Evening star., 1928-04-03

3 n watching Sam West In action
Il the past two weeks, Manager
A Stanley Harris Of the Nationals
has decided 10 bench the youns
cs,tfel6er purchased from the Birming-
han, club during the 1926 season. but
who did not report TO the major league
outfit until the opening OF the 1921
training camp. and employ Babe Gan
Esl. another Birmingham club graduate
in center field.
Whether this move is TO be perra-
nent is not certain for West he's proved
to be far faster and Surer fielder than
Camel, but never since becoming Ma
ttonal has sam lived I'D to the batting
reputation he made for himself III the
Southern ASocia tion. On the other hano
Babe. II his brief term with the Wash
snston club last Fall HIT hard enough
to top the American League oatSmen
although not entitled 10 the circuit
leadership. because Of the few games he
was in. and the pilot believes the here
tofoEe reserve may give the Nationals
attack the boost it so Sorely needs.
Harris fixed up on this change al
= R;rTnineharn Yesterday afternoon after
his club took sound l2tol drubh&nsS
from the Giants during which west
steDDed to the plate four times. twice
when opportunity to drive in runs were
before him. and struck out TWO times,
watched a third strike 50 by on announcer
OCCASION and once lofted weakly 10 the
cutfeld.
Bucky Patient With West.
sau's particular failure IN yesterdays
encounter cid not bring about ms re-
raoTal from the regular lineup. oae IL
settled in Harris mind question that
- had been stirring the Nationals neid
general for some time. Bucky hao
waited quite a while TO discover the
worth of West al bat. looking him over
carefully during the past two weeks
&'thei vnsIng fellow played after being
E,r,rnar;fv ordered INTO action following
a lav-er of week 10 nurse a sup
posadly injured leg. And IN the two
weeks Of playing West certainly did
nothing at bat to impress the manager
favorably.
In 10 games. Sam had IS legal turns
ut the plate. and came through with
only eight hits for an average Of .22S.
One Of the hits was good for three bases
and two Of them were deuhles. He
scored three runs and sent two others
over the counting block West drew cF1e
cass. was hit once by a pitched ball, was
credited with no sacrifice hits and pill
fsred no sacks, despite his. speed. To
make his record worse, IN his past few
games Sam struck out seven times.
Three of the seven times, he Let the
third strike be called
While with the Birmingham club IN
the 1925 season. West was struck on the
head hy a pitched ball and severely in
iured. the hurt sending him to a hos
pital for a lengthy term. However, at
the Eaticnals' training camp last year
he seemed 70 have recovered fully from
the mishap. and IN exhibition ganes ap-
peared 20 advantage atsbat. after the
flag race was under way. though, he
hurt his leg so seriously that he was Of
little value 70 the club, but special
treatment he underwent last Winter was
supposed TO hare rounded the weak
Limb into good form.
Hurt Leg in First Cara
west sDok part in tsse Nationals nrst
eonpIained Complains disf iiis E Ise had lied him him
again. He remained out of games for
q week. In the meantime indulging IN
light training While taking his exer-
else he showed plenty Of speed, al
though insisting he was not In condi-
ticu 60 return 70 the lineup. Manager
Harris. though, ordered West to play
and the youngster proved agile enough
n the field from the day be resumed
past1mt1g
AZ bat, however, he has been lam
enfakle failure and this is quite q blow
to Harris. who had looked to the has1y
fielding West 10 strengthen the clubs
defense. The manager always has
doubted TO a great extent that Sam
really possesses hitting ability. yet be-
leved him 10 be somewhat stronger
with the fan than he revealed An
outheider with only an average OF .228
At bat. however, scarcely can befcounte-
nanced
President Clark Griffith Of the Ma
tiog1als has from the start been Vests
principal booster. He always has con-
tended that Sans work with the war
club while with the Bargns was no
fash In the pan and that IS soon rs
the player rounded into condition he
would make opposing pitchers lives
miserable. What West has accom-
piished thus far In the training season
game ~ the best answer TO GTImth's
contention. Sam certainly has had a
thoroe1sh trial and has been found
wanting, At least at bat.
Nor has CAMEL been setting the world
aflge with his hitting this Spring. He