Evening star., 1926-03-07

be said that the prospects now art
is we'll satisfied with his array as it
that the title holders are the class {
II is far too early in the season for
the pilot to make any official an
nouncement in regard to his plans for
dsposing of surplus talent or to go
OF record as favoring one recruit S
chances above those Of another
None Of them has been put to a real
test thus far, for one thing. The
opening of the campaign also is dis
iant by some five weeks yet and still
another reason is that more than
three full months remain before he
will have to cut his squad to the
minimum Of % permitted under the
rules, the time for getting down to
the player limit being June Is.
Good Line on Players.
For all the earliness of the date
however. a fairly good line has been
obtained on the capabilities of the
performers on the Washington ros
ter and unless some striking form
Ieversals materialize to alter the
charts the dope as here presented
should hold good.
AS previously set forth III these
columns. Johnny Tobin may be re-
garded as having practically clenched
a job in the garden where he will
cavort in right field with Rice and
Gos1in as his fiy-cha sing mates. Ruel.
Tate and SEVERED, of course. com
prise the backstopping brigade; the
hold-over inner quartet of Judge, Har
Tis, Peck and Bluege is again slated
10 function and the Big Six" among
the pill propellers will be Johnson.
Bush, Coveleskie, Ferguson, Ogden
and Marberry.
Joe Harris stauds at the top of the
list of utility performers, due to his
ability TO fill III at first base and in
the outf1eld with equal facility. while
Buddy Myer and Stuffy Stewart are
certain to be retained for emergency
work at second, third or short, with
the latter likely to be seen in pinch
running roles whenever occasion re-
QuireS.
McGee's Hitting Uncertain.
The retention of Frank McGee de-
pends largely on whether 1t is decided
he will develop faster with steady
work In some high-cli4ss minor or
ganization or from watching the big
leaguers perform from Il comfortable
place of vantage on the bench. The
youngster from Peoria handles HIM
self we'll around the initial sack, but
has vet to demonstrate his caliber as
a hitter. and with Moon Harris avail
able to sub for Judge it is unlikely
he could break into the box scores
very often.
Neither Earl McNeely nor Tex
Jeanes has yet been officially counted
out of the race for a regular berth
I'm the meadow. Should TObin for
any reason fail to measure UP to
rApectations this pair would have to
hattie with Joe Harris for the job.
If Mac ever develops into a consistent
hitter he could hold his own with
any of the picket men and show up
- ma ajority of them in the matter OF
covering ground, while Tex would
have but TO fash the class OF play
that made him a sensation IN the
Southern Association To earn per-
manent Job with the champions.
Both Jeanes and McNee!y, like Joe
Harris. are righthand hitters, and for
this reason. if no other, they would
lie accorded preference over Maurice
-4rchdeacon and Leroy Jones. Ihe
latter appears to have considerable
native swatting prowess, but Is so
much in need of polish in other re-
spects that he undoubtedly Will be
farmed out to acquire 1t.
Archdcacon May Go.
If Archdeacon is KEEP; it will be
principally for the purpose of utiliz-
ing speed OF foot. rs Z pinch per
former to run for some numbering
pitcher, the former Tiger and White
SoX is a star. for there probably Is
40 one in base bah able to circle the
sacks as fast But he is only fair
hitter, at best, and in the business
of pilfernG bases he cannot begin to
class with Stewart. Comparatively
few of the big leagures can either,
for that matter. as Stuly is the real
. goods when ii comes - puroininS
cushions.
Dutch Ruethcr being eliminated
from consideration for The time being
at least, as he and President Griffith
seem no nearer than eyer to reaching
g. salary agreement, the only Two
Fingers in addition to the NYlt dozen
mentioned above who seem assured OF
Jobs at this writing are Clarence
THOMAS and Irving Hadlcy. They UNI
Coubtedly are the class of the
Hedglings on what is discernible to
date, and barring the unforeseen
should be in evidence throughout the
Summer.
Thomas has all kinds Of stuff, in
tluding sharp-breaking fioater
manipulated in much the same man.
rer as the pet puzzler used by Ed
Rommel of the Athletics Like most
kouthpaws, Thomas has a tendency 20
Nildness, but he is no Harry Harper
pr Lefty Groves in that respect. and al
ready has demonstrated he Is not lack
Ing in courage.
Hadley's Style Impressive.
Hadley now is In the throes OF a re-
Hucing course prescribed by Mike
Martin, which includes the wearing OF
n rubber shirt during the daily drills
and going through Il special set Of
ralisthenics at the wind-up. topped off
with plenty of road work. OF but little
more than medium height, Hadley
iipped the beam at 1913 pounds when
he arrived in camp. and thus fa. has
succeeded in losing but half of the 10
mounds which the trainer has decreed
must come off.
lie has an easy. free delivery that
takes little toll on his arm and n
thard" ball that slides in a manner
nuite disconcerting to batsmen. How
he will shape up in n regulation
length contest. especially at the all
&important business of holding run
ners on the ba ses. remains to be seen.
hnt at present he looms rs likely
timber.
To date Harry Kelley has Shown
NO indications Of broadening his as