Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27

TNT. AUGUSTINE. March 30
With not more than a week to
spend at their training base In
~ Tampa, the Nationals will have
to work strenuousiy if they
would be at the peak of condition for
the American League inaugural In
Washington on April II.
Although seven games with the
Giants are to be played after their
club quits its Florida camp, real train
ing can be done by Bucky Harris
charges only at the permanent condi-
tioning plant, for their stop-overs on
the tour North viii be so brief that
little can be accomplished in fitting
them physically for the championship
campaign.
That physical fitness must be at
tanned during the remainder of their
sojourn in the Gator State"
This year it is his infielders and out
felders that Manager Harris must
round into shape at this late date for
the big battle ahead and not his
pitchers, as usually has been the case.
Pitchers Nearly Ready Now.
Right now, practically all of the
J, prospective members of the Nationals
mound staff are In fine fettle physical
~. What they can do mechanically,
OF course, remains to be SEEN Many
q youngster blossoms brightly in the
Spring training season only TO wither
early in the heat of the pennant grind.
This Problem of getting his defense
ready lis serious one for Harris.
He now has only two of his regular
order in form to start the fight for
the championship. They are OSsie
Rluege, third baseman, and Goose
Goslin. left fielder.
Having gone through all last sea-
son without suffering any i'll effect
from the trick knee joint that had
harassed him so much in previous
campaigns, Bluege now finds his I'M
derpinning stronger than at any other
time in his big league career, and the
young far-corner guardian is heftier,
too, than he has been in some years.
He has been putting up his usually
fine game afield. and while he has
slumped recently at bat. Ossie has
been driving the ball hard enough to
Indicate that he probably will hit no
less effectively than he did last year.
Goslin in Great Shape.
Goslin ii perhaps In far better phys
icai condition this year than in Sew
eral years past He has moved about
the rough outfieids Of the grapefruit
league I'm almost nlid-Season form,
frequently taking risks that more
cautious veterans might deem foolish,
vet so rugged is the Goose that he
has been able TO travel at top speed
at ali times For time Goslin was
bothered with slight. cold in his
throwing arm, bur that ailment has
been eradicated. and at present he Is
ready to step into the title race and
give his clue all he has In the way
Of base ball
& - 40 nth
of the infieid and ouffield, though.
Consider the inner Gordon Of defense.
Joe Judge, brilliant first-sacker. even
though regarded as somewhat brittle
In his understanding in past seasons,
apparently was in good shape after a
kvvo.week sojourn at the Tampa camp.
his legs were sound. his arm strong
and he had plenty of stamina but the
tripping around the State for exhibit
ton contests has taken its toll of Joe.
Now he lis suffering with A muscle
strain above the right hip. and while
II Is possible for him 70 play. he GER
fainlv ID not ia condition To give the
club his best efforts.
Manager Harris himself Is unlikely
70 assume his regular job at second
base for some time. The index finger
OF his right hand. that was SO badly
damaged by a thrown ball during the
game at Avon Park last Monday, is
healing slowly and promises to be
ui,ife sore even after the swelling has
left II. and the cracked hony growth
about the knuckIes has knitted.
Neither Bueky nor the physicians ex-
rect his return tn the lineup within
another two weeks. and is is rather
doubtful whether he will be able 10
step into his place at the beginning Of
the flag race
Myer Slowed by Weight.
Unless Buddy Myer. who was ex.
pected to be a vastly improved short
stop this year, can be whipped into
shape next week. the Nationals are
. apt to be quite weak in short field
at the outset of the American League
campaign. Buddy Is feeling the ex-
cess avoirdupois he is carrying. and
II has inarred his fielding. throwing
hitting and speed. He has not been
covering much ground, has failed 10
function we'll with double plays in
sight. thrown without speed or &C
curacy, and after a brief swatting
fash, fivVered at the plate. Buddy
. is battling desperately to get around
To form. but it will be no easy matter
E for him TO do so before April IL.
Hoping Ia speed his infield, Harris
had Bluege and Myer exchange
places LDudN, DuA EAiu ne utu NOT mean
4 the change to be permanent.
While iris Speaker and Sam Rice
are expected 10 return to the lineup
in the games 10 he PLAYED al Tampa
next week il lis not Sc certain either
\ OF them afll be able TO remain In any
contest from start to finish. Iris de
clares the knee he wrenched last
TUESDAY is strong enough now TO per
NIT him 10 go the route. but both
MANAGER Harris and Trainer Martin
4 insist the veteran must take his train
ing somewhat easy from now on ~
risk can be taken by the man figured
TO be such an important cog in the
National machine this year, they say
And the same goes for Rice. While
he deems the Charley horse in hi
right thigh a minor ailment, the man
enough to order a particularly ligh
training program for the long.tim
member of the club Incidentally
Rice says this is the first time he eve
exuerfenced any real trouble i'm hi
inderpinning. and that alone
enough 70 worry those in charge o
the conditioning of the club no little
Only Two Pitchers Doubtful.
Only two of the pitchers are caus
ing the manager and trainer any cor
cern with respect tn physical cond
ton. They are. Walter Johnson. {
course, and Stanley CoveleGkie. John
son already has been counted out c
action until May ] At the earliest. b.
cause OF his fractured leg bone, an
perhaps that is an optomistic estimas