Evening star., 1923-02-12

Another rea son, never stressed, was
that johnson is such a wise bird In
the business OF hurting horsehides
that good mechanical catcher is all
ne requires, the necessity for back
stop capable Of sizing up rival bats
men and signaling for deliveries call
culated to prevent bingles being nom
existent. Pick seldom was used from
choice when a steadying influence
was required for young and mex
perienced hurler, or the aspect Of
situation called for well qualified
director of strategy back Of the bat.
RueI a Smart Player
Ruel. on the other hand, is credited
with being a smart receiver, is even
faster in his actions back of the plate
than Picinich, has equally as strong
an arm. with more accuracy in his
throwing, and although batting is by
no means his forte, is Il better hitter
than Pick. -.
Oddly enough they were born in the
same year--1S96-and are of prac-
tically the same height and weight,
about feet and 100 pounds, but
temperamentally they are as far apart
as the oceans. Pick is an easy going
chap. thoroughly likeable. but having
few serious thoughts. and well de-
veloped penchant for exerting him
self as little as possible. Ruel is
snappy, energetic youngSter, whose
mind is on nothing but base ball
while game is In progress, and
works with unf.agging zeal A tip
OFT on Ruefs mental makeup is the
fact that for the past few years he
has devoted his off seasons to classes
at St. Louis University and now is a
full-fiedged lawyer.
Goebei Is Letharsic. :.
Goebel, rightly regarded as prom :
Using prospect. still is that and
nothing more. after big league trials
in two successive seasons. 4 real
ball hawk, with speed to burn, fine
hands and good arm. he yet spent
most of his time last season on the
bench. participating in but thirty
seven games out of 1a4, and in a sea-
son. too. when garden work for the
Nationals was attended to in d far
from satisfactory manner. Again the
element of temperament Eddie is
lazy.
Shanks. the most valuable bit of
talent lost in the swap still rates
high by reason of his ability to step
the inf1eld OF garden. but his services
were deemed advisable in only few
more than half the games played by
the Nationals last year and Hank is
getting on in years. Heavy-hoofed.
even in his prime, Shanks has slowed
up even more in the past season or
two. something only to be expected
considering his thirteen years in the
professional game. and he will con-
tinue to get slower.
For one aging veteran and a pair
of compiacent individuals content to
just go through the motions the Ma
tionals have obtained frst-ciass
catcher with fire and enthusiasm in
his makeup just the type to fit i'll
with the aggregation of hustlerS
that is expected to represent Wash
ington this year.
Russell May Prove Factor.
This would seem to be justification
enough for the trade. with Allan Rus
sell entirely eliminated from consid-
Grafton, but it is far from assured
that the Baltimore spitballer will
not prove of real worth. Russell no
longer can .be counted on to go the
fun route of nine innings-he pitched
only one complete game last summer
but he is valuable for emergency
assignments. This is attested by his
record of six games won and seven
,lost with the tail end Red Sox. his
percentage of victories. :462. being
considerably better than the .396
average Of the team he toiled for.
Considering that DOME Bush. this
year will have a raft of ffedglins
hurlers needful of the heady hand
ling expected from Ruel, and that the
jams they get in frequently may
necessitate the services of an expert
extricator such as Russell, it does
appear. to put it mildly, that in his
latest trade Griff got none, the worst
|of it.