Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-10
BY JOHN Il. KELLER.

While on this three-day trip
with the Nationals to points
IL south of the clubs spring
< training base President Clark
GrifIth and Manager Stanley Harris
VIII do q deal of thinking about the
future as well as the present.
Tho time draws near when several
NJ the 40 athletes now sporting Wash
inrton uniforms win have to be sepes
rated from the clubs pay roll alto
gether and several others placed on
the pay rolls of other ORGANIZATIONS
at least temporarily. And taxing
care of these matters cannot be done
in a minute.
Perhaps the disposition OF surplus
infieId and outfield talent will not
worry the owner and manager or the
club to any great extent. Seven OF
eight inner guardians are to be re-
nized fixtures. In all likelihood the
one Topped from the roster viii not
be cast adrift altogether. Grin de-
clares he is in touch with several
minor league outfits that can take
care OF an infielder.
Three Outfieiders to Go.
Three of the eight outfielders are
/. to go, or il may be said three of the
group, including Sam West. Ollie
Tucker, Nick Cullop and Bernie Neis
are to 60. Two OF the trio slated for
removal probably viii be separated
permanently from National affiliation.
So there's no great problem in that
line. Nor is there in the matter OF
catchers. The Nationals have but
three receivers now. and three they
win carry into the American League
championship campaign.
With the pitchers, however, it's
something else. There never has been
any question as to the status OF Wal
ter johnson, Stan Coveieskie and Fred
termined that Hollis Thurston, pro-
cured from the White Sox in Win
ter deal. and Garland Braxton, the
left-hander. CLEANED from the Yanks
between seasons, viii stick around.
Also Admiral Jones. Gen. Crow.
der and Smiier George Murray, who
came up TO the club from Dixie last
season, have revealed enough in
training to make Manager Harris be-
Meve they had better be retained.
That seems a good start toward the
pitching STAFF Of 10 the Nationals
win carry.
Status Of Others Uncertain.
There's no certainty about the
status Of the other mound aspirants,
though. One day 1t appears certain
that Horace Lisenbee. sturdy right
handler. purchased from Memphis.
Clark Griffith's outfit. Another day,
Bob Burke, long but light left
handler. or Clayton Van Alstyne,
orthodox finger out Of the Eastern
League, appears to have q better
chance than Lisenbee OF hanging
around. And again others of the Is
hurlers OF the lot not reckoned as
fixtures perform iinpressively enough
TO make the owner and manager
wonder Just what's what.
its not picking the regular staff
that's the big job" said President
Griffith this morning while the Ma
tionais were motor-bussin to this
town for their game with the Phillies.
That can be done fairly well right
now. But it's sizing up the young.
sters that may come through In q
year or two, the youngsters WHO with
o little more minor league work may
develop into fine big league pitchers.
And one has to be very careful
In doing this. There's nothing makes
q base ball club owner or manager
feel more. folish than to have a
young pitcher he has passed up come
a season or two later q rising star.
We are not only building q pitching
stam for this year. but also for years
after. and those who cannot make the
grade this season, but who may do
30 within q year or two must be
carefully placed.
Overlooking No Bets.
I'VE are not overlooking any bets
"A a 1va tAfV
youngster In this camp who gives
real promise of becoming worth.
while pitcher will have a chance to
prove his worth, either with US at
the start Of the American League sea-
son or with some high-grade minor
league club. Everyone in the lot is
to get a thorough looking over before
hnal Judgment Is passed in his case.
And those we farm will be sent to
the minors very well protected. You
never can tell when you will need
new pitchers during major league
season and we want our men to be
so farmed that we can call upon the
clubs holding them for practically Inn.
mediate delivery.
THAT does not mean Harris and ]
do not have great faith In the material
tentatively slated for retention. Both
2 OF US have. But accidents will happen
to the best OF pitching STATS and this
year the Nationals hope to be excep'
tionaliy well protected"
Practically all of the squad is taking
this three-day trip for contests with
Phillies and Giants. After the game
with the Phils here this afternoon
tho athletes move to Sarasota and
make that town their headquarters
for two days. having engagements
with John McGraws hopefulS tomor
row and Saturday.
In all the Nationals have Is games
booked with the Giants this Spring
After the pair to be played at Sara
sofa the Giants are to invade Tampa
for tits on Friday and Saturday OF
next week. On March &c and q bat
ties between the clubs viii be staged
in ancient Augustine. Then the New
Workers. will not be met again until
April 4, when a game with them al
Birmingham, Ala, is slated. They
are to be encountered at Atlanta or
April and on the next day at Au
gusta.
Play Here April and 8.
On April the new Nationals will
show their wares before their home
folk for the first time this year, hav
ing an engagement with the Giants
in Clark Griffith's stadium that day
The same teams also viii clash In
Washington the next day and Their
move to the Polo Grounds in New
York for q two-game series.
These annual settos with the Giants
have come to be Spring classics OF
interieague base ball. After a lapse
Of several years the series was re
sufned In 1925, the year after the Ma
tionals had nosed out the Giants II
one Of the most brilliant world series
ever contested. With base balls big
gest title tucked away. many diamond
critics considered the National man
agement foolish in giving the Giants
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