The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-01


first base, is making the same I'M
preston by his fielding around third
base and he will continue to hold
down that job until he stumbIns
Joey Evans stands ready to hop
right in whenever the opportunity
comes along, but Conroy Is giving
him small hope. Indeed, it Is already
planned to have Evans play III the
outfield for the Yannigans at Jack.
sOnville next Saturday.
Ossie Bluege lis showing himself q
much improved player since his trial
last spring and there Is small chance
OF his losing out as first underst1i1y
to Roger Peclfinpaugh. The latter
is nursing his broken finger and Is.
lieves it will be In condition to allow
him to face the Braves here next
Saturday.
LOOK WEAK IN BOX.
Before breaking camp and hitfina
the road the Griffs look ready -
all positions except the box Maaa.
ager Bush has ceased to consider 1Fn.
Grew or Beach possibilities ana in
devoting all his time and attention
to whipping WarInoth, HoIlingswprf
and Brillheart into shape to assist
the first string fingers. 1T must -
admitted that neither pitcher used
today against the PhilIies looked
very promising.
dad Hankins lacks the expert
ence that would make him 8 success
TINS season as q regular. but IN
All else ne is the most promising
of. all the new pitchers. The tan
youngster, who was born in An
derson, Ind. but claims Brooks.
- II A.
ahead fast and will undoubtedIy
be retained with the team when
the curtain rises on the regular
compaign.
Zachary, Mogridge and Russell
are about ready to go into q cham.
plonship game, with Walter John.
son not far behind them. Manager
Bush is planning to send his two
crack southpaws nine fun innings
against the Boston Braves when
the coming road trip begins, prob
ably at Savannah and Charleston.
WILL BE WORKED HARD.
HollingSworthi Rri11heart ana
Warmoth are not so far advanced,
but they will be worked hard, ard
will probably be sent thea4ulT dis
lance before the seRS0n opens. Tk
is not likely that Walter johnson
will be--S4sed in more than relief
situations until the regular cam-
paign is under way.
The Griffs as a whole, look some
improved over last year. This Id
especially true of the catching staff,
Muddy RueI bringing much added
strength to that department. Peck
enpaugh, while Handicapped by his
broken finger. has looked better
than year ago when he was
waterlogged till midseason. Com
roy is distinct Improvement over
Shanks, who started at the hot
corner a year ago, or Bob LaMotte.
who finished there.
Both Rice and Goslin are hitting
better than they did last spring, and
Goslin's fielding has improved. Dick
Wade Isl a much better fielder and
batsman' than either Earl Smith or
Turkey Brewer was a wear. aso.
Therefore the outfield trio locks
stronger in every way than that
which opened the 1929 campaign.
The Griffs are likely to be q good
hitting team this year The infieid
is faster and more alright than il
was a year ago, thus making some
amends for possible looseness
among the hurlers. This looseness
Is bound in be seen in the hurting
staff, which is nothing to brag about
at best. -
MILAN KNEW BETTER.
Last spring at this time Zeb Milan
thought, he had a strong pitching
corps. A month later he knew better.
Donnie Bush is entertaining no such
foolish dreams. He does not Be.
ieve he has a strong staff. He floee
hink some of the pitchers may
'ound to and deliver the goods, but
le makes no boasts about any Of
hem.
Manager Bush is banking largely
IN the run-getting procliyities of this
rang. He believes that with Rice,
Harris and Wade on the bases and
With Goslin and Conroy following
hem at bat, runs are bound to Be
cored. The Griffs may turn out TO
re one of those hitting teams which
over up pitching deficiencies by SUE
'erior hitting and running. Any
vay, that Is the way Manager Bush
ooks at the situation.
We have seen no other American
league team this spring and, there
ore, cannot well compare the Griffs
With their natural rivals. But they
ave looked just as good as the Car
inals and the Reds, two teams tout.
d as contenders for the NatiOnaI
league pennant, Il that mans aHg
hing.