Evening star., 1928-06-02
FIGURES GIVE MATS
EDGE ON BROWNIES
0utshine HowIeymen, Man for
Man, but Club Standing
Is Something Else.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

standing of the clubs in league, what
do figures mean in base ball? DO your
guessing. Yours would be as good as
any other.
Consider the Nationals and the
Browns. for instance, the clubs that
were TO open a four-game series here
today. Latest statistics reveal that the
Nationals have outhit and outfielded
the Browns. Yet when these clubs met
in Washington last month they tussled
10 an even break in four tits, and right
now the National are well intrenched
IN last place in the American League.
while the Browns are sporting a place
as high as fourth in the eight-club cir
cult.
Cold figures indicate that almost man
Tor man the Nationals are much strong
er than the Browns extensively. Com
pare both line-ups according to the
latest dope, emitting, Of course. the
pitchers. One never can tell what a
pitcher may do at bat, unless that
pitcher happens to be George Uhle of
the Indians. Pitcher or not-and he's
some pitcher-he's real batter. But
back 10 the Nationals and the Browns
Back OF the bat the Nationals have
the edge in Muddy Ruel and Benny
Tate over the veteran Wally Schang
Time was when Wally was regarded as
slam-bang socker Of the apple. and
he still packs deal of punch on oc-
cassons- Yet Wally now is not batting
as wen as Tate and Tate is trailing
Ruel BY nearly 100 points.
Browns Win at First.
Now down TO first base. There's the
only place in the regular aggregations
that the Browns have anything on the
Nationals. LII Blue is hitting. or maybe
1t should be said. has hit more than so
points better than the guardian of the
initial station for the Washington club.
Up until two weeks ago Judge was hit
ting fairly well, but he has slumped
1eartully since taking to the road.
Al second base young Jack Hayes.
even though he Is not setting the world
aflre with his fail, has a better record
Tor the season than Otis Brannon. also
q youngEter in the big show. The new
est records show Jack with a 34-point
advantage over Otis.
Move over to shortstop. Early in the
season. Bob Reeves was gracing the
Washington bench, and when he fiuaIlv
crashed into the game he was woefuIly
weak at bat. But Bob has been one of
the sensations Of the circuit lately, and
his batting average has scared. Actually.
ne Is rated ahead Of Ralph Kress in the
coad ng1res. But those cold figures will
nave 10 be discounted in so far as
Reeves is concerned. much as Washing
ton fans might ike To regard him as the
batting equal Of Kress.
BOD may be some day. In fact, he
promises 70 De a real factor with the
war club. something President Clark
Jr7Mtn o. the Nationals has insisted the
. former Georgia Tech boy would become
eTeT since he donned a Washington uni
form. But one must hand the palm 10
this red~headed Kress boy He has been
banging the ball from the start Of the
season and for the same length Of time
nas been at the top Of the batting crowd
or thereabout.
Eiuege Proving Surprise.
Here's surprise. Ossie gluege has
not been as strong as usual AZ bat. and
ne never was particularly strong. It has
been fielding, not hitting, that has made
Osgse such help 70 the Nationals. Yet
he now Is seen IS a better hitter than
Blacke O'ROurke, his tl1ird-base rival
mere At ST. Louis. The statistics give
OE6le 55-pcint edge over Elackle.
from fgle figures one would imagine
Iaege'6 be nothing 70 ii but the Wash
2n9gon Ito should the oaIt6eI6erg Of
the Nationals and the Browns engage
Barnes ard Sam Rice are far superior
70 He133e M2ausn, Fred Schultz and
Kari A1cAeeiy lr the most recent bat
ting tables, Co@Asn-aysc heg 10 be ac~
counted q regular now, even though
DICK Gpaac1ng Is being rushed In occa~
E4onaIsy 70 tighten the clubs defense
because the Goose'g heagsng arm is
Eot oep@n6&b4e-~ag nearly a hundred
points better than Eaagsh. Barnes.
- center, one Of the batting stars "
the season, Is more than seventy points
ahead o. Scn1ite, S.. Louis middle
gardener, wkso was such q feared man
Al bat last Se2sor when re was pl1ysa-
eSl2y 1T 70 get into action. Tn right
Esce Is IS points stronger than Ac-
Aeesy, eTea though NcEeelY seemed
ore o. the Degt bztters sn the league
wssen t1e Browns we're IN Warrington
Last month
BIT, as mentioned before. what does
= al wleznS So fzr &g the Nationals
are concerned the answer liz "nothang. -
They may nzye gotten plenty of hits,
bgE they ID not get them when kits
wogs1 have meant Ygyag With which
- wiz games ard they nay haze
1AelGe1 for 4 Mgge grand zgeFzaes but
perhaps gse few errogs they made came
a. critical n1on&eG1S
lis tsse timely punch when men are
ca tits runway ard TT t2s1t defense
wien tie 9oe rallies that tells 3gs base
Dz1.. Unfortunately. the Nationals
! rare nct h&c either of these often
taas season,
Al HANDS w1tlssol,d tsae rlgors of
1gae long Trip from REV York kA@Te
Yaxat vel tsao2gay ane they we're hoD~
agsg 80 get 4 god start ag their initial
Western ssT2Slo2 ~ tsas year during
GgAe f0Sr game set here. TEae Ea9soIsls
are got dow1eSSt ceSgsse TIRE ro2gl
treatment tgsey have receaYe6 ta2a
year. BIT rfaey fazYe 81 t1e& zkere's
D21etf4Aag zg 10 'eaa.
kzyoe there H. Mayk,e KS 1sas
eeye1 other ejs1DS ln t5ee American
ghzR<e.