Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-15

ing, Cochrane catching"
This probably will be shout
ed through the announcer's megaphone
tomorrow at Griffith Stadium shortly
before Nationals and Athletics take the
field to open the American League base
ball season in the Capital OF the Ma
ton.
Neither Walter johnson, new man
ager of the Washington Club, nor Cor
nelius McGillicuddy, veteran pilot OF
the Philadelphia organization, has defl-
nitely decided which of his pitchers he
will start, but the local leader has said
it will be either Sam Jones or the port
-propelling Garland BraXton, while
the visiting helmsman's choice appa--
emily will be between the left-hand
Rube Walberg or Jack Quinn.
Jones, on his performance in the Ma
tionals' Spring exhibitions that ended
yesterday. seems the logical Washing
ton selection, while the performance
of left-hand swingers in the JohnSonian
lineup is apt to incline the venerable
Philadelphia manager toward Walberg,
AS, usual, much ceremony Will marx
the season opening tomorrow. Before
the teams begin battling a minute or
two after $3.50 o'clock, there will be a
reception accorded Herbert Hoover,
President of the United States, by the
Navy Band as he and the White House
party enter the boxes near the WASH
ington dugout, Secretary Of War James
w, Good will offlciate at the nag rails
ing in center field and finally the head
OF the Nation will toss gliStening new
base ball to Manager johnson to open
formally Washingtons American League
campaign. The fans will be given
plenty OF time to gather for the IN
augural as the gates to Grithth Stadium
will be opened at 1880 and for the en-
tertainment of the early arrivals Meyer
Goldman's Band will provide music
from 1890 on.
johnson Stands Pat on Team.
In support Of his batterymen, john
son will send into the inaugural clash
the same lineup that has performed
SO efficiently in the greater number Of
training contests. The infield will In
Guide Capt. Joe Judge at first base, Jack
Hayes at second, OsSie Bluege at short
stop and Buddy Myer at third. In the
outield will be Goose Goslin in left,
Sam West in center and Red Barnes in
right.
Mack has said he will not know until
shortly before game time just what
PLAYERS he will send into action. 1t Is
certain he will not employ Al Simmons,
heretofore the spearhead OF the
Athletics attack, however. This clever
outfielder and powerful right-hand bat
ter who several times has threatened to
capture the American League batting
championship, is nursing a badly-swol-
len ankle, resulting from rheumatism
The Athletic in1ield may consist OF
Jimmy Foxx, one of the most versatile
players in base ball, at first base; Max
Bsnop at second, Joe Boley at short
stop and Sammy Hale at third. The
condition of Boley'S throwing arm,
which has been weak all Spring, may
cause d iast-mif1ute change. Boiey is
anxious to start and Mack, it is said,
encourages him in that ambition, but
it is possible that his arm will not per-
nit him, and in that case Jimmy Dykes
probably will be sent to the shortfield.
In the outfield Mack may have Bing
Miller in left, George Haas is center
and Homer SumIila, former Cleveland
gardener in right.
The Nationals will enter the fray in
splendid condition physically and well
trained mechanically. Little considered
as a pennant contender in the Winter
prognoStictions, the club has played to
fine recrod in its exhibition series and
now is rated among the few expected to
pionship. The Macks did not train so
well. Their pitching staff, on paper
about the best in major league base ball,
performed in an in-and-out manner in
exhibition contests, and injuries beSet
the squad. Nevertheless, the Macks
potentially are powerful and must be
regarded one of the strongest combina-
tons in the circuit.
Both Rated Flag COntenders.
Washington will start the season with
i've of its nine batterS swinging from
the left side, while Philadelphia, if Con-
ME Mack begins play with the lineup
heretofore mentioned, will have at least
four portside Founders In action. This
may mean little, however, for the south
paw swatters of both clubs on past per-
formances seem able to solve the deliv-
cry Of fork-handed hurlerS as well as
that of the right-handers.
The clubs will enter the season with
fine prospects of remaining in the fight
for the title to the finish, but neither
manager is predicting championship
for his charges. johnson has said he
likes his Washington club greatly and
is certain it will force its rivals to re-
gard it seriously. The training season
of the Philadelphia club was so disap-
pointing to the venerable Mack he de-
clared he was "sick and di6gusted" with
his team. Very likely, though, the
leader of the White Elephants does not
think the prospect so gloomy as his
statement indicates.
Regardless of what the clubs have
accomplished in their training cam
paigns, they are rather certain to show
a deal of base ball tomorrow. Gener-
ally clubs do in season openers. There's
something about base ball inaugural
that gets a team up on its toes. Play
is dashing, competition is keen. And
there's no reason to believe the cam
paign starter here between Nationals
md Athletics will lack the fire and