Evening star., 1927-03-28


pressive playing by the Ma
tionals in their Spring eXhibi-
ton contests has caused Man
ager Stanley Harris TO move
Ossie Bluege from third base, where
he had performed brilliantly for sew
eral seasons, to the short field to re-
place Buddy Myer. who now will be
given thorough trial at the far cor
ner.
Myer. late last season reckoned as
a most promising young shortstop,
has failed this Spring to achieve the
playing form expected of him. His
efforts have been so SlipShod that Har-
riS only yesterday remarked the Ma
tiOnalS would have no chance to win a
pennant this year with Buddy assigned
to the position originally intended for
him.
The two years the Nationals cap
tured the flag in the American
League, they did so with their de-
fensive strength as much as with
their sharp offensive. 1t was the
fine double play combination of Roger
Peckinpaugh and Bucky Harris
around the Keystone station that
saved many a game for the club.
Since Peck has been away from the
shortfield, though, the Nationals have
fallen off considerably in the two-ply
killing business, and that has hurt
them much.
Myer Shy i'm Double Plays.
After testing his prospective short
stop for the greater part of a cham.
pionship season and throughout most
of the Spring training series this year
Harris feels sure that Myer never
will be able to develop into a good
side partner in the making of double
plays. Although he has endeavored
to acquire the knack of timing the
short throw to second and of pivoting
for hurried throw after making the
initial retirement of a double play,
Buddy simply is not able to do either
of these things well.
AS a shortstop, Harris has come
to think Myer is of no particular
value to the Nationals AS a third
sacker, however. he has possibilities
In his new position. Buddy will have
more time to get the ball away after
making stops and will not have to go
to his right, phase of fielding at
which he is not particularly strong
so often.
The club needs Myers hitting. He
is better club swinger than he has
shown so far in the Spring SERIES
But it also needs a tighter defense
and Harris is of the opinion that by
shifting Bluege. who takes to the
shortfield as naturally as he does to
hot-corner guarding, tighter defense
will be built.
Rogers Hornsby, ex-manager of the
world champion Cardinals, now cap
tain of the Giants, does not seem to
entertain a high opinion of the
strength Of the Nationals. In a fan
ming bee at st. Augustine yesterday
Rogers intimated that the Washing.
ton aggregation on what it is show
= ing at present should be rated the
lowest of the American League out
fits training in Florida. And ne has
seen all of them, too.
Not Hustling, Says Hornsby.
Rogers contends that while poten.
TALLY the Nationals are strong. they
are not hustling about their work in
the Spring exhibitions as are the other
clubs. And Rogers thinks 1t a good
idea to get the habit Of peppery play.
ing in the exhibitions instead of wait
ing until the championship season
starts. It might not be a bad idea for
the Nationals to consider.
The club will have plenty of chance
to acquire the habit this week, their
last at the Tampa training base. Four
games are to be played, with the
cards providing the opposition in
three of them. This afternoon, the
dodgers were to come over from Clear
water for a battle. Tomorrow and
the two days following, Bob O'Farreli
will have his st. Louis bunch at plant
field. This program ought to keep
the Nationals fairly busy.
The Nationals showed a trifie more
pepper in their game at st. Augustine
yesterday, when they beat the Giants,
9 to 4. Incidentally they put out a
pitcher, who went the full route for
the first time this Spring. Horace Lis.
enbee drew the slab assignment and
in yielding 10 hits and passes he
did a fairly good job. He was in real
trouble only twice-the innings In
which the Giants tailed.
The Nationals combed the offerings
of Kent Greenfield. starting hurler
for 8 wallops in two and one.third in.
nings, then CLEANED only hits of
Fred Fitzsimmons during the re
mainder of the engagement.
The battle was enlivened by the
socking of two home runs, Sam Wes,
getting TO Greenfield for a clout tC
the far reaches Of right field when a
national occupied second base in the
second inning, while Rogers Hornsby
made a mighty slam at the start o1
the Giants fourth batting round
Mats Victimize Greenfield.
Greenfield was the victim Of n five
hit National attack in the second in
ming. The pitcher managed TO stick
n base on balls into the round and
the mixture netted Bucky Harris
bunch four markers. Myer lined 9
single to left as a starter and Judge
was franked to first. A passed bal
let both advance before Bluege's
scratch single down the first bass
line Tailed Buddy.
Tate singled Judge home and Bluegt
10 third base, then was shared off f1rsI
by GreenfieIds heave. Bluege was rur
down when Lisenbee grounded u
Jackson, but the batter made secone
on the play. Then West lined his
homer over the automobiles parket
lack of right field. Stewart brok'
IMPROVED HITTING