New Britain herald., 1929-03-07
JOHNSON IS BACK
 WITH WASHINGTON
Has Hard Task in Ploting Ssna. tors During the Season

Tampa Fla. March ' L4S-Walter Johnson. who spent ? years in the ranks of the Washington baseball club, has returned to assume the post of commander-in- chief. facing an unusual handicap. The big fellow is held in such affection by his fel- lows it is possible they will be too enthusiastic in trying to win for him. It may be the greatest danger facing the Senators in the coming campaign is prexYing-a golf term for trying too hard.
 The great neutral vote of baseball ha cast solidly for Connie Mack for years. but the tall tactician may have to share it this season with the Big Train, for among the fans at of the great idols of the game. The feeling extends to the Washington players and every one of the 80 athletes in the training camp wants to go out right now and die in a baseball way for good old Barney"
 Manager Johnson himself is pay ing strict attention to his pitchers. As one of the great mound stars Of all time he is qualified to pass on pitching performances and certainly some of the younger school will be better for having passed under the tutelage of the Old Master.
 Of the even dozen pitchers on hand over half of the number are regarded as sure to stick with the other two or three places very much in doubt. Sad Sam Jones. Garland Braxton. Irving Hadley, Fred Mar berry. Lloyd Brown. Adolph Liska and Paul Mccullough promise to start.
 A merry battle may be fought out among the rest. Bob Burke, a tall but very thin left handler, who was on the club last year. needs more weight and Jim Weaver, six and one half inches over six feet and scaling a30 pounds has too much. If the giant Weaver absorbs instructions sufficiently to get the most from his pitching arm he should uncover a high, hard one" that will be diffi-. cult to bunt, much less hit. Weaver apparently needs schooling in field ing. He Is so big he has difficulty in coordinating his hands and feet Mike Martin. the liniment king Of the Washington training quarters, boasts that Weaver can unscrew the lights on the roof of a railway war while standing fiat footed but in his brief baseball experience his success with bunts has not be 50 striking.
 Liska, whose underhand delivery will remind veteran American league 0, Jack Warhop Of the old New
 York Highlanders. is said to have . priceless pitching asset in control. Buddy Myer. obtained at great price in playing talent from the Bos- ton Red Sox, will play third base, Ossie Rluege moving to the left of the infield to make room for him. Bluege probably will take care of shortstop with Joe Cronin, a pron1s- ing young shortstop acting as under- i study. Stuffy Stewart and Minter Hayes will play second base between them. Stewart seems to become fast CT as he grows older and he has practically made good on this third trial although he may not play regularly. On the F'loridian's previ- ous visit to the Washington camp he has found the manager. Bucky Harris playing his position. Joe Judge has no opposition at first base but substitute has not yet been elected. The chances of Harley Boss. Little Rock recruit. were hurt when he suffered injuries to his hands in an automobile ac. cident Charlie Gooch. former Lit tie Rock third baseman, detecting evidences of crowding around third. announced himself as a former first baseman and is attempting to quali- fy as far away as he can get from his regular position and still remain on the inield.
 Muddy Ruel. the senator's star catcher. is going throu,, h systema- tic course of training for his arm and is doing little actual catching in advance of the opening of the sea- son. Benny Tate, long the second string Washington receiver. is again available and Ed kenna and Al Bool are willing to accept the other nomination.
 While Manager Johnson concen- trates on the pitchers. four coaches keep the rest of the recruits mov- ing. Zeb Milan and Patsy Gharri- ty make them cry and Nick AL trock and Al Schacht, the comedians force laughs from them.