The Washington times., 1922-03-27
VIEW WOF:EvANS
HITS GR|FFMEN
IN RIGHT SPOT
Milan and Mogridge Especially
Indorse Umpire's Com
ment on Team.
BY LOUIS A. DOUGHER,

TAMPA, Fla, March 27.-On- Of
Billy Evans signed newspaper
stories has stirred up the Griffmon.
The American Leagues dandy arb!-
traitor has selected the Washington
infield as the best in the circuit
comparable TO that of the world s
champion New York Gianta.
Evans is about right. from where
I sit" agrees George MoGridge.
"Peckll make a great difference for
us pitchers this year. ! don't see
how any Of US will have an alibi this
season. Well just have TO pitch.
that's all. and stop beefing."
This looks to me the best infield
in the league" says Zeb Milan. 1t
can do anything an infield can he
expected to do and do it intelllGently
and cleanly. Why, the morale of the
infield is better right now than il
was at any time since George Nc
Bride ended his active playing DAYS
l consider myself fortunate to have
this infield."
Peck Is Improving.
Roger Peckinpaugh got late
start this spring here, but is impruv-
ing with every days workout. He
d =
in st. Petersburgh that would set
Washington fans wild had it happen.
ed in midseason.
Tony Boeckel smashed a sizzler
down past Shanks. Hank waved his
gloved hand at 1t too late. 1t was
by him like a shot. bounding along
toward left field Then, to the sur
prise of everybody, Peckinpaugh ap.
peared, dived straight ahead, got
both hands on the ball well over to-
ward the line and directly behind
Shanks and came up poised for the
throw.
Even then the trained veteran
played It well. He did not throw.
though he might have nailed the fly
ing Brave by half a stride He
realized that the Griffs were well
ahead. that it was yet spring and
that his arm was worth petting a
while longer. But in midseason he
could have thrown out the runner
after picking up that ball over to-
ward the foul line behind Hank
Shanks.
Peck's steadiness around second
base is already proving of valuable
assistance to Bucky Harris. Last
year Harris was erratic. largely be-
cause he could not bank on his
Today Harris can do
anything with the ball and know
that Peckinpaugh will be there to
go through with any possible play
The offensive is strengthened, too,
by having Peckinpaugh in the bat.
tinig order. He is quite the best
ball down on either foul line, drop
ping 1t dead in its tracks.
IL the opposition begins planning
on Peck's bunt. he can switch and
rip those hard drives down the third
base line or just over the short
stops head. lie is doing this in
practice here in wonderful fashion.
Evans About Right.
Billy Evans is about right when
best in the league. Only the Cleve.
land quartet begins to compare
with Washington's.
McInnis is a fine firstsacker. but
not a bit better than Judge. Harris
has II all over Wamby, Hammond
or Stephenson. Peck won't hit as
hard as Sewell, but I'm everything
else he Is his superior. Shanks
proved last year that he covered
more ground and did II better than
Larry Gardner. The Cleveland vet.
eran will outhit Hank, though.
McManus is the weak spot in the
Browns infield, with Sheely the
same thing for the White Sox. The
Yanks have mediocre quarter,
with Scott head and shoulders
above he others The Tigers are
still hunting for a second bascman
and a shortstop.
Billy Evans In right. The Griffs
have the best infield in the league.