The Washington times., 1929-07-06
GAINS old
FORM IN
BOX
BY Bob Thayer

ny bod Inayer
DETROIT, Mich, July s.
=. Garland Braxton, slender
sidewinder Of the Washington
Griffmen, may soon be ready
to start games.
Considered one OF his clubs best
bets at the start Of the current sea-
son the Caroliniari melted away
with the coming of hot weather and
eventually was switched to q relief
capacity.
Showing absolutely nothing as .
rescue man against the Philadelphia
Athletics in a recent appearance
Braxton requested q weeks leave
of absence without pay in order to
rest himself. Granted this furlough
he hastened back to his Burlington,
N. c., home.
This vacation seems to have
worked wonders with the Tar.
heel. VisibIy refreshed and full
OF pepper he has picked up sew
eral pounds, and Is beginning to
resemble his old self.
His fast ball seems vastly inn
proved. All in all, he seems to
have regained much Of the power
which was his prior to his unex-
pected decline.
While reluctant to alibi, Braxton
has his own idea regarding his IN
ability to come through and his
reasoning Is logical to say the least:
I'm not trying to excuse myself
for hitting the skids," he admitted
in q recent conversation, but hon.
estly believe that / trained down too
fine at Tampa last spring. I'm q
skinny bozo at the best and too
much work doesn't figure to help
me. I guess / must have been too
ambitious. Anyhow, I've never been
really right since then, and can
think of no other reason.
Naturally frail, it is doubtful
whether or not vigorous preseason
exercising can react favorably to-
ward one with Braxton's physique.
Needing every ounce Of his strength,
there seems to be little reason for
his adopting anything other than
building up process. Bearing down
too hard in spring exhibitions also
may have taken its toll on the
Southerner.
In any event, another year
probably will find him moving
differently. Getting back to the
original subject, Braxton now
seems Just about ready to travel
the route i'm some spots, though
unquestionably will be reserved
for relief work in many in
stances.
His famed screwball, which left
him when his speed disappeared, is
reported to be functioning again,
while he also is locating the plate
with more consistency. Fortified
with these assets, there is no reason
why he shouldn't stage genuine
comeback.
Though battered after relieving
Had1ey in the inaugural of the
Yankee double-header at the NAM
moth stadium July 4, Garland con.
Vinced all hands that he is rapidly
regaining the stuff which made him
the American Leagues most effec-
tive pitcher year ago.
Fred Marberry and new sup
Navin Park today when the Wash
irigton Griffmen officially launch
their second 1929 Western invasion
Detroit Tigers.
Coming back after being knocked
out of the box by the New York
Yankees July 4, Marberry will be
bidding for his eighth victory of
the season and his second over the
Bengals. A revised lineup to back
him up will find Jack Hayes hold
ing forth at shortstop and Red
Barnes patrolling center field This
will necessitate the removal of Joe
Cronin and Sam West and is ex-
pected to provide stouter batting
punch.
Steaning In here early this
morning, the Gifts are to con-
front the Jungle Cats i'm four
struggles before moving on to
Cleveland next Wednesday.
A total of II games is scheduled
for the wide open spaces, a double
header with the st. Louis Browns
providing the odd tilt.
The Washington club is trailing
by q two-game count in its rela.
tions with the West so far. those
punching Tigers being largely re.
sponsible for this edge. In six
meetings with the Bengals, Walter
Johnson's boys have Acknowledged
defeat four time, while the Cleve-
land Indians have emerged yictori-
Gus in four of their seven battles
with the Griffmen.
Faced with the proposition of
pulling out of their present rut or
else running out of the money the
Grfffmen realize that they must get
started right away in order to at
tain a first.diyision standing at the
close Of the present year.
A little spirit and spunk such as
was exhibited in yesterdays exhibit
ton against the Brooklyn Robins
at. Bradner Field, Olean N. Y,
would aid them nightly in better
ing their present position. Spotting
the Dodgers six runs in one huge
inning, the first, Walter Johnson s.
crowd rallied behind Irving Hadley
and blanlIed the New Yorkers the
rest of the way while winning out,
8 10 s.
Four home runs sailed into and
over the short right field stands, the
Robins slamming three during their
inaugural raps while Joe Judge fol.
lowed with another with two on in
the fourth.
- Ill