Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-21
CRIFFS NEED UNDERSTUDY
FOR JUDGE AT FIRST BASE

DETROIT. August 20.-Neither
President Clark Griffith nor Manager
Stanley Harris has said much SO far
about any plans for bolstering the
Nationals for the 1928 championship
campaign in the American League,
but when they do get, down to that
business seriously it is rather GER
tain that one of the details to he
looked after early will have to do
with the acquisition of first sacker.
Lack of a capable understudy to
Joe Judge. regular initial bag
guardian. has handicapped the Ma
tionals several times this season. but
never more than it did in the recent
series with the Browns at st. Louis.
The enforced employment of player
none too we'll versed nor adept at
work around the first base virtually
was responsible for two of the three
successive defeats the Harris horde
suffered.
Iris Speaker Is to be commended
for his efforts around the base. He
assuredly did the best he could in the
position. But Iris is an outfielder,
not a first baseman. and there is
n vast difference between the posi-
tons While he is performing around
ened in two places. There is no re.
serve gardener on the club that can
fill iris shoes in center.
Joe Harris Filled Bill.
Last year, the Nationals had a
pretty good first base substitute in
Joe Harris. Joe was no star around
the initial sack, but he could fill it
mighty well. at that, when Judge was
incapacitated. But for some reason
better known to those in charge OF
the Nationals than any one else, Har'
ris was sold to the Pirates. With
| them this season he has frequently
been used as regular first sacker and
| has done exceptionally well afield as
well as at bat.
| When Harris was sent TO the other
ma jor league. the Nationals were left
| high and dry insofar as a first.bas sc
substitute Of known ability was con
cerned. They had an infielder nance
Emmett Mccain. bought from the Co
lumbus club of the American Associa
ton. who had been second basemar
and shortstop. but who was supposed
| to know something about f1rst-basing
| No one really knew that Mccain
could do anything around the frs
I corner, ard as 1t turned out he coulc
not do anything worth while. SO he
was let out before the club broke It's
! training camp at Tampa.
Since then the Nationals have ac
| duired John Brewer, who was a stal
, in college ranks while with the Geor
gia Tech nire. With Willamspor OF
the New York PENNSYLVANIA League
he has not done so well.
McNecIy Finally Gets Chance.
! For some time Manager Harris has
thought Earl McNecly might be made
a substitute first sacker. The UTILITY
! outfielder drilled around the intiel6
considcra but when Judge frs
! went out Of commission it was
! Speaker, ard not McNecly. who drew
| the infield assignment. Earl at las
got a trial ut the sack in the seconc
game today. lie did right well for =
! transpla nted outflelder, too.
Those in charge Of the Nationals
certainly must have learned by this
time how sorelN the club needs an eX
perienced first baseman TO understud>
Judge. And no doubt they will Sc
! about getting one as soon AS they
start their preparations for the race
! next year.
Manager Harris expects to 'sent
either Horace Lisenbee or Irving Had
lev to the firing line against The
Tigers in the Sunday game. Both OF
these pitchers showed to advantage
against the Browns in the recen
series in st. Louis, although only Lis
enbee was returned a winner. Had
ley was withdrawn in the ninth after
passing a batter, and Garland Bra%tor
went TO the hill to become loser.
There is no such thing as having al
Nationals in sound condition these
days. Just as Judge finds his charley
horse in the leg strong enough To per
NIT his return to the game. although
for short time only. Sam West il
ordered to take to his bed. The
young outfielder's leg that was injured
in st. Louis late in July had abou
rounded into good trim once more
when he hurt It again in the double