The Washington times., 1928-03-05
cISWI TCHED
JOB WILL
AID HIM
BY Louis A.. Dougher


7c2 TAMPA. Fla. March 5.-If George
n,elar realizes his ambition. Wash
lrrfon will possess the champion
hafannan OF the big show when the
At,rtain falls upon the campaign
4 Mext October. That ID the goal ne
nuiet. reserved man is this
George Sisler. Reporting to the
Washington club a private in the
ranks. he has gone to work with
All the earnestness of man with
nuruose. He says his physical con-
dition has never been better. He
expects no recurrence of the sinus
trouble that kept him on the bench
n 1928. He believes that new sur
rnundfngs in Washington and the
absence OF any responsibility beyond
: that OF making good and playing up
Is his highest standard should go
FAR toward making it possible Tor
him TO top every batsman in the
majors for 1928.
ssThis seems to be a good
eI,,h from what I've seen Of 1t
A s few days." Is Sisters care.
fuIly chosen comment. Things
are done right and there Is 2
certain spirit of play not found
gifh every club. That may ex.
IS. plain much Of WashingtOn's
success since Harris took hold.
1sIt will be bit strange at the
start to be playing anywhere but
In st. Louis. However, Washington
a q good city to live in and l
should have no trouble getting used
II don't like to make any
promises. I don't like promises so
much. Things happen SO often TO
make them look foolish. But ] am
going out this year to see If can't
catch up with some of those real
hifters. Playing in Washington's
ball park ought to help. It's fine
field to hit on, especially for a
hitter like me.
'sHome.run hitters all have their
troubles connecting in Washington.
The outfielders have chances to go
cut and bring down their drives.
Hut the park is well suited to the
player who doesn't try to hit the
bali over the wall all the time.
washington fans have always
treated me fairly when / appeared
USAOES with I4kC 81 LOUIS CldD. d1ku
! have no reason to expect
different treatment, though Joe
Judge is extremely popular there,
and deservedly. Joe is a great
first baseman and my friend. It is
just the fortune Of baseball that
brings us together on the same
ball club.
III went to the Browns In
1915. suppose that makes me
AN old man in baseball. But
it doesn't make me an old man
by any means. As 1 feel right
now, 1 should have a lot of
bah games remaining i'm my
system and / hope this season
about to start will be among
my hesA. III 1 can lead the
league in hitting, shall
certainly consider myself a
success, or even II / come
close to the top"
Bucky Harris makes no secret of
the fact that he expects great things
Of Sisler. He is banking on his hit
ting in third place to drive in many
q run that remained on the bases
last season.
ahead Of him, you know" explains
Harris. Don't l know? I've seen
him deliver often enough against us
to appreciate having him with us
now. Yes, I'm counting on having
him hit in third place. I have no
worries about that position in the
batting ORDER
The Grfffmen play their first
exhibition game Of the year
Thursday at Avon Park. and a
big squad viii make the trip, a
three-hOur drive by bus. Some
Is players will be taken along,
which means that practically
two teams will be in action be-
fore the battle ends.
The Griffs will begin looking at
curves this week. even before going
70 Avon Park. Stubby Griffin. Mem.
pliis southpaw; Clayton Van Alstyne.
Paul Hopkins, Ed Wells ad Lizzie
Ltsenbee are already to start open.
: lng up with benders and will be let
louse against the batters.
The good weather has put the
boys in fine shape" says Sir Miaue
Martin, land with the exception of
one or two. hooking won't hurt
them II they don't do too much of it.
III see they don't do that"
Saturday will find the Griffs play
ing their first home game here
facing the Boston Braves. The
Hornsby clan is said to be in rather
better than ordinary shape for this
time of the year and bent on clean.
Ing up their American League foes.