Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-09
QUINTET Of EXTRAS
ARE CAPABLE CREW
Cronin, Stewart, Rice, Harris
and Gooch AyaiIabIe-Giants
Beaten in Opener, 8-3.
By JOHN B. KELLER.


perform we'll enough to make the alb
sence of regulars scarcely noticeable,
Manager Walter johnson Is SATISFIED ms
outfit is we'll protected in this respect
and it seems he is we'll satisfied.
Charley Gooch, Stuffy Stewart and
Joe Cronin for the infield and Sam
Rice and Spencer Harris for the out
field in emergencies. form a capable
crew of extras. All excepting Gooch
have big league experience back OF them
and Gooch has developed so rapidly
this Spring that he may be accounted
far above the minor league draftee he
was at the outset of the training.
Out of the lot, Second Stringers
Cronin and Rice are especially valuable.
Cronin, though a mere youngster, al
ready has seen much service in the
majors and knows just how the game
is played in big time. Above all, he's
a wonder in the shortfield, a handy man
at second base and promises to become
a really good hitter.
Improved as a Hitter.
When he came to the Nationals from
Kansas City last season. Joe was not
so strong at bat, but this Spring he
has been driving the ball often and
far since changing his style at the
plate. He now is more ready to swing
and swings more freely than in the
past season. And this young man can
field. He showed Washington fans last
year he was no SLOUGH at shortstop and
he's much better this Spring. He has
a strong arm, gets the ball away fast
and accurately and in double-plays
feeds" the sphere well to the pivot man.
Age does not seem to have affected
the veteran Rice to any great extent.
He has not been in many games thus
far because those in charge OF the club
know Just what Sam can do, but in the
practice series he gallops about the field
to make startling catches, and at bat
he SlaSheS liners that have won him
high honors in stick-work many seasons.
Sam seems to have his eye on the ball
as he did last year and in 1928 he
Socked for an average of 1923.
It isn't often that club has players
of the caliber of Cronin and Rice sitting
on the bench. That the Nationals have
indicates how great is the playing ability
of the first-stringerS who are keeping
these two out of the regular lineup.
GOOch All Round Man.
Gooch came to the Nationals from
Little Rock mainly as third sacker,
but he has done little third-sacking in
practice. Instead, the stocky athlete has
become an underStudy to Capt. Joe
Judge at first base and Charley can per-
form around the initial station in right
impressive manner nowadays. He can
play a fine game in the short field, too.
This he proved in the last tilt in Tampa.
In that game, he stepped around the
II GAY 3.@ h rI1 1rc &c aT1A
revealed a powerful throwing arm. In
addition to his fielding ability, Gooch
looks to be a hitter with power. He
has banged the ball solidly in the ex-
hibition contests. A good ball player to
have around club, it would seem.
Stewart and Harris are no strangers
to Washington fans. Stuffy was with
the Mats several seasons before going
back to Birmingham for the 1928 cam
uaicr. He is as fleet as ever and gets
plenty from his speed on the base paths
because he knows how to run bases.
He's good around the middle sack and
appears to have improved at bat.
Harris will be recalled as the player
who frequently appeared in right field
for the White Sox several years back
He's a nifty outfielder and a likely hit
ter, and were he with any one Of sew
eral other clubs in the American League
probably would be holding a regular
garden berth.
IT'S a capable lot of ball players Man.
ager johnson has in reserve. much
better lot than Bucky Harris had when
he managed the Nationals. The Harris
clubs were weakened greatly whenever
q regular had to be withdrawn from
service. It looks as though the power
of Johnson's club would not be greatly
reduced under similar circumstances.
Take Opener From Giants.
The Nationals reserve force was not
pressed into service yesterday at Biz
ningham, the club taking the measure
of the Giants in the 8-to-3 opener OF
the annual Spring training series be-
tween these clubs, with the regular
lineup playing the route.
Garland Braxton and Irving Hadley
did the fiinging for the Washington
outfit, while the left-handed Carl Hub
bell and Curley Ogden, erstwhile Ma
tional, were on the hill for the New
Workers. Four hits were made of Brax-
ton in his six innings, of which two
were punched in the second inning,
netting the Giants a one-run lead.
Hadley was socked in each OF three
frames he pitched, three of the five
hits off him and two passes being
clustered in round nine for two runs.
The first hit of Hubben came in the
third inning and in the fourth the
Nationals Jumped upon the left-hander
for six more safeties and five runs.
ogden, who, pitched the eighth only,
was knocked for three safetieS and as
many markers.
Goose GoSlin and Benny Tate were
the big noises in the Washington at
tack. It was q triple by Goslin in the
fourth that sent over the two runs,
putting his team ahead, and 1t was an
other triple smote by Tate that cleared
filed sacks in the ninth.
One was down In the Giants second
turn when Terry tripled. He got home
as Bluege threw out jackson. This lead
was more than swept aside, however,
when the Nationals splurged in the
fourth.
West Starts the Parade.
West opened the big inning with a
Texas Lacquer single to center and pull
ed up at second as Myer singled. Then
Goslln made his best hit thus far this
Spring. He lined the ball against the
fence back of right-center, driving ms
TWO tSdlIILldUC0 4kOlltC 0AAN 4Ses~AAAN@G
third himself before the sphere was re-
turned to the illfleld. After Barnes
walked passed ball enabled the Goose
to tally and Red take third. Bluegt
famed, but Judge singled Barnes home
and swiped second. Hayes infleld hi
advanced Judge to the far corner, from
where he registered at the final base
after Fullis got Ruel's loft to left.
One was out in the Nationals eighth
when Barnes and Bluege singled in sue
cession and Judge walked 70 load tns
cushions. Hayes hoist to Roush wa:
caught in too short left to permit
Barnes to try for hesne, but Tate slam
med the ball to center and three rum
crossed. Tate tried to make 1t four, bu
was tagged as he staggered to the plat
wearied by his run. 80
Hadley was plainly tired as he begaI
the ninth, and after Judge made goot
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