The Washington times., 1923-03-14

had trained In such q 11ne place.
He began lining the ball across
the diamond, repeating this for q
couple Of days.
Yesterday morning, trying to
loosen his throwing arm. Evans
found it stiff. Trying to work out
the stiffness, he found he had q
sore sarm and will now have to
work out with young Beach, tEe
rookie pitcher. and Brillheart, the
kid soHthpaw, both Of whom are
working with lame whips.
However, merely because he
could not throw, Evans did not.
escape 4 good workout. He merely
doubled up in his batting practice.
The former Indians hopes Of play
ing third base this year rest upon
his hitting. He was a bear when
merely facing southpaW pitchers OPP
posing the Indians, but last year
his average took q decided tumble
when kept III the lineup against
the right handlers
10 hold down third base with
the Griffs Evans must be able 10
Hit right-hand pitching. He knows
ft and Is working faithfully here
10 overcome natural weakness.
Yesterday he showed excellent
form Ut the plate, hitting the ball
as hard as any Of the others and
getting In q number u long
drives to the garden.
Patsy Charity began this extra
batting practice. and now ne has
two more disciples In Goose Goslin
81 rff n
worked out with both squads
yesterday.
GosIin admits he is out to hit
400 this year and that he wants all
the practice he can get. He spent
q hectic morning, swinging away &C
every hurler tOeing the slab. He
hasn't got his eyes cleared out yet
and so missed as often as he landed
on the ball, but he showed the
right spirit. He did not quit.
sam Rice, q quiet fellow Mttle;
given to idle chatter. Ii evidently
peeved at his dropping out Oh the
800 class last year and IS making
up for It by devoting extra time to
his hitting this spring Rice feels.
sure that, playing right field this.
year, he will be up around 1886
when the final averages are com
pleted.
It Il Manager BusIl's intention
now TO have Rice lead of the bat
ting order. to Be followed by
Evans. provided the latter makes
the team. Then VIII come thre0
hard left-hand kitteTs Id Judge.
GOsIln, and Wade Or Fisher. This
should come close to making Rice
one 6f the leading rungctters IN
the circuit.
last season Rice hit. In third
place. Charged with 633 times at
bat, he hit safely 1877 times and
besides reached first forty-eight
times on free tickets and twice by
being hit by the pitcher. He scored
ninety-one runs. As Iead-Off hats
man Rice should easily score from
thirty to forty more runs, even
though he doesn't hit for much
more than 800.
Sisler, hitting for 40, led the
league with 1874 runs last season.
Rice IL almost certain to do a. well.
if not better, II he has any kind Of
d year. He will be followed by
heavier hitters this season than he
WAS last, and this will have con.
siderable effect upon his total OF
runs scored.
For, Saturdays Ganae against
the Boston Braves, the first Of the
spring exhibition series, Manager
Bush has nominated six young
STEERS for the lineup, and IL is .
ctnci that each and every ono Of
them Will work his head Off to
make good impression upon the
boss. f.ss..s. 49,.
Chick Gagnon, the Holy Cross
collegian, will play short. Bin Con-
roy, from Minneapolis, will cover
third. Wade will be in center and
Fisher in right. Bill Hargrave, the
chunky red-headed backstop. win he
behind the bat, and Dad Hankins,
who was with Tampa last year, will
be tested against the National
League hitters.
It is possible that Japan will re.
a. -