy. In every
other respect Leonard is as nervy and
fearless as any member of the team.
but he is decidedly weak at tagging
runners because of an inherent fear
of injury from the flying spikes on
the shoes of rival base runners. At
third he will have less tagging to do
than at either short or second. but
unless he can overcome this weakness
he will be given a great battle for the
job by some younESter not troubled
with his qualms in regard to spikes.
Frank Ellerbe is the leading Candi-
date for the duties of shortstopping.