The Washington herald., 1922-06-03
INJURY TO COSLN
MAY. HELP INSTEAD
OF HURT GRlfFMEN
Goebel Now Certain to
Get Real Chance in
Outfield.
By RAY HELGEsEN.

club physician, will keep him out
of the lineup for at least nve
weeks, carries the possibility of
being one Of the luckiest ''b; eaks"
the Nationals have reosiysd this
season. This. statement IL made
despite the fact taat Goslin Is one
of a quartet of Griffp,'n who
almost certain to a ish the season
in or on the ragged edge Of the .301
class.
with Goslin incapacitated MiiaS
virtually will be forced to use Eddie
Goebel, the Reading Flyer. In one
of the Grins' eardens. This will
bring about at least one thing which
will aid the Nationals in resembl ng
a first division club. II will add at
least 20 per cent to the gardens
defense. a defense which has been
probably the worst feature. outside
Of the ragged pitching. OF the Or rs
slow start this season.
Goebel came here with a reputa-
ton for smuggling, for speed. for an
ability to cover any sector of the
garden like the nroverbial bla nket.
He w1s also highly advertised as
the pus1essor of ore, OF the best
whips In baseball. maicr lie que or
otherwise.
Lives up to Advapce Notices.
The youngster has lived up to all
the nice things which were 50 a
and printed about him with the lone
exception Of slugg n. In this -
partment his average has run far
below bis reputation. While In the
minors mis- hitting was one the
hig features about his work. w tn
Reading ne collected nirHteen h"me
runs In two-thirds of an Interna-
tIonal League season and hit for an
average OF ala.
However. GoebeI has NJ vrt ~
a thorough rhauce with the Griffs
and 4 one is to ieliave a n"
of critics. who watched his york
with Eeading. he VII more "-S
make good II left in the lineup con-
tinuous'y for a month or more.
! Eddie Is what Is known in base
ball a. a Tate starter He has
never found" himself earlier than
the middle OF May and II is usually
around the frst Of June before he
begins to hit his stride. Veterans
et eight or ten campaigns are near
ly always late starters. but IL f.
rare that a rookie takes such a long
time to hit the top of his form.
However. once Goebel gets start
ed there Is little doubt but that he
will make up for his lsteness in
frding his form. Eddie Is one of the
fastest men in baseball. probably
faster than any player with the
| possible eIception OF Archdeacon
and there is more than a possibil-
ity he could kick dust into the
Deacon's eyes In a strsight-away
race.
Goebel Star In Field.
In fielding Goebef has Gosiin. Rice
Brewer and Smith cheated by an in
definite number of Broadway blocks
Goslin and Rice. particularly. look
like fourth raters when compared
With this youngster- on ground balls
l OF Rice's ability to snag hy balls
there is no question. Sam can come
near doing that to perfection. But
on any ball that touches the ground
before finding its way to the gar.
den Goebel Is an even money bet
while Rice and Gcslin are the long
est OF lonG shots.
/ On the paths. too. Goebel, II given
a real chance. which IL now seems
he Is to have thrust upon him by
fate, would make the others look
like candles in a cave. Rice Is fast
losing his ability to advance by thi,
means, while GosIin. having only a
class c players idea of sliding
never was a sack thief. And Brow.
er's reputation never included any
anusion to this art.
l. With Goebel in center, Rice ir
right and either Smith or Browe,
In left the Nationals outfeld would
be 20 per cent stronger than II has
been at any previous time this sea
Son. Goebelx addition to the gar.
den would just about make that spot
as tight. from a defensive stand
point. as any in the league. while
IL Eddie comes through as IL is ex-
pected he will. and there is IIttI.
doubt on that score. IL would los,
little on the offense.
Gosiin Bsd on Ground Balls.
Frankly. Goslin, while he has been
hitting now and then. leaves much
to be. desired from the defensive
angle. On ground balls he ha. so
far shown little more than an ANA
teuy, and. while he undoubtedly has
a good whip. he has shown so much
inaccuracy that there is little chance
to praise him on that score.
Rice. as centerneIder. leaves
much to be desired. In addition to
his weakness on ground balls, his
arm is little more than an orna-
ment. Runners have no fear of
being thrown out at the plate on
balls hit to center. Because Of his
weak arm It's almost certain he will
be sent to rightfeld in the near fu-
ture' and the quicker he gets orders
to that effect the better II will be
for the club. -
johnson will probably be sent
against the Boston Red Sox tomor-
row in the last game the Griffs play
here until June 20, when they open
here with the Mackmen after their
first jaunt around the Western cir
cult. Walter lost his last start in
Boston because of errors-one of
which was contributed by Sam Rice.
Seats have been on sale at Spald-
fng's and Hecht's for the past two
days. and a crowd as large as that
which saw Babe Ruth last Sunday is
expected to be on hand for getaway
day.
| The Griffs have signed another
l pitching phenom. It's an Indian.
and. like all Indians. he's a chief.
He goes by the name of Chief Albert
Youngblood, and Is a native OF
Texas.
Youngblood Is youngster of
twerty-one Indian summers. He
tips the scales at 200 pounds. and
Is 6 feet 4 inches tall. He will
probably Join the Nationals In
Cleveland either Tuesday or We'd
nesday.