Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-18
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
THINKS HUB OWNER
Team Will Be Best in Six
Years He Has Been at
Head, Judge Says.

~ the Associated Pres.
~ OSTON. January lS-"The best
l. base ball team" we've had in the
six years have been III Boston,
IL is the way President Emil E,
Fuchs regards his 1928 Bosom
Braves base ball machine. which gets
under way next month with new
driver at the wheel IN the person oil
Manager Jack Slattery.
At the same time an integral part OF
the machine destined to furnish the
necessary spark to pull II out OF an
habitual second division rut is believed
to have been acquired in the seasons
outstanding deal which brought Rogers
EornSby to Boston from the Giants TO
captain the tribe at second base,
For the rest. the squad will shape up
as mostly veterans with one or two
promising additions 10 q pitching stan,
which. last year, suffered fer lack OF
an outstanding left-hanGcr, Johnny
Cooncy veteran Scuthpaw who under
went an operation On his LETT elbow.
will attempt 4 com cback, while among
the now additions are Ed Brandt, b-S
ieft-hand2v from Seattle, and Art DE-
lanev, formerly Of Oakland. The vet
Grams include Kent Greenfield. Joe
Genewich. B. Smith. Charlie Robertson
and Henry Wertz.
Catching Staff Weak.
A gaping hole appears at present at
the other end OF the pitchers alley, due
TO the departure OF Francis Hogan, last
years Young. but regular backStop. who
went to the Giants with outtlelder
Jimmy Welsh. in exchange for Hornsby.
A replacement in the form OF AN en-
perienced big league catcher" is prom
ised soon, however. TO bolster catching
department at present headed by Luke
Urban. former Boston College star, who
came to the Braves from the Giants.
Dick Burrus. smuggling first baSeman,
who led the Tribe with .3l8 average
last year, again is on deck with an
vnderstudy about TO be groomed in the
person OF Big Ed Brown, foot, out
fielder. whose weakening throwing arm,
but otherwise healthy base ball attri-
butes decided Manager Slattery IN an
attempt 10 make al infielder out OF
him.
With the coming of Hornsby the
Braves nov consider they have key
stone combination worthy of the name.
The new team captain will run things
from second base. and across the bag il
the shortstop berth viii be Eddie Far
rell last years regular and a former
teamnate OF the smuggling cx-Giant.
FRENZY OF baitinS.
Little Doc Gautreau probably will lie
switched from second base 10 third base
to compete for that position with Andy
High, while Eddie Moore, last year S
guardian Of the hot corner. probably
will become an outfelder rather than
reserve material due TO his 800 hitting
ability.
The outer garden patrol viii be chosen
from Lance Rlc!lha.lrg. Moore, JACK
Smith. next TO leading hitter Of the
squad a year ago. and Earl Clark. who
was purchased for SIS 900 from Rich
mond last year. With Moore. Brown
and Burrus III the lineup the Braves
can present an entire team OF 800 hit
tiers. exclusive OF batterynen. on the
basis of last years averages
Such al outfit would include Hornsby. |
.36l. Burgus. .3l3; Jack Smith, BIG; |
Farrell. .3l6; Rich5ourg. 1903; Brown. |
.30s, and Moore. .3ol. High also enters |
the select circle with 1902 average.