Evening star., 1927-03-13
nv John B. KELLER.

Ruckv Harris has just abou
decided which of the many
extras now with the Nationals
will be retained as reserves fol
sthe 1927 American League campaign
Following the policy adopted oy mn
in 1924, the first year ne relgneo a.
pilot of the washington outfit, Harris
intends to carry in addition to his
regular outer and inner cordons ol
defense, two outfielders and three in
fielders.
II now seems certain that Earl Nc
Neely and Sam West will get the
extra garden berths, while the utility
infieIders will be Emmett McCann
Stuffy Stewart and Bob Reeves.
There really never has been any
question about the retention of Nc
neely. The Sacramento boy who came
to the Nationals in 1924 just In time
TO share in the winning of the club
first pennant and world championship
would have had regular job this
season had iris Speaker not been
acquired.
Mac is one Of the surest fielders in
the business, fleet of foot and keen
judge of lofts. There was a noticeable
Improvement in his throwing last
year. too. and while he never has been
reckoned as strong batter he always
has managed to break into the 800
class as big Lacquer.
West Has Edge on Others.
West appears TO have the edge
over the other outfield aspirants
seeking utility jobs with Bucky Har-
ris' club and is being given every
opportunity to prove his worth. 30
far. it has been this Birmingham
product who generally has substi-
tuted for Speaker when the latter
has been withdrawn from action TO
prevent his aging legs being strained
overmuch in his early conditioning
work, and Sam has performed In nne
style.
4 West is exceptionally fast and
seems able to break either way Tor
drives to the outfield. He gets under
way quickly and when ne gets the
hail has a left arm sturdy enough
10 return IL with speed West so far
has not been bothered much In sun
fields and he has played in couple
Of them. AT bat, he has not made
so many safe hits to date, but ne
has been meeting the ball well. his av-
erare of $40. made with Birmingham
last season before he was beaneo
ought to be a fair indication OIL ms
ability as batter. And that Deah-
ing that put him out Of commission
in the Dixie circuit has not left west
baIl-shy at ALL He does not nlncn
when the pitcher zipps close ones. \
ar the other would be Natlonal
ouffieIders. Ollie Tucker and Bernie
Neix batted better than West last
year. but Tucker, who was with the
club at a Spring camp several years
ago. still does not seem to be OF DIG
league caliber, while Neis, veteran
OF the game, although not yeI ov
wears old. shows no disposition 70
stick around the majors any longer.
! Henry Cuilop, who came to the Ma
fionais from the Yankees by way OF
~ PAIL. has vet to show that ne
belongs on the big time
Infielders Easy to Pick.
picking the utility infielders has not
bothered Manager Harris TO any
great extent. The capaollilles q
Stewart and Reeves are well known
j. the former having come 10 the aas 80
fionals from Birmingham In 1879,
while the latter was drawn from
Georgia Tech in May Of last year.
Roth have done enough for the Ma
tiorals to let Boss Bucky know they
are mighty handy fellows TO nave
around. stewart is a smart second
sarker and a pinch runner OF hign
order. while Reeves can I'LL IN most
acceptably at shortstop or third base.
There was quite a to.do among
washington fans when the veteran
Toa Harris was sold to the Pirates
during the Winter. the faithful IN the
National Capital figuring the club
would be in desperate straits for
FIRST sacker should Joe Judge follow
custom and become a bench caSuai
during much of the playing season.
who would sub at first base with Joe
Harris gone? they wanted to know.
Well. the answer seems to lie in
Emmett Mccain, infielder, bought
from the Columbus club Of the Amer
ican Association. Although McCann
gave most sof his attention to second
basing while in the association, he
took an occasional fling at first sack
guarding and those who saw him do
SO opined that with some careful
grooming he would make a very ac-
ceptable first baseman, even though
a right-hander McCann has been
getting that careful grooming this
Spring and bids fair to become a
really clever undcrstudy to Judge.
Learning to Shift Feet.
He moves around the sack now in
an approved manner and Is learning
rapidly the knack of shifting his feet,
"a knack so essential in a good first
baseman. McCann can throw too,
and his height--he lacks being a
six footer by less than an inch--en-
ables him TO reach for the hurried
wide throws from the other side of
the diamond. At Columbus McCann
swatted the apple for the neat figures
Of 1897 and so far he has appeared
TO advantage in the batting drills
'Fhere'll he plenty for the Nationals
to do next week, which, with the excep.
tion of one day, they will spend on
their own training field at Tampa
Five games are scheduled for them &c
be played on successive days starting
Tuesday. Then an intra club contest
Twill be staged on Plant Field, contest
calculated to benefit the Boy Scouts OF
Tampa as well as the athletes. With
Boss Bucky nursing a sore foot, iris
Speaker is expected to lead the reg
ulars in this fray, while the yannigans
very likely will be under the direction
TO Earl McNeely.
Two Games With Reds.
Wednesday and Thursday will be
given over to the Cincinnati Reds. The
first of these days the Nationals will
go by train to Orlando to battle with
Jack Hendricks club and the latter
will return the visit the next day. The
Thursday engagement with the Reds
will be benefit affair for the younger
element of the Latin races, which con
Stitute a considerable part of Tampa
population. Boys Of Cuban, Spanish
and italian extraction will have free
admission TO the tilt. On Friday and
Saturday the Giants will invade Plan
Field for scraps.
Walter Johnson, who is 10 leavi
for Washington tomorrow to idl'
while the broken bone In his ief
foot mends, and BuckY Harris, VIII