Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-07
JACK, BLUEGE FINE
PAIR AT KEYSTONE
Seem Smooth Doubleday
Combine in Practice on
Field at Tampa.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON
(Sports Editor, The starr.

low doesn't make Summer, but
If the initial showing of Jack
Il Hayes in collaborating as sec
ond baSeman around the key
stone sack with Shortstop OSs Bluege is
indicative of what may be expected of
this pair. the chief problem" of Mana
ger Walter johnson, so frequently re-
ferred to. may vanish into thin air.
With this duet in the middle of the
diamond and fianked at third by Buddy
Myer and at first by Charley Gooch,
Subbing for the ailing young Harley
Boss, the performance of Washington
tentative No / infield in its initial drill
on the field brought smile of gratif1-
eaton to the lined and rudy face of
Pilot Walter johnson.
The No. infield, in which Gooch
was retained at first, with Stuffy Stew
art on second, Joe Cronin at short and
Pete Voter on third, also put up a
snappy drill, but it lacked much OF
being as impressive a combination as
the other. and from what has been
observed thus far will remain second
choice for the grapefruit league con-
tests that are scheduled to get under
way next week.
Gooch Knows First Base.
Gooch, who came to the Nationals
from Little Rock tagged as third base
man. must have fooled around the initial
sack before, as he handled himself quite
creditsbly and Myer verified earlier
impressions of his fine state of health
by the way he cavorted at the far cor
ner, but chief interest centered in the
Bluege- Hayes hook-up and the exhibit
ton they gave was heartenng to all
who beheld
Oss. shifted back from third base
80 rsx m ln
terrain formerly so capably covered by
George Mcbride and Rog Peckinpaugh,
moved about with naturalness that
led one to believe that shortstop Is
where he really belongs after all. While
HAYES teamed up with him in a man.
ner that sharply boosted his candidacy
Tor the regular job of second baseman.
and made the suggested expedlent OF
using Bluege at second with Cronin at
short seem a remote necessity.
Hayes seems to have improved in
his play overnight, or perhaps 1t should
be said over Winter. He appears to be
faster for one thing than when ne neid
forth with Griffmen last season and
is handling the ball in double-play Sit
uations to better advantage.
Whether from a Winter of studying
tactics. the coaching he has received
since his arrival here, or both, he has
mastered some helpful pointers on get
ting the ball away from him for twin
killings, and with some six weeks for
intensive practice remaining should be
able to give a very good account OF
himself by the time the pennant chase
gets under way.
Hayes Style Sound.
In Justice to Hayes it must be said he
ALWAYS has displayed an adequate
amount of proficiency in receiving
throws at the keystone sack and ferry
ing them to first Heretofore it has
been the manner in which he played on
Founders where 1t was his duty 10 1eeo
the relaying slortstopper that he has
been lacking Whether a second oaseman
should turn and throw, make scoop
ing toss or flip in back-handed style
depends not only on which side OF MN
he corrals a ball, but on how hard 1T Is
hit. and it formerly was indecision or
the incorrect choice of maneuver tnat
marred Hayes efficiency.
In his initial drill with Bluege, how
ever. Hayes faltered not once, either as
to intent or execution. and SO impres-
sively did both he and Oss perform
there is reason to believe that with the
attainment Of co-ordlnation 70 DC "a
nected from long practice periods ahead
Ross Barney will be able to conclude
that his puzzle with the 1929 Nationals
will be the molding Of a competent
pitching staff. "a,
Although Johnson's tentative lineup
for the game here Sunday against the
Tampa team of the Southeastern
League. which inaugurates the exhloi-
ton schedule, calls for practically an
all-rookie array embracing Goocn'
HAYES. Cronin and Voter IN the nneio'
and Harris, SimonS and Barnes IN .tne
gardens. with Bool catching and WeaV-
er. Cantren and Hopkins dividing tne
mound burdens, he may be tempted
for AT least part of the fray to glimpse
his Bluege-Hayes combine in operation.
To Play at st. Petersburg.
In any event they are sure to start
against the Boston Braves at ST.
petersburg next Tuesday, and what
thew show then and in the more than
% practice games to follow will go a
long way toward determining the COM
,,lesion of the Griffman when they
square of against the Phkladelphla
Athletics at Washington April 16 next.
For a time following his injury DUR
ing batting practice yesterday IL was
feared Catcher Ed Kenna mao Irac-
tured the thumb on his throwing nano
hut examination at the hospital re-
yealed that the foul tip from Stuffy
stewards bat had merely dislocated the
digit. This, in itself. is painful
enough affiiction, but should consider
ABLY reduce the six weeks time 1t
originally was estimated he would be on
the shelf
Outfielder Spencer Harris. patient
In the same institution with an attack
of tonsilitis as the reason, is reported
as responding to treatment and should
be back in harness within day OF
two. which will leave but two athletes
either absent or unaccounted for. One
is Pitcher Mccullough, i'll at his home
in Pennsylvania. and the other Il
Catcher Cliff Bolton. lost, strayed OF
stolen, from the North Carolina hamle
he left en- route to Tampa a week agt
last Sunday