Evening star., 1928-04-10

paien inaugural ceremonies were to be
held and the clubs so through with
their contest, starting at O'Clock, II
rain was not falling.
Should il be necessary to call on the
game, the tilt here with the Red Sox
on April 20 and not that with the same
club here next Sunday Will oe staged
as the Washington inaugural. In tnat
event, today'S tickets would oe gooo lor
the same seat reservations on Apri ~,
President Clark Griffith announced TINS
morning.
Whatever happens. the Nationals are
rather sure of breaking into formal
opening this week, however. Starting
tomorrow. they will have four days IN
which To nelp the Red SoX pry the lio
on the season in Boston.
Meet Red Sox Often.
The Nationals ought to become very
well acquainted with the REQ Sox our
ing the early days Of the season. NO
less than nine of the first IL games
on the schedule are with the Cafrlesn
crew Tonight Manager Harris VIII
lead his hosts toward the Aus' NIAele
kSSncExpN /. four-game series As 10 oe
started Ine clubs will quit Boston
after Saturdays game to rush mere
for a contest next Sunday and then
the Red Sox viii visit washington again
April 20, 81 and -. BY. that time
local fandom will be ready 10 look
At some other American League aggre-
CATION.
However. the early section OF the
schedule will have the Nationals hang
ing around their home lot a great deal
OF the time, so the Washington rooterS
viii net be neglected. The AthieticS
viii come here for a three-game SET
beginning April 26. and right at their
heels viii be the world champion
Yankees. who have been having their
troubles this Spring. Miller Huggins
win bring his forces here for four
rane series starting April %. and the
Nationals will remain at home through
MAY 90 meeting after the YankS leave
MI of the clubs of the western DIVISION
Of the league
By the time this lot of games Is dis
posed of all hands interested in the
Nationals should know just what may
be expected Of the club. How much
Of worth the youngsters in the squad
may be able to offer: whether Muddy
Ruel's throwing arm will be strong
enough 70 make him first-string catch
or Of the club again; what TO do about
the first base problem that has kept
Manager Harris guessing for some time.
and how much dependence may be
placed In the pitching staff, which, al
present. looms as rather strong. all
should be known by the time the Ma
tionalS are through with their nrst
stand Of the year against the Western
clubs.
In Experimental Stage.
In the meantime, the team must be
regarded as In the experimental stage.
The outset OF the campaign finds
Harris, Goose GoSlin. Ruel and Babe
Camel Of the regular organization and
Red Barnes Of the reserve force con-
siderahly damaged physically. There
gtLI is some doubt as to the strength OF
the middle line Of defense. A youngster
In certain to occupy the shortield berth
and there VIII be another IN center.
Should Harris or Goslin not be able 20
swing into action. their places also Will
be filed by somewhat unsteady young
athletes That's not 50 good for q club.
However, II is pretty safe 20 say that
Harris instead Of Bob Reeves will be
found at the second station II the
manager can possibly get up on his
sore left foot for some running. This
morning, Bucky's severely bruised In
step stiil was paining him greatly, but
has played before when many others
nurse injuries and IL he can move
about with any degree Of freedom, he
VIII be IN the battle
Ruel, too. is eager TO break into the
game from the start and has informed
his manager that his throwing arm,
ailing for some time. Is strong enough
20 permit him 70 work While Harris
admires Muddy's spirit. he viii not EN-
ploy the catcher until sure the little
fellow can swing the ball to the bases
effectively enough 70 balk ambitious
runners Of the opposition. Goslin stilI
ts having treated the sore arm that has
prevented him throwing. The GooSe
reports, though. great improvement in
the limb and he is quite likely 70 get
INTO the scrap from the start.
Barnes Hurt at Baltimore.
Camel. slated TO 60 to center field
wren the enemy opens game with a
left~hand pitcher on the hill, Is suffer-
Ing with heavy cold and is far from
being IN the best Of trim. Should both
Camel and GoSlin be forced TO idle
Manager Harris would have To employ
George Eisler in the Outfield and Sam
West. VINO ts supposed 70 start against
TiRnt-hsnd huTlers only, would have 70
take bis place In the center garden
regardless Of the style Of pitching en-
plogeo by the opposition. This rs due
10 the injury sustained by the reseryist
Barnes Ia Baltimore yeste day. when
the Nationals In their last training sea-
son exhibition we're defeated. 10 10 /.
by the Orioles Of the International
League.
In attempting 20 sWipe the middle
base as Sam Rice famed In the first
inning Of the clash, Barnes made an
AWKWARD side on the tuFf-coyered base
path ia venabie Stadium and landed
under the spikes Of ghortst0p Bobby
Lssnottk, erstwhile National He re-
eeived two g&shes across the left Shin
bone just above the ankle and Trainer
Mike Martin considered the hurt so
serious that Barnes was sent back 20
Washington Immediately. While the
gus are deep, the club surgeon after
examination here decided that stitching
was unnecessary. However, the injury
ts apt 70 keep Barnes Out 0f action ~
lesst for three or four days
The Baltimore game proved that
IRVING HadIey. star pitcher of the Ma
tlofaaGs last year. who little more
than Eve weeks ego underwent an 0per~
alton for appendicitis. son may be- ex~
pectec W take his regular turn on the
slab, that the Nationals generally take
little interest In exhibition clashes with
minor league outfits and that the big
vensbls Etadium is no place for base
ball.
HaaIsy PagalDing Strength.
HGdley IN his pitching debut u the
training SeaSCn went through four
frames against the Orioles and did
pretty well. even though reached for
I've safeties and tour runs. He seemed
20 have plenty on the ball and st the
finish Of his term was quite fresh for
orc wilo has done little In . pitching
way ince the first week in March, with
k.a@tev etgpFsf,Ft gaAIey sg0qIl6 not have