The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-03-08
l1R|EF KIDS
LOOK NOT
SO GOOD
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER
MAMA III 49, &

Dy LOOAC - OON 0AA4@AS
TAMPA, Fla, March 81
Five weeks from tomorrow the
big leagues will get under way
and Bucky Harris, manager of the
champions, is planning for just
that day.
He knows that the first four
games to be played by the Griff-
men win be against the PhiladeL
phia Athletics, one of the con-
tenders on preseason dope, and
he means to have his team in
such condition as to make 3 fly
ing start.
Washington fans may as well
know here and now that Manager
Harris is going into no raptures
about the youngsters here at
camp. With Buddy Myer ranked
above 9 youngster, owing to his
having reported last season, only
Irving Hadley and Lefty Thomas
have made much Of an impression
upon him. Neither Of these two
young hurlers< has made good yet,
either, by q long shot.
Our strongest additions this year
have been Joe Bush and Johnny
Tobin," explains Manager Harris.
"Tobin showed right off the reel at
; st. Petersburg Saturday night what
4 fine euffielder he is. His legs are
. strong and he reports his arm in
good condition. If he can throw up
TO the requirements he will start in
right field for me.
Joe Bush Is down 10 weight for
the first time I'm two years. He
Is happy to be with as, too, after
q year in st. Louis. Tins lar he
has gone along slowly, but by the
time he will have to tear loose,
just watch him. He'll be there.
81 would say now that our prin-
eipal weakness is In reserve players,
yet we have never been too strong
in the last two years when we
were winning pennants. Myer and
Sfuffy Stewart are sure to be car
ried as extra infielders, with Stew
art devoting ali his time to under
studying me at second base. /
don't like him 50 well at short or
third, but he Is a. cracking good sec
ond-sacker
During this spring exhibition
series you will see only veterans
playing in our lineup. Why not?
We don't intend opening the season
with rockies. We hope to have a
veteran team on the field when we
face the Philadelphia club on April
Is. veteran club In perfect con-
will play in Our exhibition games.
TO get into snaps. The rockies come
second.
IF our veterans, especially the
pitchers, hang on, we ought to be
in the pennant hunt from the start.
If they don't. well, that will be
, time enough to talk about putting
In youngsters. Meanwhile, we are
getting our regular team in shape
for the coming season and / have
every confidence that it viii be,
ready"
That Connie Mack has mach
the same idea Is Evidenced BY his
Baltimore Orioles Gray. Harriss.
WaIbefg, Quinn, and Lefty
Groves have been sent to the
mound, al veterans.
+, From President Griffith right on
down through the roster, the Wash
ington club looks to have the Mack
men their strongest rivals during
the coming spring campaign. Some
don't figure the Mackmen will
hang on as long as they did g.
year ago. Others believe Connie
will remain in the fight at least
until Labor Day. All plans are
directed against the Mackmen.
Word from Fort Myers. where
the Mackmen are training, has Joe
Hauser's knee in poor condition.
but that does not give the. Griffs
much to cheer about. They believe
that Pool played fine ball a year
ago without any spring training
and that this year he should be all
the better with his early start
This Pool Is 1 real, swatter."
says Manager Harris. land / don't.
think Hauser will be missed as
much as folks believe. We beat
the AS with Pool a year and we
can do it again, even il he does
have the benefit Of spring training.
We won in 1924. too, remember,
when Hauser was in the Mack.
mems lineup every day. But
either way. Hauser's absence o.
presence means nothing to u.s."
: Earl AIcNeeley, large because OF
his speed, ranks as fourth out
fielder. with Maurice Archdeacon
running close to him for the same
reason. There really appears small
hope for Tex Jeanes or COWBOY
Jones to wear Washington UNI
forms for long this year
Jones Is weII-buiIt yOungster
wn,Ha1 rNn
swing at the plate, good to. see.
He hit for .313 with Mobile last
season. but that's a long way
from .3I3 In the big show. He is
said to have fielding weaknesses,
yet to appear here in the early
= season practice.
Jeanes is a bit heavier than
Jones. In other ways, they are
much alike. Jeanes looks better
than he did last fab. He seemed
frightened last September. Now
he Is looser in his actions and
really hopes to make good, though
realizing his tough task. The mere
fact that Bucky Harris was willing
10 send him to the Macknnen in
dictates Jeaness situation on the
Washington club. The odds APP
pear to be against him.
Joe Harris. ranking as a pinch
hitter able 70 fill in at first base
and In the outfield, is sure 20 be
retained. He is a slow starter. but