Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-19
L|SKA TO Be USED
AS GAME STARTER
Harris to Go if Byrd Is
Obtained From Yanks; Griffs
May Quit Tampa Camp.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

TAMPA, Fla, Mafcn IS.-f1aNlng Oe-
termined upon the makeup of his in
field and catching staffs-in the latter
case virtually having decided that Cliff
Bolton. youngster who reported. quite
late after a siege of illness, will not do
without further seasoning, Manager
Walter Johnson now will look only upon
the work of his pitchers at hand.
The catching staff practically was re-
duced yesterday to Muddy Ruel, Benny
Tate and Al Bool by the sale of Ed
Kenna to Minneapolis, while the return
to the same club of Pete Voter about
reduced the infield squad of the club
to the minimum.
Kennas sale price was not divulgd
by President Clark Griffith, but it was
an outright DEAL the Washington club
now having no claim on the catcher.
Voter, who had not appeared to ad-
vantage as third baseman in exhibit
ton games. went back to the Millers
with the Griffs FORGETTING $4,000. He
was purchased for 5000. The Wash
ington club paying $4,000 pending trial
and agreeing to send S12,500 more If
the player made good.
With these rather minor transactions
out of the way Johnson is ready to look
after the pitching end of the club, as he
really cannot afford to reduce his roster
to any greater extent before the season
opens and his first job is to find re-
lief man.
Seeking Relief Pitcher.
Guy Cantrell, who had promised to
become such this year, having been lost
through the action of Kenesaw Lands,
high commissioner of base ball, the
Washington pilot must pick another.
It seems that Fred Marberry, big
handler, who is strictly fast-ball
finger, will be cast in this role again.
johnson had thought to make reg
ular turn man of Marberry this season,
the big Texan having shown consid-
cradle ability as a starter IN scant
number of trials last year. The loss
of Cantrell, though, forces the WASH
ington manager to make Marberry a
relief hurler again.
Whether Fred will be as effective in
this role as he was for several seasons
when he was a sensation is somewhat
questionable. Marberry is not so fast
as he was two or three years ago, not
having the high, hard one to chuck
past batters.
The loss of Marberry as a starter is
expected to be covered by the develop
ment of Ad Liska as a beginner Of
games This young fellow, purchased
from Minneapolis of the American As
ISOLATION. looms better with every test.
In the two games in which he has
toiled the underhand thrower has ap-
peared to advantage.
He was somewhat wild when he
pitched against the Braves at st.
Petersburg, but later when he went in
as rescue moundsman he checked the
Cardinals effectively in a game the Ma
tionals won at Avon Park. Liska for
time showed nothing more than good
underhand fast ball. but recently he
has flashed a good curve. 1t will not
be necessary, of course, for him to use
his hook frequently, for he is essentially
q fast-ball pitcher But the mere fact
that he possesses one ought to be suf-
ficient to unpoise many an opposing
batsman.
Simons' Loss Not DepIored.
The loss of Simons now is not par
ticularly deplored by Manager johnson.
Spencer Harris has shown that he can
sock the ball savagely, and in field
ing drills he has revealed a deal of
speed in covering ground and remark
able aptitude in the judgment of lofts.
However, there is some uncertainty as
to the retention of this player, who was
bought from Minneapolis for $4,000.
The Nationals treasury has been nicked
for only $4,000 for Harris thus far, but
if he is retained it will be hit for an
additional $4,000. That's pretty good
price to pay for utility outfielderS, as
any gardener other than the trio now
being used by the club seems destined
to be.
This price the Washington club must
pay If it retains him is the only thing
that makes the Benny Tate-for-Sam
Byrd deal seem credible. 1t is known
that the Yankees are sorely in need Of
catcher-now that Benny Bengough is
physically out of commission and the
remainder of the New York receiving
staff not of such high class, while Grit
fifth never has failed to express his de-
sire for heard-swinging highlander
for use as a pinch hitter with the
Washington club.
Tate, while not catcher OF the first
rank, perhaps is better than anything
the Yankees have aside from Bengough,
while Byrd would give the Nationals the
best right-hand hitter they have had
since Joe Harris was with them. With
Byrd In hte Washington squad, there
would be no need to retain Spencer
Harris.
Griffith thereby would save matter
of $4,000 if he took Byrd in exchange
for Tate and shipped Harris back to
Minneapolis. OF course, in view of
Judge Lands recent action concerning
trial of players Griffith would have to
forfeit the 5000 he already has paid
to Minneapolis for the opportunity to
look over Harris.
Griffs May Quit Tampa.
It is rumored that the Washington
club will not train at Tampa after this
year. President Griffith has declared
he is dissatisfied with the patronage
accorded his clubs exhibition games
here and that he is casting about for
another conditioning site. The Wash
ington preXy yesterday visited Sarasota,
where the Columbus club of the Amer
lean Association now is training and
where the Giants used to train, to
ascertain whether it would be a good
camp for his outfit.
Griffith has yet to announce that he
will switch to another site, but it is
known that he is seriously considering
a move from Tampa.
mi lkIN lhIIAIC RHATnIl