The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-07

Off the reel, one night easily say
that Jimmy O'Neill, from Shreveport.
in the Texas League, looks the best
of the new infielders. Put UP some
thing like his famous brother Steve.
the Cleveland catcher, this young man
has a world of energy, i'll his daily
work. He is never holding back.
O'Neill was not a slashing hitter in
the Texas League. He may prove q
weak sister agaist big league fling
iSg. That remains to be seen. But
as a fielder he looks good enough for
most managers. He has played many
places besides shortstop. and, if he
can hit, he may LAND one of the in
field bcrths with the Griffmen this
season.
Leonard Has A Job.
Joe Leonard is likely to have q
tough job on his hands in his battle
FOR third base honors. Leonard is by
no means a marvel, either in the field
or at bat. With so many candidates
for places in the Griffmen's infield, he
is likely to have three rivals for his
jobs.
Maurice shannon, obtained from
the Boston Red SoX in n trade last
winter. is expected to lead in the
fight for second base. If ONeill is in
front for shortstopping honors, Leon
ard will only have TO battle against
Frank Ellerbe, who played the bag
most of last year with Binghamton
in the International League; Stanley
Harris, a smooth worker from Buffalo
in the same circuit, and Roy Wash
burn, the big fellow from Des Moines.
The other two infielders, Al Watt,
the Washington sandlotter, and Andy
Stark, the New York semi-pro recon-
mended by Joe Judge, are too green to
be considered seriously in the battle
for berths with the big league outft
from the Capital.
Grubb Is In Gnrdes,.
when the practice games begin this
week. young Grub. the Washington
field. Though coming here as a
shortstop. President Griffith has de-
cided that, if he ever makes fast COM
pany. it will be as an outfielder. SO
to the outfeld he goes.
II expect to get a lot of dope on
these young infelders during the ex-
hibition games on our schedule" says
Pre- 'ident Griffith. II shall give them
all trials, switching them around
frol day to day to see where they
loo best. However, just because I
switch them around. one must net
think they have failed in their place
just vacated. . H,... .....
Some players start slowly, too,
Some of these youngsters may not
hit their stride for weeks only to
come to the front with a rush. 1t
may be that j won't know much
about some OF them until after the
season has begun. That is frequently
the case. IT may be true of some of
these fellows here.
Won't Hazard n Guess.
Fright now I wouldn't dare make a
guess as to the infeld which will
start against the Boston club on April
IA | might be all wrong. Yes, l
have seen Ellerbe and Shannon, but
Ellerbe played only n month or so for
me and shannon was on other teams.
"Then you must consider this chap
Harris. He Joined my club last sea
son, but a broken finger kept him
from showing at his best. He had a
fine record in tho International
League, one that entities him to n
thorough trial. You can't tell, he
might shove out either Ellerbe or
shannon In the fight for regular
berth.
BILLY Smith, who managed Shreve-
port last season, tells me that O'Neill
81 now ready for big league baseball,
but O'Neill will have to prove his
worth in actual competition. II he
has the goods, he will have the chance
TO show them and land a Job II he
hasn't, he'll have TO make way for
some other lad who IL better"
. rrcsidcnt Griffith has many pitch