Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-28

CndG IL WOuIQ nOI De lOIlB OclOTc L
has done and it will take a might
shortfield.
In the rs games in which he has
appeared he has hit at .287 clip
and fielded for an average of .905.
The fielding part Of this record is
not impressive on first conSidera-
ton, but a close analysis of Cro-
Minis fielding reveals his work as
a Shortstop. incidentally, his sea-
sons batting average does not ap-
pear to indicate this young fell
lows real value in attack.
In IS games-he was first in the Ma
tionals' lineup in the championship
campaign as a pinch-batter only
Cronin has performed afleld, playing
at shortstop in all but one of the
games AS a second Sacker, he had but
- chance and made the putout with
ease. AS shortfielder he has had 146
chances and made IA errors. And only
80 errors have been charged against the
Washington club. OF his chances &C
cepted in the shortfield, So were put
outs and 10 assists.
Accepts Many Chances.
Base ball men agree fielding averages
do not usually show the true worth of
~
does not show his worth. He goes after
everything that comes his way, for he
is far from being an average" player.
He makes errors, plenty of them, buG
he also gets many drives that some
other shortstops In the circuit would be
very fortunate to reach.
In "a games at shortstop, Cronin
shows an average of SIS chances ac-
cepted per game. That Is high-class
rtx - IF
shortstops in the American League last
year, averaged but So chances accepted
per game. Horace Ford, who led the
National League stockholders, averaged
So chances.
As a batter, Cronin started poorly
this season. Getting into q game first
as pinch-batter, he famed And in
his one turn at bat when he substi-
tuted for Jack Hayes at second base,
Cronin accomplished nothing. Since
crashing into the shortstop berth on
hits in IS times at bat. Seven of his
~azissslaaNes been douhles. one q triple and
one a homer. And he has driven IL
runs across. &.
Cronin has been on a hitting spree
In his last nine games, not failing In
.one Of them to drive the ball to safety.
II tllemne has been at bat 80 times for
Is hits, totaiing IS bases. That's ham,
mering the old apple at .485 rate.
homer have leaped from Joe's bat dur
ing this splurge. And six times his
hitting has been responsible for the
scoring Of runs. A fine record for the
young fellow.
Cronin Courageous, Peppery.
Joe has all the courage necessary to
the making Of a lighting ball player
afield and at bat. He seems the most
spirited member of the Nationals in
field. too. He's chockfull of pepper and
chatter, and what's more, he's stalwart
enough to Withstand the gaff of steady
campaigning.
This Cronin appears a real find"
anyway you look him over.
Ira Flagstead, recently acquired from
the Red Sox, may prove a better batter
against Southpaw slabbing than Sammy
West. but the veteran, good as he is in
the field. will have to perform amaz-
ingly well II he Is to excel the youthful
center fielder as q flyhawk.
After suffering short slump, West
once more Is the brilliant chaser of
lofts and liners he was at the beginning
OF the campaign. During the double
header In New York last Wednesday
Sammy made IL putouts, and in the
series following at Philadelphia he
chased all over Shibe Park from left
center to right-center to haul down
drives. Many of his catches were of
the spectacular .criety. West showed a
deal OF courage, - He ran headlong
into the Shibe Park wallis several times
In desperate attempts to check mile-a-
minute liners flying from Mackian blud-
geons, and aided materially in reducing
the number of bases cleaned from the
lengthy smashes.
Buddy Myer is carrying a fine hitting
streak into the Yankee series starting
this afternoon. He has smote the ball
to unprotected territory in 20 consecu-
tive games, which is more than any
other player in the American League
has done. Buddy has a good eye and
a strong swing at the plate, and may
sock this season for a better average
than last, when he finished with mark
Of .313.
Ira Flagstead is not to report to the
Nationals until tomorrow. according to
q telegram President Grifith received
from President Quinn of the Red Sox.
The right-hand hitting outfielder pro-
cured from Boston last Saturday needed
several days to arrange for the transfer
Of his residence from the. Hub to the
Capital.