Evening star., 1927-02-17
ny DE\MAN THOMPSON.

Sports EGltor. Inc SIdE
" AMPA. Florida. February Ii
BY far the most interestln:
phase of the Nationals s,;,, pre- re-
the race for recognition among
the small army Of fingers on the
roster.
With an infield composed OF Judge
Harris. Alver and Bluege, and having
10 back them up Grant Gillis from
birmingham, Emmett McCann from
columbus, Bob Reeves, the Georgia
rech collegian, and Stuffy Stewart,
former boss OF the Barons, the inner
works seem to be adequately provided
for.
The same may be said to so for the
pasture patrolmen with the famous
'rristram Speaker in center neld'
nanked by Goose Goslin and Sam
Rice, and reinforced by the well and
fayorahly known Earl McNeely.
Henry Cnllop. the st. Poul swatsmith;
pernie \eis. veteran of many big
league campaigns: Ollie Tucker. who
earned another trial in the majors at
New Orleans. and Sam West. VINO was
fairly burning up the Southern Asso'
citation until an injury laid him low
last season.
There is no gainsaying the fact that
the backstopping department could
stand for a bit of bolsterinE. with
only John Berger, New Haven draftee,
added TO the firm of Ruel and Tate,
but the powers that be seem inclined
ia think that this trio will do and II
may be that they are right.
Must Brace Mound STAFF.
There is no argument on the score
that a vast improvement must be ell
tected in the box brigade, however,
If the Nationals are to prove factors
in the forthcoming American League
race and the large number OF candl.
dates for berths on the Singing staff
affords a wide field for speculation as
TO the complexion of the curvlng
corps when it finally is decided on.
Any discussion of pitching for the
1927 Griffmen must, Of course. start
with Walter Johnson and Stanislaus
Coveleskie. The former, embarking
on his twenty-first campaign. and
the latter, who Is due to start his
twelfth consecutive season in the big
show, are veterans in every sense of
the word, as they admit to 40 and 36
years of age, respectively. There is
little question but that they still pack
the ability to prove potent factors in
the pennant chase. however, and are
dSSuIOO Vi Ice dtd1 OCA lhSs sbllhoo6h
their starts may be separated by
longer intermissions for recuperation
than formerly was the case.
Then there are Fred Marberry. the
king of all relief riflemen, who is
slated to graduate to starting assign
ments, but whom Itventure to predict
will continue to function chiefly as a
rescurer, and Hollis Thurston, who
merits the rating Of veteran on the
score of both age and experience.
With the former White Stocking, 1t
simply Is a case OF whether he recov-
ers the cunning he boasted a couple
Of seasons back as to whether he will
be real pitcher or just thrower.
Ogden May Work.
Another in the semi-veteran class
is Warren Ogden, who knows what
It's all about, but never has succeeded
in hitting on all cylinders. Curley
showed up considerably overweight
this Spring, but is gradually losing
the excess poundage via the open
pore route.
1t always has been suspected of him
that he was disincIined to try very
hard. due to the effort involved in the
procedure. but it is ventured that he
will apply himself more assiduously
this Spring than ever before. and for a
reason that is good and sufficient.
1t is that the Sheik of Swarthmore
got all fed up on the humid climate
and Indifferent yiands obtainable in
Dixie while performing with Bir-
mingham last year, and that rather
than be sentenced to another Summer
among the Confederates he is willing
to ga to work. much as II annoys him
So far as General Alvin Crowder
and Admiral Decatur Jones are con-
cerned, they generally will be ac-
corded high rating on the strength
OF the promising performances they
turned in under the Harrisian ban
ner last season after being plucked
from the Birmingham and Chatta-
nooga clubs. respectively. They head
the list of rockies, beyond a doubt,
although the fact that Bill Morrell,
alone of all the bunch that received
an inspection here last Spring. con-
fy~fv 1x-As al l. tIxnf al