The Washington times., 1924-03-03


his infield taking it's daily pract
ed Bean are available for infield
Fisher probably booked for the g;
Martin, acting in his official
capacity as manager Of the rockies.
may be depended upon to drive
them hard this week. Defeat for
his team next Saturday will just
about ruin his entire summer.
Judging from reports. Martin has
several pitchers capable Of flinging
couple Of rounds apiece. McGrew,
Brogan, Wingfield and Marberry
may be sent to the firing line
against the Cubans without injur.
Ing themselves any.
Behind the bat Bennett Tate
and Pink Hargrave will divide
the work, though there is
chance that Doc Nance, q popular
seen in action. Nance formerly
managed the Tampa club in the
The seasons serious work begins
q week from today with the arrival
Of Manager Harris and the Hot
Springs squad. The infield to be
sent against the Boston Braves at
Tampa in the first exhibition game
Of the season on March Is will be
given its initial fielding practice.
and it is quite likely to be composed
Of Judge, Harris, Peckinpaugh and
Prothro.
Undoubtedly Doc Prothro is to
be given first whack at that third
base job. He has been getting into
condition at Hot Springs and, il re.
ports be true, has completely re.
covered from the lameness he
showed here last September.
Prothro's gameness in playing
third base when handicapped by one
spraIned ankle and fractured
small bone in his foot so impressed
Bucky Harris that the former
Memphis player is assured OF a
thorough trial this spring and it
viii begin next week at Tampa.
Just where Sam Rice will play,
center or right field. and what out.
fielder is likely to start in the va.
cant hole will also be determined
Il has been said that Rice would
be moved over to center field, largely
becaLSe Of his experience and speed.
Denial Of this plan has also been
heard.
Memo LeibOld, who played fine
ball for the Griffmen in center
last season; Lance RichbOurg, from
Nashville; Carr Smith, from
Raleigh, I'm the Piedmont League,
and George AdOnis Fisher, with .
years experience at New Haven,
are the four gardeners to battle
for the remaining place in the
Washington Outfield.
Leibold is q veteran OF the major
leagues. Not much was expected Of
him last season, when he was OBJ
tanned at the waiver price from the
Boston Red Sox. but he proceeded to
step out and play good ball. He hit
rfof '.'294, which was bit surprising
TO many who had thought him on
his way back to the bushes.
Richbourg and Fisher are about
equal in experience. Richbourg
never flashed to the front as bats
man until he was played in the
outfield at Nashville, and it was his
1878 average which really attracted
the Washington scouts. He was an
infielder until last spring.
Fisher was a green fielder a year
ago. He had started off as O
pitcher, but played the outfield for
st. Joe in the Western League in
1922. He went to New Haven In
the Eastern Association hast season
and. according to the dope from
Tampa, has picked up quite bit
in fielding way. 1t is Fishers
fielding which cast doubt on his
making good last season, as he
has always been a crashing hitter
since making his debut in profess
Aonal baseball.
Carr Smith is a .418 hitter in
his first year as q professional.
Odd AZ IL may appear, he spent
most Of his time I'm Raleigh hold.
lng down infieId positions, at
third and first. Only during the
final month of the 1923 campaign
dld he 60 to the garden. But
hiS seasons cIOuting average was
ALB just the same.
Youngsters like Smith frequently
ret q lot Of attention for a week
or 30 and then fade out Of the
picture as soon as their lack Of
polish makes it's appearance. II
he can weather the strain Of be.
ing compared every day with such
more experienced players as Lei
bold and Rice, he may be retained.
If he can't, he will find himself
with some minor league club for a
year with directions to get as much
ui.NctASs in the garden as he can.
When Fisher was sent to New
Haven 1t was with advice to learn
all possible about fielding. Presi.
dent Griffith went out Of his way
to give khe youngster that tip, and
According to reports, Fisher did
learn something. He is now said
to be a~tmuch more finished per.
former than he was a year ago on
his first attempt to break into the
big show.
Perhaps the NOSE necessary re.
\quirement in the ,Griffmen this year
he a punch in Me batting order.
Goose Goslin and. flor many weeks,
Muddy Ruel, provided about the
only sign Of an offensive Kick dur.
ing the 1928 campaign. It was he.
cause Goslin could drive over runs
that his weakness in the sunfield
we're overlooked.
Doc PrOthrO is expected to add
considerable heft to he inflelder's
hitting this season. He has q
reputation Of being q long hitter
when he does get hold OF the
~.eennn driving k1n hell a., q nf,no