The Washington herald., 1921-02-14
EXPECT few new
FACES In OPENING
LINEUP OF MATS
Mcbride Apparently Will
Handle Same Team
=. AS Last Year.
By JACK NYE.
hen Manager George Mcbride

3 his team onto the field for the
iing game of the season with
Boston Red Sox on April 13 in
s4tiOns are that there will be few
w faces in the lineup.
With the failure of the deal for
aker to materialize, there is no
nance of any further additions to
lie Griffmen's roster. except that of
Miller and Brottem. Otherwise the
hand has been dealt, and it is up to
Mac to play his cards.
< Unless some of the near holdouts
Fefuse to don their uniforms, an
1oea which is poOh-pOohed by Mr..
frinith, the Mats should have an
other handy bunch with the willow
and show marked fielding ability.
The pitching staff also is expected
, dish out fancier brand of wares.
Two Changes Sure.
Frank O'Rourke. who Joined the
team at the end of last season, looks
, ike a certain bet for the short field
II his whip is as good as he claims
II to be, while Duffy Lewis is slated
Tor the left field berth at this early
stage Of the game. The only chance
ne has Of losing his job, it seems, is
for Bing Miller to report and show
signs of continuing his fence bust
ing habits. Miller has an opportuh-
ity to cause Lewis a lot of uneasi
ness
With these two exceptions. the
same crew that Iabored for Griffith
last season should be seen in action
again. Many things can happen
between now and the seasons
opening, but the chances are a
lineup something like this will
make its bow to the fans:
Judge, first base; Milan, right
field; Rice. center field; O'Rourke
shOrtstOp; Harris. second base:
Lewis, left field: Shanks, third
base: Charity, catcher: johnson,
pitcher.
That may not be McBride's bat
ting order, but it looks like the
logical selection for the team.
O'RoUrke's arm seems to be the
only thing that can keep him on
the bench. At the third station
Hank Shanks appears to be the pre-
season favOrite by reason of the
clever work he did last season
when showed into the breach. Hank
felded in great style and his bat
ting might have been worse. His
seasons average was .26S. which is
better than he usually hits.
Watch O'NemI and EIIerbe.
There are two Of the 1920 young
sters, however, who are going to
make OmebOdy step about to keep
them out of the lineup. Jimmy
O'NeHI and Governor Ellerbe have
definite ambitions to play a leading
role Both can swing a wicked
mace. Jimmy hit .289 last year
292 Nobody ever charged that they
.gere hitting above form. They have
the natural ability to pickle the
pill with vim and gusto.
In addition to being able to hit,
O'Neiu showed a lot of class at
short and. if he has fully recOv-,
cred from his attack of pneumO-
mia. will max" O'Rourke hustle.
Euerbe's chief fault last year was
lack of experience He performed
like a superstar in the early part
Of the year. but became somewhat
unsteady in the latter stages. Griif
is known to have a lot of faith in
his natural ability, however. and
his second year under the big tent
should see a marked improvement
in his work.
On first and second the Mats will
have a couple Of guys who ask no
odds from any rivals. Judu' and
Harris may not be the actual lead
prs in their positions. but thcy look
mighty good to Griffith and also TO
tbe fans. Next to Sislcr, the Ma
tionaI first saCker is just about the
cream Of the major league bunch,
while Harris showed Unmistakable
signs Of class last season.
Plenty of Hitting Strength.
Judging from last years perform
a0ces. the infieId will have at leas,
three 800 hitters. for O'ROurI.C hit
we'll above that mark in the Inter
national League and is expected to
? able to handle major league
eavinz acceptably.
I The outer works will have just
{ out the same strength as that Of
st year, as Lewis is expected to
rove as valuable as was Bobby
Roth, for whom he was traded.
There is no telling what the feet
sam Rice will do in the way Of
scbipyements. This great fly chaser
has not reached the height If mis-
abiIitv as yet, and it would not be
surprising to see him top MS .333
ba+tine mark OF 1920 or to better
his base stealing and fielding work.
Zeb Milan, despite his thirteen years
in the majors, is still going strong
"a his last years batting mark OF
3a2 will indicate.
Behind the bat, with Pat Charity
IN do the bulk of the work. the
strength will be the same. with the
DossibfIity that Tony BrOttem will
give Mcbride a better second-string
receiver.
Much Depends on Pitchers
All things considered, the 1921
Nationals ought to be able to make
a better showing than did the team
of last season. It will not open
with as many inexperienced young
sters in the lineup.
, Unless signs go wrong the quality
pitching dished out will settle
10 fate of McBrides team. With
. he heaving of which the slabmen
Ire capable, and favored by fair
fuck. the team ought to be able to
make the first division competition
more than interesting.
TjttIe has been said here of the
bunch of infeld and outfield recruits
Tho will be given a chance to show
tbair wares at Tampa. From Foss,
TaNotte and Marhafta in the infeld
nd Eddie Goebel and McHugh in
the outfeld, a rising star or two may
he secured. but recruits are going to
bsve a hard time breaking into the
lineup unless they show exceptional
class.
Renrocks Strengthened.
Dz,rocL kuipfat has heen