Evening star., 1924-09-06

extra material available could stant
SO anything in the way Of al
seriously mar the Nationals chances
in the Johnsonian circuit has gotte
for only two or three days even of
rally affect the clubs prospects of ,
AS the club is constituted at pres
ent, every infielder and two of the
outfielders appear to be absolute es
sentials of the organization. With
Joe Judge. Stanley Harris, Roger
Peckinpaugh and Ossie Bluege in the
in1eld, the quartet looms as the
strongest defensively in the American
League Remove any one of these
men and the effectiveness of the in
ner defense is greatly reduced.
Reserves None Too Certain.
This observation is not mere specu-
lation, but is based upon the per-
formances of the inside line when
some one of the regularly assigned
athletes happened to be out of COM
mission this season. During the Ma
tionals' first Western trip of the year
Judge unfortunately was forced out
of the game by a knee injury sus-
tanned in Cleveland. a revamped in
field went along well for a couple
Of days, then came a decided slump
in the inner defense that was not
shaken off until Judge got back into
harness.
AS formed regularly, the National
infield is too delicately balanced to
permit the loss of one of its COM
ponent parts without courting dis
aster. Its play is so much faster than
that of the average big league in
field, that none of the second d-string-
ers at hand, however likely they ap-
pear as prospects, can hope to fill
time.
1t would indeed be unfortunate
were the ankle injury Judge sustain
ed in Thursdays game against the
Red Sox, but did not discover until
yesterday, prove more serious than
thought after the first examination
by a club physician. Should it de-
velop that Joe has worse than a
bruised tendon and be forced to
forego playing for several days, the
Bucks might find the going in the
race a deal rougher than anticipated.
Consider how damaging it would be
to the club were Harris, Peck or
Bluege to be showed to the sidelne
by mishap. The few times any of
these men has been out of commits
sion during the campaign defensive
play has fallen we'll below the usual
standard. The reserve material gives
to approach the regulars in brilliancy
is entirely too much to ask of any of
them. There probably is wider gap
between the regular and reserve in
fielders with the Bucks than between
regulars and reserves of other teams
in the circuit.
Scant Outfleld Talent.
Probably no other club in the
majors in recent years ever went into
the stretch of a pennant race with
but four outfielders, as the Nationals
are doing. Consider the effect on the
club of the loss of either Sam Rice or
Goose Goslin for several days. Earl
McNeely and Memo Leibold are the
only other pasturemen on the roster,
and they may really be counted as
one, as they have been used.
McNeely really is an experiment,
albeit a successful one so far. Leibold
generally can be depended upon to
give a splendid account of himself in
the field, but. at times his legs fail
him and he has to retire for a few
days. But he is scarcely a man to
replace Goslin or a Rice.
Nor can McNeely, fresh from the
minors where he had scant expert
ence, be figured as a worthy successor
to either of these men at present He
has stepped along fast since joining
the Bucks, but still has far to go to
be a polished outergardener.
All of the foegoing reveals just
why the Nationals boss at times
shudders at the thought of the acci-
dent jinx- Let that animal get loose
among the regulars of the Washing
ton club and everything probably
would go blooie. There's not enough
reserve. material of substantial cali
Der around the outfit to neatly patch
any places that may become marred
by injury to player.
The available material makes the
repaired part appear good for a
short time. but it is doubtful If it is
sturdy enough to Withstand the wear
and tear of such a grind as promises
to be the lot of Manager Stanley
Harris aggregation the remainder of
the month -
Judges sore angle was given in
tensive treatment yesterday, and the
first-sacker probably will be at to-
days game. Manager Harris, how
ever, may. use, Mule Shirley at the
station and give his regular more
rest. But be is not keen about hav-
ing his hard-hitting firstbaseman out
of action very long.
Judge kenesaw Mountain lands,
high commissioner of base ball, was
expected to visit President Clark
Griffith of the Bucks this afternoon
to discuss seating arrangements in
the local park for possible world
series games here.
Admirers of johnson, who missed
Thursdays game, are hoping the
Kansas thunderbo1t will get into
action for an inning or two tomorrow.
There is little chance that, Walter
will toe the slab during the fray, but
many are anxious to get final
glimpse of the big fellow, who de-
clares this will be his last season in
the majors.