Evening star., 1924-03-12

SO far as can be determined Ga
sound again by the treatment he III
season. This cannot be definitely e
on the diamond aud thoroughly test
But even with the Holy Gross
too we'll supplied with utility men
Bean nor Tobasco Shirley is ripe fol
AS matters stand now only Bluege
or Prothro. depending upon which
wins the battle for the third base
assignment, will be available for re-
lief duty in the event one of the reg
uiars is injured. No team made
auately supplied with reserve
strength can hope to get anywhere
in a campaign of i54 games. Acct
dents and illnesses cannot be fore seen
and the loss of one man can throw
faSt-traveling machine completely
out of gear and cause it to slump into
mediocrity.
Needs Three Capable Men.
To be fortified again/t the caprices
of fortune a club should have three
athletes capable of carrying on in
an acceptable amer should the need
for their services in the infield arise
Unless remark bly, good luck at
tends Harris initial fi.ns at the man
agerial game and enables him to
present an unbrokcn front through
out the summer. he will be confronted
by problem to which no answer
now can he discerned.
To properly protect himself he
must dig up a couple of competent
players. men who can step in at "A
moments notice and deliver the
goods in an accepta BILE manner should
miShaps force out Of action either
himself or the men who with him
form the first line of de fense.
Unless GaSnon'S injury. which thus
far has even Trainer Mike Martin
stumped as diagnosttcian. soon
Yields to the rest treatment now be-
ing given him. il is likely that he
will be sent to Youngstown. Ohio. for
an examination by Bonesetter Reese.
This justly famous muscle manfpu-
lator has earned wonderful reputa-
ton by eliminating all manner Of
diamond athletes in the last decade
or so, and if he finds that Gagnon's
ailment is something that is within
his province he will Operate"
Weather Is Not So Good.
Continued cold weather. with more
OF the unwelcome high winds prev
alent here this winter. greeted the
Nationals when they trotted to Plant
Field for their second workout un-
der the supervision of Harris. How
ever, there was plenty of heat in the
rays of the sun. which was on the
job in cloudless Sky, and the out
look was that training conditions
would gradually improve.
With the athletes we'll bundled up
to protect their valuab arms. they
were divided into two squads and
put through a strenuous session by
the youthful pilot. who plans to drive
them at top speed to get them in
shape for the clashes with the Ma
tional League clubs. There are two
of these on the program for this
week. the first being scheduled for
Friday. when the Nationals will
motor over to the training base of
.tf "a. lte.,-
The following day they will play host
70 the Boston Braves here.
It is likely that Harris before long
will spring an innovation in training
so far as the Washington club is con-
cerned by holding two drills a day
10 the extent, at least. of having his
pitchers out in the afternoons to
teach them something about fielding.
Many of the young hurlers in camp
are total losses so far as anything e
besides pitching that base ball is
concerned, and Bucky proposes to in.
crease their efficiency by tutoring
them in the business of fielding their
positions.
ProthrO Not in shape.
Excluding one player. Bucky Har-
riS optimistic estimate of the condi-
tion attained by the squad, which
worked under his direction at Hot
Springs, has been fully borne out The
1onc exception is Doc Prothro, the
twenty-eieht-ye2T-o rookie pur-
chased from Memphis of the South
crn Association. Prothro, who is of
average height and weighs about 40
hounds when in shape. is a peculiar
built athlete in that he is somewhat
.'swayba cked."
This fact tends to emphasize his
rather generous girth; to make him
appear bit more aldermanic in pro-
portions than he really is but it is
his face which tells the tale. In con-
frast to the other performers who
are bronzed by wind and sun, Prothro
Is. pale and flabby looking. his heavy
gowls and paunch making him appear
fsoft.''
I Unlike most of his mates. who keep
put in the open during the winter
bunting and fishing. Prothro leads
sedentary life Now that joey
Evans, the eminent Cleveland. Ohio,
Physician, has gone from the Nation
ais and caught on with the Browns
Prothro and Ruel are the only pro-
fessional men on the roster of the
Grihment, Muddy being a full f1edged
lawyer in st. Louis and the Tennes-
seean doctor Of dental surgery.
81 shows Lack OF Exercise.
Prothro enjoys rather extensive
Practice at his home in Dyersburg
Tna TINS confin,ns work all winter to-
: sether with the fact that his lame
Eoot prevented him from indulging in
as much exercise as his co-workers
e. Hot Springs. proba bly, accounts for
tie TACT that MS present physical
condition is below par.
The effects of the fractured foot
which put Prothro out of commission
last summer after about two-thirds
Of the season in which he hung up a
Jatting record of .296 are apparent
9Ty in general lessening of speed,
frf there is no perceptible limp in
His gait Neither are his movements at
tle plate visibly hampered.
kProthro normally is rated as fast
his his throUino ry,,
enabling him to knock down torrid
taps and nail runners from any part
of the far side of the diamond, but
he is weak at the business of hand
ling bunts that he has to dash in for.
Doc has ruled favorite in the winter
Books to start the season at third
base for the Nationals, but whether
3ie' can succeed in winning the berth
nScio Rliiacrc c1aa to a