Evening star., 1922-03-08

Walters speed more effectively.
But the presence of a third man
is imperative owing to the ever pres
ent possibility of injuries, as was IL
Illustrated last year when Charity was
10 the fact that there always is a
certain amount of routine work re-
quired with pitchers in the bull pen.
Torres not only has the ability to
go back of the bat and give a very
creditable exhibition in champion
at first base in an emergency and for
pinch hitting purposes, especially
against southpaws.
May Garry Four Catchers.
Noone shows SO much promise.
particularly as batsman, that it may
be decided this year to carry four
catchers-most big leagues club do
chance to show how he sizes up as
both an infielder and gardener. With
Noone it Is largely q question of
whether he may be expected to de-
Velop faster absorbing big league
strategy from the bench or working
classification. In the latter event a
stout string will be attached to him.
for Clark Griffith is convinced the
quiet youngster is going to develop
into a whale of a hitter some daN
With the infield definitely settled
Judge, Harris, Peck and Shanks-
the contest there lies among Bush.
La Motto and Bluege, and this really
Is only a two-man fight, for there is
no chance for either of the others to
fourteen grueling seasons of big
league service is in some respects a
remarkable athlete. Although still
comparatively young In years, having
been born in Indianapolis in 1888,
Bush is one of the oldest players
in point of service in the big show,
where the pace is fast and the sue
cessive seasons take q heavy toll on
the vitality of regular.
His once steady hand now is a
trifie uncertain. the formerly keen
eye blurs a bit and the legs that
for years were sturdy and fleet show
the effects of wear and tear. DOME
is slipping. but he still is a power
to be reckoned with in the main
show at a point where nine Of ten
and the reason for it is indomjtable
sighting spirit.
Bush In Fun Of Fight.
Bush does not know what it means
to quit nor relax on the diamond.
He has the will to win" in a maxi
mum quantity out of all proportion
to his diminutive size and is one
His scrappy nature, coupled with his
thorough mastery of the game, makes
him an ideal man for pep-instilling
purposes and for the coacher's box,
where his intimate knowledge Of the
strong and weak points Of all vet,
prove invaluable.
But the value Of Bush Is not con-
fined to ibis pugnacfty and initiative
as a coach, for he has the ability
period and the experience to plug
a hole at either second. third or short
in the event illness or mishaps should
shelve one of the regulars. Nor
would the team be materially weak
ened in attacking power with him
hitter-he batted 1858 in 127 games
last year-he gets on the bases with
much more frequency than a great
majority of players who top his bat
ting mark by wide margin.
Gets Lots Of Passes.
Judge alone of the Nationals last
season drew more passes than Bush
sixty eight as against fifty-seven, and
Joe played in twenty-six more games
and Donie tied Josephus for top
honors in runs scored with sixty
seven. Bush always can be depended
upon to do something to worry the
enemy, even If it's just getting the
goat of an alien hurler.
As between La Motto and Bluege,
not enough has been seen of the lat
ter. to determine what his capabilities
are-s 1t already is established that
of doubtful batting ability, and pres
ent indications are that the same is
true of his young rival from Peoria.
If Bluege develops any unlooked-for
prowess with the stick it is possible
that both he and, Lamotte will be
Rnh nd
last year.
Three Extra Outnelders.
With Manager Milan. Rice and Cos
line slated for the regular garden
posts, the Nationals have three extra
patrolmen in Gobel, Smith and Brow
er. Goebel probably is the best fly
chaser on the roster and has youth
but although he excels as a ball
hawk. ranks with Rice in speed and
is the equal of Smith in throwing, he
lacks the knowledge of big league
ways possessed by the others.
does not scintiilate on the paths, but
he can hit and also fill in satisfac-
torily at first base, if necessary.
Smith is a far better ball player than
he proved himself to be with the Ma
can be explained only by the theory
that he had an off-season. He has
one of the best wings in the league,
gets ball away as quickly as any
player in the game and, until he
slumped to .252 last season, had al
lifetime batting average of .27S.
Eight Due to Lose Out.
There now are thirty-three names
on the roster of the Nationals, includ-
ing Altrock, who> although he does
not figure in the box. scores, is sign
ed to a regulation players contract,
and ]. w. Luther, the college pitcher,
who is not due to report until June.
The limit club may carry after May
athletes must be Topped of. Through
the stretch of last season the Ma
tionals carried twenty -four, compris-
ing eight pitchers, three catchers,
seven infielders and five outfielders.
There are listed at present four
catchers, seven infielders and six out
f1elders. Just who will get the blue
is largely matter of guess
work now, but by the time camp is
broken here the last of this month
the fate of all hands will be pretty
definitely settled.
Leon Goslin failed to visit Plant
Field for the workout yesterday, be-
ing i'll. His ailment was Of q not par
ticularly serious nature and he was
on the job again today.
His trunk. containing shoes, glove
and uniform having arrived, Mog-
ridge took part in his first training
session., after missing one: The vet
much as he did when he reported last
spring and probably will be the first
OF the regulars to get into condition.
as usual.
In between the time he spends at
nd hA roll IN