Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-26
BY JOHN b. KELLER.


Il here for this year and perhaps
for years unless more salts
factory arrangement with the city o.
Tampa than has been in effect can be
made by their president-but before
camp is broken the squad may bt
smaller even than it is now when 1t in
cludes only 81 active players.
The time for pruning has come ano
during the past few days President
Clark Griffith has been in communica-
ton with several minor league organ
;zatiops that are ready to absorb the
material not deemed strong enough for
work in big time.
The only group in the squad not like
" to be cut is the infield group. 1t in
cludes but seven players now and Man.
ager Walter johnson has said he is not
willing to part with any Of them at
present. Capt. Joe Judge at first. Jack
Hayes at second, Ossie Bluege at short
stop and Buddy Myer at third already
are accounted fixtures. The manager
feels it would be unwise to part with
Charley Gooch, youngster who could be
sent to any position in the inner cor
don in an emergency: Stuffy Stewart.
a veteran who can perform cleverly
around the middle sack and help as a
pinch-runner, and Joe Cronin. youthful
rookie, always gOOQ tOT tie SIiUI tAlclO
berth should he be needed.
There's no one to go from the infield,
It seems, but, surprisingly, cuts are prob
able in the outfield array and in the
pitching staff, which at present has but
10 actives. johnson is not at all GER
tain he will need more than one emer-
gency outfielder. Within few days he
is apt to decide definitely that four
gardeners will be sufficient for his
squad, and very probably these four
will be Goose Goslin, Sam West, Red
Barnes and Sam Rice.
Trade Talk Up Again.
The makeup of the lot, though, viii
depend upon the outcome OF negoua-
lions between the New York and Wash
inrton clubs concerning a trade that
would send a catcher and possibly an
outfielder to the Yankees in exchange
for a righthand swinging outfielder.
something sorely needed by the Ma
tionals, and whether Goslin's throwing
arm proves sound.
From the time the runaor Of a deal
between the Yankees and Nationals first
was broadcast this Spring President
Grifith has emphatically denied such q
move is contemplated. But around the
Yankee base at St Petersburg it seems
no secret The latest Is that Spencer
Harris, southpaw singing and swinging
outfielder, and Roy Spencer. catcher
signed only last week by the Washing
ton club, are to go to the Hugmen In
exchange for Sam Byrd. gardener
who does his batting from the right
side, and does it very well, too.
Should this deal go through. the Ma
tionals might dispose of Red Barnes or
Sam West, both left-hand hitters. with
Barnes more likely to go than West, be-
cause Sammy now Is looked upon as the
most promising young outfielder In the
game. Should the Goose's arm not
come along speedily Manager johnson
might decide to carry five outfielders for
a time as a matter of protection, for
naturally the pilot will give Goslin much
more time to get into throwing trim
than II the Goose were only an average
hitter instead of American League bat
ting clnampion.
Should there be no deal consumnat-
ed, Harris likely will stick around until
Goslin proves his defensive worth. How
ever, the purchase from Minneapolis Is
slated for departure from the Nationals
at the earliest opportunity. 1t doesn't
seem reasonable to rate him $4,000
olltfielder with such as Barnes and
West at hand And to retain Harris, the
Minneapolis $4,000 in addition to $2,-
600 already turned over to the Millers'
treasury. -
The Pitching Situation.
It now looks as though johnson will
be content to carry into the American
League season as few as eight pitchers.
OF the 10 actives-Paul Mccullough,
too i'll to report for training and not
apt to be of much service to the club
this year, is not considered in the make
no Of the mound staff-Garland Brax-
ton, Irving Hadley. Fred Marberry. Sam
Jones and Adolph Liska are held staff
fixtures. The left-handers. Lloyd Brown
and Bob Burke. have fine chances to
stick around Arch Campbell. Paul Hop
kins and Jim Weaver are battling for
a place. with the battle mainly between
Campbell and Hopkins. At present.
Manager johnson is devoting more at
tention to Campbell than Hopkins SO
the fate of the st. Paul draftee soon
may be determined.
OF the five catchers, three are to be
retained. It already is certain that the
veteran Muddy Ruel will remain with
the club and that the rookie, Cliff Boil
ton. will draw his pay elsewhere. AS
in the case of the outfield group. the
makeup of the remainder of the re-
ce.ving group depends upon the out
come Of the Washington-New York
trade negotiations. Should Spencer go
to the Yanks. Benny Tate and AL Bool
will be Ruels catching department
mates. Should Tate be the player trad
ed. the trio would be Ruel. Spencer and
Bool. Only a trade, it seems will assure
the big Bool chance to remain on
the Washington roster.
Much of this may be settled before
Nationals null IN stakes here next