Evening star., 1925-03-16


At that, some of the men are wal
Looping the ball with a right good
Will at present Joe Judge has tax en-
a liking to the offerings of opposing
pitchers strong enough to place him
at the head of the players who may
be accounted members of the regular
lineup. In the contests last week
Joe registered Z hits in 16 times at
bat for smashing percentage of .438.
That's clouting, even though enemy
pitchers may not be at top form, for
Joe's eyes perhaps are not as keen
as they ought to be later.
The intield has been contributing
a great deal to the Nationals attack
so far. Oswald Bluege, who past sea-
sons has met the ball hard, but with
out any great success, has been get
ting something out of his swings on
the Florida fields. In the quintet of
engagements with major and minor
league clubs Ossie went to bat 20
even 300 average.
Roger Peckinpaugh, too, shakes a
wicked bat so far, his average for
the past week being 500. But the
Rajah was at bat only six times,
playing only in the early parts of the
games as he did!
Harris Slow in Starting.
Manager Harris has been finding
the road to healthy batting mark
quite rough. To date he has been at
bat 19 times and amassed but 3 safe
ties. But Harris may be expected
soon to find the ball in much better
style and make that present average
of .1o7 grow to a big league size.
The outfeld has not been walloping
the sphere in very good form. Not a
A,-t,
has broken into the 800 class. Sammy
Rice is nearest to it with I, hits in "a
times at bat for an average of .292.
Then comes Earl McNeeiy, who has
slammed for .261 with 6 safeties in %
times up. Goose Goslin has mark of
.250, having collected 5 bingles in Il
charged trips to the plate.
The Goose has been putting con-
siderable effort into his swings, but
is not getting hold Of the ball in
good form. However, a swollen fin
ger on his right hand has been trou-
bling Goslin the past week. When
the digit heals he may get better re-
suits at the plate, although in other
training campaigns he has been
somewhat slow in striking his bat
ting stride.
Bennett Tate really deserves the
lead among the catchers at hitting.
average-that of .667-but Muddy
has been in part of only one game,
when he got two blows in three trips
to the home plate. Tate in five en-
gagements has been charged with II
times at bat and has recorded hits
for an average of .273. Bill Har-
grave has a clouting mark of 200.
with one hit in five times at bat. The
utility players have not been so i'm
aE Iof If,t 81 he
pitchers have broken in as 500 swat
tiers. They are Walter Ruether and
Jim Mcnamara, left handlers, with
records of one hit in two times up.
Three Men On Slab Today.
Jez Zachary, Allan Russell and
Fred Marberry were Manager Harris
pitching choices for this afternoon. The
pilot gave these men good workouts
last week and figures that Zach Is
we'll advanced in his training now.
Narberry, though, needs much more
toll, while Russell, although he show
ed to considerable advantage against
the Reds at Orlando, can get a deal
of benefit from more slabbing under
fire.
Harris did not expect to play in
todays game. The manager has a
puffed right hand, the result of a
blow received during Saturdays bat
tie with the Braves, and he did not
want to chance injuring the ailing
member more seriously If the pilot
remained out of the lineup, Spencer
Adams was to be sent to the middle
station.
The Nationals are to motor to st.
Petersburgh tomorrow for return
game with the Braves. Jim Mcnamara
and George Mogridge, southpaws, may
be sent into the contest. If Mogridge
toes the slab, il will be his first test
of the year in competition. The vet
eran seems to be in splendid con-
ditional physically and ready for a
thorough trial, however.