The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-01-18
FOUR SEEK
|NF|ELD
BERTHS
BY Louis A. Dougher

While every rookie in Washing
tons training camp at Tampa viii
be watched closely by shrewt
gentlemen OF the diamond, thu
work of the various infielders il
likely to come In for the closest
inspection. The Griffmen need 9
shortstop and an understudy 1oi
Bucky Harris. Whether they also
require a thirdsacker hangs upon
the noble efforts OF Ossie Bluege
particularly with the bat.
Topper Rigney. who subbed last
year in the shortfield after Bobby
Reeves had clinched his grip on
the Job. has gone to Kansas City
and John "Stuffy" Stewart, Bucky's
understudy, has returned to Birm
ingham. his first love.
Unless something happens be-
tween now and March there
will be four candidates Tor
those berths at second and short.
They are Bob Reeves, Jack
Hayes. Grant ellis and Ernest
Smith. Tommy Taylor is down
as a possible rival for OsSie
Bluege on the hot corner.
Reeves, of course, will start Off
as preferred stock for the short.
field. The youngsters ground
covering last year showed him
worthy of a complete trial. His
hitting was not so hot, but he is
expected to improve this year.
Connie Mack thought so well of
the young Griffman that he chose
him before all others for his all
star American League aggregation.
Connie had many opportunities OF
seeing Reeves perform against the
AS and it was on those perform.
ances that the veteran manager
made his decision.
Grant ellis looked well on his
brief ten-game trial here last Sep
TENDER, especially on working with
Harris on double plays. 1t is
doubtful if Reeves equals ellis in
this department. ellis covers
plenty of ground and Is a bit
steadier than Reeves. He will proc.
ably give Bobby stiff argument.
Smith, with Kansas City last
year, is an erFatic little fellow.
Short and chunky, he possesses
tremendous strength for his size
and American Association fans
seem to think he has q chance
of hanging on with the Griffs.
That remains to be seen.
Jack Hayes is mere green kid
OF the cuckoo type. Tall and
slender, he has lots of speed, good
pair of hands and all the conf
dence in the world. Like Gillis
and Barnes. he was a football and
baseball star with the University
OF Alabama only a couple Of years
ago.
AS an indication Of what may
be expected, IL ellis or Smith or
Hayes leads the flock for the short
field berth, Reeves may be retained
as an understudy for Bucky Harris.
He worked there a couple Of times
late last season with good effect.
However, that he will be first tried
at short goes without saying and,
making good, may force some other
candidate to act as Bucky's shadow.
As for Tommy TayIor's chances,
this writer would not give them
much. He lacks youth, in the first
place, and a serious purpose in
life, for the second. In the minors
he is a strong batsman, which
u1tEuE nOL A1Cdn GIL LAIAI1S A41 @00b
company.
When Taylor was with the Griffs
In 1924 he was O. third baseman,
but last year found him working in
the outfield. Zeb Milan. last years
Memphis manager coming to the
Griffs az a coach this year. is
outfielder. He is also guilty OF
having tanned Taylor considerably.
both on and off the field.
As a candidate for Bluege'S
job, Taylor hardly shapes up
as formidable rival for the
smOothest worker i'm the league.
BIuege realizes that his general
performances last year were
disappointing and has spent the
OffseaSOn preparing for a grand
burst i'm the spring. That he
comes through is the earnest
wish Of every Griff fan for
Ossie is a. popular boy around
Seventh and Georgia Avenue.
Physically, the infield candidates
will include two long legged kids.
one medium-sized guy and runt
Reeves and Hayes are six-footers.
SOlidly built Smiths the runt
barely reaching the five,foot mark
though weighing close TO 100
pounds.
The infield fight is due to begin
at Tampa around March ]. 1t is
possible that one or two OF these
lads may report a bit earlier than
that, this fitting Reeves in partjc
ufar. The first exhibition l.; marx
ed for March 8, when the Grifs &c
over to Avon Park by bus for a
lone contest with the ST. Louis
Cardinals.
A weeks fielding practice il
usually considered sufficient to gel
players ready for spring exhibit
lions. They devote most of theil
working hours batting. That take!
more time to bring success. There
fore. II the infield candidates dom
report till March l. they will still
he in time to make a decent show
ing against the Cardinals.