The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-03

The cards, as j was prepared W
see them, were q somewhat inter-
roRative propositions. They still are
to me, in spite of Bill McKechnie's
reassurances today. And the situa-
ton must remain just a bit tense
until such time as the internes
from the emei gency ward pack UP
their sca1pels and call the thing a
cure.
AS to that, some of the returns
on this matter haven't started out
yet.
The human uncertainties yet to
be accounted for and the various
organs affected are listed herewith:
Bob O'Farrell, former manager
and star catcher, arm.
Tommy Thevenow, star shortstop,
Chick Hafey. regular outfielder.
eyes.
Ray Blades, ditto, knee.
Rabbit Meanwhile, elderly short.
fielder, himself.
The Cardinals, viewed merely
from the standpoint Of names
and not from that Of d con.
valescent ward, are quite D ball
club. In fact, McKechnie, back
again for another managerial
WIlirI, thinks he has the conn
ing champion and Burt ShOtfOn,
Of the Phillies, agrees with him.
Yet the fact win not down that
Thevenow's broken legI has vet to
be proven sound; that the bad arm
which kept O'Farrell out Of many
games last year hasn't been ade.
quately tested here, IL at all; that
Hafey's many operations last win
ter may or may not have proved
beneficial, and that Blades injured
knee Is responding SO slowly that
he may not really know its true
condition until June.
The fact of the matter is that
Maranville has been playing short
stop regularly in Theyenow's place,
the latter's Inended leg having
given him considerable trouble here.
The bone, it seems, had set proD-
erly enough, but the tendon In the
heel has made him lame. 1t Is not
b condition that indicates any great
degree OF permanency, but, then.
every game Thevenow misses may
be regarded as so much lost. My
understanding is that spring train
ing is designed I'd afford the ath-
letes just one thing. lie. spring
training. Thevenow is getting very
little.
In his absence, McKechnie
says, the Rabbit is playing like
the Maranville Of yOre. But,
unless am In error, he no
longer would do as shOrtstOp
i'm the international League last
year. The chances are he is
like so many other Veterans
flare IN for q week or so and
then, Goodnight, TOsti!
O'FarreII has done little, If any,
catching this spring but McKechnie
says his arm is ali right and I pre-
sumo that diagnosis will have TO do
until we know more. Personally,
look for O'Farrell to have good
year, particularly in view of the fact
that, hencefortI, he needs manage
only himself. But it would be graft
flying to see him go in there more
often to give q strictly personal dem
qnstration at that.
AS for Blades and Hafey, neither
has been playing REGULARLY in ex-
hibition games. so you can hardly
see that all is well or all is i'll, either.
They say Hafey's eyes have rccov-
cred completely from the effects of
his sinus trouble and, in truth, he
seems to be quite all he should be.
Blades, however, makes no secret of
the fact that he knows all too little
about the real condition of his knee
and that he expects to remain in
DOUBT about 1t for some time.
While they have been thinking
it over, juvenile OutfieId-
posed Of John Martin, Houston,
Tex: Walter ROettger, Of HOus-
ton and st. Louis, and Howard
Williamson, of Syracuse and
Fort WortI-has been plying its
trade. They haven't been hit.
ting any too well but McKechnie
and the entire outfit swears by
Roettger and not at him. He
once deemed himself a pitcher
when with the Yankees.
Don't Hit" Douthit, a plausible