Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-10
On the Side Lines
With the Sports Editor
BY DENMAN THOMPSON

That is predicated on the loss of
Jumping Joe Dugan, who seems
this time to have jumped right out
Of the big show.
And to the fact that Higgins
must experiment with shortstop,
Mark Koenig, at the far corner,
hope that Julian Vera has learned
enough in the minors or that Gene
Robertson gives evidence of Develop
ing considerable more ability than
he has shown thus far.
Also, with Koenig tranSplanted,
that Leo Durocher, the famous
jockey, can play short adequately,
ard in the event that worthy's featS
afeld fail to measure up to his gift
of CAB. that Lyn Larry pans out
better than many of those widely
touted and high-priced Coast phe-
mons.
X X X
Bat HON about second bGSe2
With due recognition for Ruth'S
hOme-run talent and Gehrig'S pro-
penSities for the highly essential
business Of batting in runs, Tony
La3zeri comes mighty close to being
the most UdulGble athlete on Col
Jacob Ruppert'S ertensiue pay roll.
Not solely because OF his undiSputed
proficiency at bat and dfeld, but be-
cause OF the morale heightening el-
feet he has on his mates.
Lazzeri had an aggravated and
Gripping trouble with his shoulder
last season. He couldn't toss over
hand, nor make any kind of a quick
throw.
This made him almost a total
loss on double plays and c0nse-
quently handicapped the team
greatly.
LaZZeri may be entirely rid of his
ailment next season. but if he isn't
the Yanks are going to miss him
more than little.
X X X X
Then, there's Pennock. The best
lefthand pitcher in the league don't
shoot, BraXtonD was on the shelf
with neuritis the latter part of the
season, missing the world series en-
tirely, and may be through. He'd
be a tough loss.
We know the Yanks contrived to
beat out the Mackmen despite their
disabilities, that they didn't need
Pennock to mop up with the Cardi-
nails in four straight, and that they
will be rated as overwhelming IA
vorites to repeat this year.
But, it also is true that Hugnten
hare COPIED sic OF the last eight
races and 1UiH haze the old ldiU OF
percentage ,Uorking against them.
If Ruth fails to 1Uork that surplus
poundage of his toaiStlire, or Gehrig
breaks leg, Or
The Yanks aren't in yet. The
AS failed by only two or three
games to overtake them last season.
Maybe they'll make the grade this
year. Or If they don't, some other
team.
w. Perry Johnson promises to do
some bidding.
An Odd Ball Player.
~ ORDON S. COCHRANE is an
r unusual sort of athlete.
~ After winning the award
as the most valuable player to his
team in the American League he
wrote us nice little letter of thanks
for our vote. We had cast ballots
for a distinguished array OF per-
formers from year to year before
him, but his was the first acknowl-
edgment ever received.
We hope Mickey tUiH continue TO
be unusual in making q success OF
his UdudeUille Denture. He makes
his debut in a Philadelphia the1ter
merit 1Ceek.
The Newark club Walter Johnson
managed last year is planning for a
most pretentious Spring training
spIurge under Iris Speaker, the dis
tinguished Texan and Ex-Red Sox,
Ex-Indian, Ex-National and Ex-
Mackman.
Among the 40 candidates he will
drill at st. Augustine are a raft OF
performers whose names have f1g-
ured prominently in big league box
scores. Among them are found Al
Mamauy. Hub Pruett, Vic Aldridge.
Hugh McQuillan, Jim Bagby, jacques
Follrnier. Mike GaZella. Russell
Wrightstone and Spoke himself.
X X 4 X
This Gus Sonnenberg promises to
be a fghting-beg pdrdon-grdppltng
champion. No sooner does the Mar
quette, Mich, mailman, iDho uds
known as "the German Bullet"
irten an aH-Americd tackle at Dart
mouth, ,rin the heavyweight Ures-
Ting championship OF the World
from, Stranger LeUis than he dc-
quires nciU business pilot and signs
for a string of matches that tDtH
take him from coast to coast.
SOnnenberg is said to have sold
himself to his new manager for
$4,000, thereby indicating he knows
how to use his head for something
besides butting fellow paehyderms
out of wrestling rings.