Evening star., 1928-03-23
IN FINE CONDITION,
EXCEPT FOR ARM
Weak Wing Source OF Worry.
Kloza Stars With Stick.
SironS Is Released.
By JOHN q. KELLER,

Really the entire mystery has to dc
with Mu6oy's throwing arm, In every
other r.spect the little receiver who
has performed so brilliantly for the Ma
tiorsls since he came 10 them from the
Rec Sox riSllt after the 1922 campaign,
sppears in fine trim. A So1ourn at Hot
Springs before joining the club here
eSrlv this n1oath SO built up Ruel that
he is in better general condition nov
than at any other time since he first
donned 9 washington uniform. But his
throwing arm is not functicning proper
" and no ore seems able to determine
lust how long it will be before the wing
may be regarded strong enough to be
rated one Of the Nationals defensive
factors
Muddy has been going through the
daily training routine regularly since
arriving in Tampa, but not yet has ne
cone any throwing that would serve TO
show whether his arm is regainlng the
power that made il so feared by oase
runners not so many seasons ago The
little catcher does deal of back-stop-
uans during the batting practice. takes
his turn st batting pop ties to get IN
form for handling fouls. and probably
does more swinging in the batting orills
than sny other member Of the squad
But he does not snap the ball to second
base.
Trouble Is Not Determined.
What is troubling Afuddy's arm is not
known. There may Be kink IN 1t some
where. although the catcher does not
believe 50, as he experiences no pam,
or ii may be merely weak. II there Is
= k.nk. Trainer Nike Martin might have
s~-% Sac &nfefN nfYSaNSY time
now. II the arm is weak. there Is no
telling whether it viii regain any Of its
former strength.
Manager Harris is worried not q lit
tle hy the slowness OF Ruel to round
into PLAYING form. For the past four
seasons. EueI has been the Nationals
best bet behind the bat. True, last
wear. at this time, he experienced
trouble with his arm, but 1t vas not OF
such serious nature as seems the pres
ent sIlrnert. Ruel actually was work-
ing behind the bat in contests at this
stage Of training last Spring.
Muddy cannot wait much longer TO
nreak into an exhibition engagement.
Re not Only must get behind the bat
several times before the Championship
season gets under way 10 test the wing,
but also to get some worth-while bat
tiar practice Regardless of how much
drilling be does against the hurlers OF
bis club, his batting eye VIII not De
tested until he faces the
ritchers Of ether outfits IN games.
While Rusl is OF the. active list Oh
catehers. Hugh McAfullen. the oraftee
from Louisville. and Benny Tate. nov
for his fifth season with the
Nationals, win share the receiving bur-
Ser-
Tate's ear, split By one Of Tom Zach
srv's pitches during fan drill early this
zeek, has healed enough TO permit the
chubby catcher TO don q mask. But
with cnly those two catchers, the club
rolld not be 50 wen prepared TO enter
he American League pennant race.
Untu Ruelg arm comes around. II 1t
Is 70 DO 50, those IN charge OF the
club have something to
very about.
Tate Works Full Game.
Tate showed that he is in good trim
once more by remaining back OF the
BAT throughout yesterdays tilt, IN
which the Nationals turned back the
Reading Internattcnals, 10 70 3, thereby
Getting back 70 q $3.50 stand on the
seasons exhibitions with 4 wins and
. tie in 0 starts Chubby Benny
appeared 70 advantage at bat, getting
tTo hits in four Efforts and mighty
good catch By the Reading left fielder
vas needed to keep 3 third hit from
Tate.
II vas Jack Kloza, though. who
grabbed the batting hcnork Of the fray.
TIE husky Yight-han6er, breaking into
the game IN the seventh session IN Sam
2as.& Sss-A ns
the ball, and made good each time. In
the seventh inning he socked a homer
against the right fed fence, an honest
Dir that did not strike the ground until
il vas within a few feet Of the barrier.
In tna next session ne lined again TO
drive being good for three
bases No one vas CO the runway when
&c enaote his home run, but the triple
Bent tally ever.
Al tod, the Nationals got i6 safe
tse5 CO Nick Harrison. vino pitched
sn TIE first five inusngS and Eddie
IcY6, Yignt-hsn6egE both. Manager
Harris sent % players into the game,
ard al but GooeE CoElsn, who EtEolied
70 hxft base twice IL three times UP.
drove the sphere 10 safety. George
Easieg ie6 the onslaught with double
ard twc singles IN four times a. bs,
Gcgtnpaws E6 Wells and Bob Burke
&C the Glnging against the minor
e&g1eTf and between them allowed i've
oa,lgles ard three passes. Wells went
through the first f1ve frames without
citing . Reading player get 70 first
esse. 0a; the first man up II the e.xtn
reached rim for triple. The hitter
gsG he'd 81 third base aS Wells threw
pat batter Then came q pass and
. sacrifice ny that accounted for o
marker.
Burke Has Wild Streak.
After ar orderly start IN the seventh
ssss4on Burke flashed 9 wild streak in
-ne eighth Two singles were followed
3y Two pssses. forcing 3 run over. and
after cos1ble- play occurred a single
Isettet Reading another score One was
zc,De g Ekle ninth when Bob waE nicxec
Tor two~ba2geE. bat he famed the
.ElE1 batter Up ard me next rolled
aarmlssEly 70 E!SieY. Burke was much
better thar when he worked against
lsas Feds azSt week sne took q licking
Another athlete mas been iopped
from TIE Nationals squad leaving 20
'1.EYefk cn tns roster The AZ has
fallen or MelbeFn Esnaons. o3tfeIoey
Do9gi2t last year from Birmingham
ACQUIRED with the provision that the
tuI price would be paid for him only IL
ne MADE gooos the player goes back u
the EsFo1s D0csy with no Washington
strlag st9acbed. Einsons aelded and
iait We'll for Albany Ia the Southeastern
League last year and seems q protn.s-
ilag player shei6 and At bal. But he
swings from ths Jeff side and Manager
Harris believes his club has enough,
Esortsi1e hitting strength without Simons.
Harris injured foot IL healing fast
arc after yesteTcsye reSt he expected
70 Res INTO action today when the