The Washington times., 1922-03-20

Texan, Is q decidedly green prospect.
too green for service in the Ameri-
can Lague. Ray Francis. the Seattle
southpaw. 10 apparently also In need
Of further seasoning before coming
into fast company. This would
account for five OF the eight to drop
BY the wayside.
Frank Woodward declines to
make a hard fight for . place
obviously within his reach. He
may 20 back to Now Haven, unless
some other big league team Is Will
ing to give him q trial. This
accounts for six.
The seventh to fall will probably
be Freddy Noone. The 'Griffs do not
need four catchers and Noone's lack
Of experience initiates against his
landing job on the first trial in pro-
fessional baseball. However. he has
made a good impression and q string
will be attached to him when ne gets
his travelling papers. This accounts
FOR seven Of the eight.
The eighth player to get the air.
unless he happens to be another OF
the pitchers, must either be an In
fielder or an outfielder. One Is
tempted to say that six outfielders
are too many to be carried. but when
It is considered that Manager Milan
may quit playing as soon as the hot
weather comes. devoting all MS time
and attention to directing his pen
nant entry. the total Is reduced to
five gardeners.
Seven infielders is not too many
TO carry in the big show, but Frank
Brower Is more likely to be con.
sidered a first-sacker than an out
fielder. That brings down the out
field total yet one more and ADDS 10
the infield. In that case 1t would
appear that the eighth player to get
the gate is more likely to be an in
fielder. -
Of the three infielders in the
greatest danger, Ossie BlueEe ap-
pears In the weakest POstion
through lack Of experience. This u
his first trial with . major league
ball club. Bobby LamOtte sat on
the Griffs' bench all last sum-
mer, and is supposed to have ab.
sorbed q lot Of Information. Don
ME Bush Ii . w0ru-Out veteran,
retained moro for his knowledge
than for his arms or legs.
Thus the fight seems to narrow
down to Bluege and Lamotte.
Whichever looks the best with the
fail, that lad 10 the more likely 10
remain with the team after April
~. Until they 60 up against some
real pitching, 1t 10 impossible toteli
what they can do, especially In
Rluege's case. 4. -.
twenty-one. with two years OF ex'
perience on the diamond. He ap-
pears Intelligent enough to learn big
ieasue styles Of play. While not
speed merchant. he seems rast
enough. Certainly he IL far from De-
ing slow on the bases. while owing
70 his baseball sense he Is whiri-
wind In the field, covering acres OF
ground around the short field. he
has an excellent throwing arm ano
a truly wonderful ability to Zip
ball to second base Tor double pays
That Is quite the best thing ne ooeS'
LAmotte II taller and, In action,
seema to be faster ON tho pases.
However, LAmotte lacks the kInco
of BlueSe In the field and may DO
a hit slower on that account. He
has q strong arm and c0nSloeraDie
infiold sense.
Neither Blueke nor Lamotts 10 q
hitter. Both are Of the push-hitting
tyne. the exact opposite Of Leon
Goslin, who is the teams lone
swinging hitter. Both young In.
fislders win be watched closely when
batting against real pitching Tor
sians Of future promise. II Lamotte
fails to hang on now. he may not
get another chance In q hurry.
BlueGe 10 almost certain to come
back, II only because Of those hands
of his. i
In the event that both Bluese and
Lamotte look worth keeping DOME
Bush is put in a precarious position.
He IL being held for utility work at
third, second and short and for
coaching purposes at third base. But
q good ball player II good ball
player with any, club and he will
be endangered, provided the two
youngsters show the required class.
Accidents happen In baseball
when lesst expected and Ut this
early stage Of the season it does
not seem wise TO skin down tho
roster until not enough available
men are on hand 70 keep tho team
mn to its standard Of play In the
regular campaign. Brewer n .
fair first sacker and has cavorted
In right field. though without
brilliancy.
Earl Smith is an outfielder with
some experience at third base when |
with the st. Louis Browns. Bush, |
Drobably because he was a great
Ghortstop, thinks II would be simple |
for him at second or third. OF the |
three Brewer is much the better
bstsman and 10 to be used In pinch |
roles this year.
Milan will probably carry eight
pitchers this season until Luther re-
ports. That is none too many, es-
pecially when II 10 recalled that Mo
gridge In greatly benefited by an
extra days rest every now and then. |
,Courtney's steadiness must be shown |