Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-01

for the sixth consecutive season, mainly
by virtue of a squirt that started IN
Washington on August IA which brought
26 wins in their last Al engagements.
For the first time in several seasons
though the Washington club flnlshec
with a winning percentage below Duo.
In fact, not once after April 26, when
1t fell below the $3.50 mark, did 1t get
as high again.
Although a money club once more,
the Nationals campaign this year WAS
far from a success. During its training
season in Florida the Washington outfit
promised to become a factor in the chase
for the flag in the Barnard circuit, but
from the outset of the championship
jousting it never figured as a title con-
tender.
Only three annual series were won
by the Nationals. those with the Tigers,
the White Sox and the Indians. and
none of these was won until September.
The Browns overcame the Nationals
with ease, but it was the Eastern rivals
that did the most damage to the Wash
ington cause.
Weak Against Red Sox.
The Nationals fought the penrant
winning Yankees and the runner-up
Athletics gamely enough late in the
campaign to make brave showing
against these much better clubs over
the full route, but they were woefully
weak against the tail-end Red Sox.
Bill Carrigan's Boston bunch took Is
Of the % games played with the Ma
tionals. drubbing them numerically in
Griffith Stadium. 1t seemed that every
time the Nationals we're on the verge
of climbing they ran into the Hubmen
and were toppled into the depths.
The failure of several pitchers who
had promised to be of considerable
worth to the club to perform effectively
and of some others to round into good
pitching trim until late in the season,
too much enforced experiment with
and an injury to Goose Goslin's throw
ing arm during the training season
that greatly reduced the defensive value
of this hitherto capable outfielder were
responsible for the poor showing made
by the Nationals during this year.
Following their work in Florida, Mil
ton CASTOR and Horace Lisenbee we're
expected to pitch good ball for the club.
CASTOR had come to the Nationals in
Winter deal from the Browns, for
which outfit he had hurled to a good
record the year before despite its gen.
eral weakness. Lisenbee, in the big
show in 1927 for the first time, was
q real star. But only two of three times
during the 1928 season did CASTOR flash
the form expected of him and instead
of being a regular starter he soon
dropped into the reserve and was used
even in relief roles but rarelv. Liserbee.
too. bitterly disappointed the manage
AGF n.aA ~tAN
mid-season fell back to the minors.
Jones and Braxton Saviors.
irving Hadley, who led the Ma
tionals' pitching corps in 1927, suffered
an attack of appendicitis after he
reached training camp, and was in
no condition to pitch properly until
half the campaign had gone. In fact,
the pitching corps was so much weaker
than anticipated that the Nationals
would have finished far down the list
this year had not Sam Jones, gotten
from the Browns by waiver, and Gar
land Braxton, originally assigned to re-
lief work. come through with num-
had all but dropped out of the league
in the first six weeks of the season.
1t is a base ball axiom that no club
d stronger than its middle line of de-
tense, and the Nationals middle line
of defense was nothing much to brag
of most of the year. First Grant ellis
failed as a shortStop, then as a second
baseman and passed to the minors. Bob
Reeves was tried repeatedly in the
short field and around the middle base,
but was found wanting. Injuries kept
Manager Bucky Harris out OF action
during the greater part of the first half
inV, 1o Nationals
to resort to the use OF these uncertain
youngsters.
For time Jack Hayes filled in nicely
OF both short and second, but not until
Joe Cronin was procured from Kansas
City and sent into the lineup at home
on July 10, did the Nationals have
worth while middle line of defense.
Then Harris again was in action and
the inner Gordon frightened perceptlbly.
From then on the Nationals began TO
pick up ground in the race.
The greatest blow to the defense our.
ing the year, though, probably resulted
from the injury to Goslin's arm during
the training season. It was not long
before all the Nationals rivals knew
that the once feared wing was virtually
helpless and they ran bases with i'm
nurlity whenever drives to left field were
made. For weeks the Washington short
f7eIder had to leave his position and
rush to Goslin's assistance whenever
hit or a fly went to left, so the inner de-
tense as we'll as the outf1eld line SUI
fered through Goslin's inability to
throw.
Goose's Ailment Costly.
More than a dozen losses were olrect-
IL due to Goslin's arm weakness: IN
fact. the Goose remained in the WASH
ington lineup only because OF ms re-
markable hitting. He was potent Iac-
tor in the clubs attack. but MS strenstli
at bat by no means offset MS Weaknes'
afield Fortunately for botn the WASH
inQton club and Goslin the arm IS Strong
once more. but the strength returned 10
the limb too late to do the Nationals
any good this year. .,.
The wear wasn't total loss, though,
for the Nationals. After rounding lnto
condition, Hadley hurled well enough
fo Lead the club to believe he VIII be
even more effective next season. Wnlle
.Tones. even though rated an old-timer
In the game, showed enough 10 prove
that he not yet to be counted out. sam
West. after sticking around Tor some
time at last indicated that he may be
valuable as an outf1elder and hitter,
and it seems that a fine young short
Ston has been picked up in Cronm.
Joe Judge and Ossie Bluege enjoyed
great seasons. Judge, for the first time
n his major league career, went through
the campaign without suffering serious
injury to his legs that were SO uncer,
tain in previous years. He hit well
and fielded brilliantly enough probably
to lead the leagues first sackers. Inns
will not be known until the oHlclai
fielding averages are published. 1t was
the best season ever for Bluege. He
was easily the fielding star of the cir
cults third sackers and he Walioped
the ball above 300, for the first time IN
his career with the Nationals.
And one must not forget Goose Cos
Inns hitting He is the first to nave