Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-09

w YITH the opening OF the
NJ season only a week
Wv away and the make
up of his inf1eld still
unsettled, Connie Mack may
find himself under the handl-
cap of getting off to a poor
start.
The tall tactician's difficult
ties anent the inner Gordon de-
veloped when Shortstop Joe
Boley contracted a sore arm
that kept him out of the line
up for long period and finally
caused him to be sent home a
week In advance of the re-
mainder of the squad.
But it is not the temporary
loss of Boley that is causing
Mack concern so much as 1t is
the fact that he can't decide
who is to play where. In other
words, the lean leader is suf-
fering from what might be
termed an embarrassment of
riches in the way OF inf1eld
talent.
Need to Get Organized.
The Athletics are the team
generally picked to give the
Yankees their toughest battle
in corraling a fourth straight
championship, just as they
proved the highest hurdle the
Huggmen had to take for the
past two seasons, but unless
they can get organized and
present a strong front at the
outset they are likely to find
the GriffS, Browns and Tigers
more than mere idle threats
for the honor OF being chief
contender.
The Mackmen are due to
help the Nationals pry the lid
off the campaign at Clark Grit
fifth Stadium a week from to-
day, but Connie as yet has
been unable to decide on the
identity of the player who will
.cavort at any of the infield
positions except second base.
where the capable Max Bishop
will continue to hold forth.
Comics quandary is due
largely to the fact that in FoXx,
Dykes and Orwell he has three
athletes capable of playing sew
eral positions. Joe Hassler,
chief understudy for Boley at
short. has been playing a bang
up game at that point all
Spring. He always has been
recognized as a strong defen-
sive player, and it happens that
this year he has been outslug-
ging all the other members OF
the cast.
Dykes Due Consideration.
In view of Hassler's I'M
looked-for proves at pill
punching, it seems probable he
will start the season at short,
provided Boley still is ailing,
although Dykes is sure to get a,
lot of consideration on the
strength Of the fine showing he
+, made there while Subbing for
the injured Boley last Fall.
With Boley is shape to play
it was Mack'S intention to in
stall Dykes at third base, tell
Foxx to give up the notion he
is hot-corner guardian and
go to first and leave Orwell,
who still is trying to find out
whether he is a first baSen1an
or a hychaser, out of the pic
ture, except insofar as he
might render service with the
mound corps.
But if Boley can't play and
Dykes is nominated for the
shortstopping, the chores at
third base will be looked after
by Sammy Hale, a consistent
800 hitter, who has demon
strated his ability for adequate
coverage in that sector.
With al Simmons apparently
back in his fine form Of 1927,
the veteran Bing Miller hitting
hard and fielding well and the
speedy George Haas giving a
suarkling performance in all
departments. the AS are well
fortified In the garden, espe-
cially with a performer Of
Homer Summa's ability in re-
serve.
Two Capable Catchers.
For catching they are well
set, too, with the hard-hitting