Evening star., 1924-03-27

hurler, but possibly lacks the physic
league grade.
This Critz. according to the records,
is the real goods as an intielder. He
played at shortstop and second base
for Minneapolis last season and was
quite capable at both positions. He
played eighty-four games in the
short field and handled $40 chances
al fielding rate of .931.
At second base Critz had $40
chances and fielded .9S2. All told, he
was credited with being in 154 games
and batted for a mark of -321.
Among his EOS hits We're 34 doubles.
Is triples and homers. Apparently,
Critz can wallop the ball.
The trade of the three hurlers for
this infielder is the result of a pro-
tracted visit to Tampa by Joe Can
tillon, former mana ger of the Ma
tionals and Minneapolis club and now
Il part owner of the latter aggrega-
tion. Cantillon, a Shrewd judge of
ball players, thinks a great deal of
the three pitchers that are to go to
the American Association team, and
so do Coaches Nick Altrock and Jack
Chesbro.
Dudley. according to the pitching
tutors of the Nationals, is a poten-
TALLY great hurler. They have care
fully watched his work al the Tampa
lamp and believe that within a year
or so he will be ready to take his
place with the regular twirlers in big
league base ball. The also see a
splendid future for Moon. the south
paw, if he. will submit to an opera
ton that Will clear away growth
that binds the second and third fin
gers of his pitching hand. Manager
Harris viii keep close tab on these
boys, in the minors during the season
and II should occasion no surprise
were they recalled in the fall.
At present. Manager Harris can let
the ak fall only on some OF his pitch
ers. for the Nationals are none too
well fortified for inffeld and outfield
reserve material. The lack of second
string infie1ders really constitutes a
serious problem for the young pilot
With OsSie Bluege out of action be-
cause of his trick knee there are but
three infield substitutes at hand. and
none seems ready even for emergency
service in the big show.
The three available are Chick Gag
non, Mule Shirley and Ed Bean. and
of these Gagnon is the only one ap-
preaching the service standard. But
Chick has been troubled by crooked
wing that is rounding into form slow
~ and his hitting ability is un-
known. Shirley promises to become
a major Lacquer, but he has much to
learn, both atield and at bat. His re-
cent work in drills indicates that he
may become formidable hitter, but
1t viii be some time before he is quail
lhed to step into a breach at first
base and keep the infield balanced.
Bean, who comes from the Wash
lngton Sandlots, needs considerable
grooming before he may be termed of
big league caliber. He is not so fast
at neidlng, none too sure thrower
and lately has found the pitching
much too strong for him in batting
practice. In all likelihood this young
ster viii be farmed TO some club in
Inc Virginia League, probably Nor
rolk season or SO of training in
worth while.
The scarcity OF reserve infield tall
rnt means much work for Scout Joe
Engel in the near future. As soon as
the minor leagues open their season
this ivory hunter will be dispatched
to the jungles in search of players
who may be good enough to supplant
incapacitated National regulars. The
club probably will have to dish out a
deal Of cash for high-class intielders
once the minors are under way, but
the need is so acute that this will be
done. -
Today the Griffs are here to play
their only game of the week away
from Plant Field in Tampa. A return
engagement with the Cardinals is
listed. but after that 7-to-6 win over
the Giants yesterday the Nationals
are ready to tackle anything. Two
more tits are on the books for this
week. one with the Milwaukee Brew
"rs tomorrow and another with the
cincinnati Reds Sa aturday.
That match with the Giants was a
nip -and-tuck affair. with the Ma
tionals stepping out in front early.
only to have their old enemy threaten
seriously in the latter part of the ac-
ton The Griffs did all their scoring
Dtnny Gearin, an American Associa-
- ion product, for five hits and six
runs in the second frame, and Jack
Rentley. erstwhile Griffman, for two
blows and a tally in the fifth.
Incidentally, this run off Bentley
happened TO be the decisive marker,
for after Walter Johnson had held the
Giants to four singles and one score
in four frames, George Mogridge all
nfeked for four hits and five runs in
tie sixth session. Mogridge there
after pitched good ball, but he need
Cd to, for Hugh McQuillan. right
handler. hurled cleverly for the Giants
Ing the Nationals last two turns at
bat.
The most notable feature of the
Nationals work was Bucky Harris
batting. He made double and three
singles in four legal trips to the
plate and knocked in two runs in ad-
dition to scoring another. The field
ing OF both teams was marred by a
high wind that swept the diamond
after the third inning. The Nationals
were charged with five errors, and
hat for lenient scoring could have
had seven marked against them. while
he Giants were guilty of three mis-
cues.
George Fisher. who was slated for
duty in right field, did not get in the
Nationals lineup, except as a pinch
hitter. Carr Smith. however, did well
afield and was impressive at bat
Fisher, though, will be employed in
the right garden when the opposition
opens fire with a pitcher delivering &
from the right side.