Evening star., 1928-04-28
NATIONALS TO GET
MUCH EXTRA WORK
Six Double Headers Already
listed--Morning Drills
May Help Club.
RY JOHN II. KELLER.

This has been q sorry Spring fox the
base bali fnaEnates, RAIN, snow and
cold weather have kept the turus1ileS
a. the parks idle many DAYS IN ooth
major circuits. However, the play OF
most clubs has been OF high orCer,
thereby making the weather alibi poor
one for those who have not been SO
successful.
The Nationals have played through a
Shorter SchaGlle than the other OUTFITS
Of the American League, excepting the
Yankees and the Athletics. Miller
EugglnS' bunch has been IN II engage
ments and Connie Mack's crew III but
nine, while the Harris clan has paruc-
lpateG IN sN even dozen Tits. one lie,
Yet, despite Indictment weather and
lack oF work, both Yankees and Ath-
lefits are ahead Of the Nationals IN
the standing, lis not the weather that
puts a harl club down,
Not 50 long ago Secretary Ed Eynon
Of the local aggregation avoWed he
would "a her have the Nationals play
two games on 4 warm afternoon than
E0 through a single engagement on a
6ay when chilling blasts ragged across
the ball field and Winter clothing was
in order We'll. The genial sec viii have
plenty Of these two-ganle afternoons
before long The poStponCnlent Of the
match with the Athletics Yesterday
raised 10 six the number Of double
headers in store for the Nationals and
another poStPonement was likely today,
Twin Bills Ahead.
Three Of The days set back are with
the Boston club II was too cold on
April 10 for Nationals and Red Sox 10
clash IN BeantoWn and TWO days later
rain ended fray at the conclusion
O. the fifth inning when the teams
were deaol0cked. Last Saturday. it
was too moist here for a scrap with
CaIrigan's outfit. Rain, snow and cold
weather prevented a meeting with the
Macks IN Philadelphia on April II and
in New York last Monday 1t was en-
tirely too cold and vet for al engage
me.lt with the Yankees. With yester-
eays postponement added 10 the lot.
there's much work ahead for the Harris
men when the warmer weather arrives,
IL ever.
II must be mentioned right now that
the weather alibi is not being used by
Manager Stanley Harris 10 account tor
the recent poor showing of his club
eTen though some Of the athletes are
claiming the unreasonable cold and eX-
cessive moisture have hindered them
Harris is no wilmer and he frankly
admits that slovenly play only is re-
sponsible for the present slump of his
organization, But the Washington
manager is not one 10 Sidestep an issue
lis charges viii soon be giving their
best 10 the game, or some viii find
their pay checks a trifte short.
Morning drills instituted since the
return Of the club from New York ought
~ improve the play Of the Nationals.
Oddly. the exhibition games during tllc
training season failed 10 polish the
team Perhaps the repea' 90 hekjng>
the Nationals took from the Giants so
ca1ed them that they could not acquire
any base pail flnesse. Their perform
ances have been cruGe from the out
set O. he championship campaign.
Even during their fiVe-game winning
streak they did not look any too good.
With the athletes getting on the field
every fair morning. however, for in
tcnsige batting and fielding drills their
pilot expects that soon they viii be
going about their tasks In a more i'm
pTeSsiye manner and win few games
instead of accepting defeat as matter
CT course.
Idieness Helps Injured.
These idle days may not be 50 good
fer the bail club Ia general, but they
are blessings ia disguise for two Of lis
members. According to the club pl7y-
sac2an, rest viii do more than anything
else 20 remove the soreness from the
left foot 0f Bucky Harris and the throw
ing arm Of Goose GOslin. OF course
Harris is having the injured hoof spe-
cfsl.g s.ra.co Snc the Goose nD% Is
using the violet ray On his shoulder
but iittle Improvement may be expected
during this cold and damp Weatne.
as long as tie alling athletes MAKE
USE ot the hurt members.
The Goose, Of course. viii take ms
place il the lineup regularly. As the
club needs his hitting but Harris has
turned ogeY his BecOn0-baBe berth 70
Jack HAYES and viii remain o1t Of
artion until tie foot r. entirely We'll.
Eayee soon may rellnaiisl bis Job 70
Bob ReeTeN, W10 at pfesent is nursing
. wounded finger, as Reeves Is c0ns.6-
cred BIZ HAIRS better performer
. around the keystone sack than the
youiagSter brought from Birmingham
onlv last season.
yhss is little likelihood that Harris
wal BE- able 10 break ir ~ the game
during the four-t3!t set Vsgh the Yam
kees tnat Is scheduled % get unGeT way
1snaorrcw. Ee In determined % take
no more chances with the aching ,DsJep
rat has kept AiTn idie the greater
part c. Siz weeks,