Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-22
NEW GARDEN TRIO
SHOULD AID TRIBE
InfieId Is Strengthened by
Addition of Tavener-Box
Corps Little Changed.
BY BRIAN BELL,
Associated Press Spnrta Writer.

n YEW ORLEANS, March a.
Base ball wise railbirds who
VI compare the Cleveland Indians
4 of 1929 with the 1928 edition
declare the club has been i'm
proved more than any other outfit in
the American League However, this
diagnosis. if correct, will not necessarily
insure the Redskins high place in base
ball. for they had more room for i'm
provement than most of the other clubs.
There seems no reasonable doubt that
Manager Roger Peckinpaugh's remade
team will offer far holder front than
he was able to present last season. His
infield has been strengthened by the
addition of the little but rugged Jackie
TaVener and transfer of joey Sewell to
third base, and a much-needed punch
in the outf1eld has been supplied by the
addition of two promising recruits and
an established star. Dick Porter and
Earl Averill have shown indications of
living up to their minor league reputa-
tions. and Bib Falk, the former Chicago
White Sox can swap base hits was most
Of the major league batsmen.
Batteries Little Changed.
No radical changes have been made
in the battery forces but Jim linn, who
has pitched good ball for several years
in A. A. base bali, will have a chance
to see if he can do half as well high
err up.
Luke Sewell, junior of the famous
Sewell brothers, and Glenn Wyatt will
do the catching, with Grover Hartley.
veteran who is listed as a coach. acting
as emergency relief, unless General
Manager Billy Evans finds likely pros
pect unattached.
linn and Ken Holloway, late Of De-
troit, seem to be the best of the new
pitchers on the staff. but Wesley Fer
rell, who was farmed to Terre Haute,
is back, evidently to stay, with an even
better fast ball than he had last Spring.
Verne Underhill. another farm hand,
probably will make the grade this time
Willis Hudlin, Walter Miller, Joe
Shaute. George Grant, Mel Harder and
John Miljus are retained from the 1928
staff. Miller has shown decided i'm
provement over his previous perform
ances and Hudlin has worked long and
hard at a control machine. He has
target set up in right field of the Peli-
cans ball park, where the Indians train,
and spends hours throwing at 1t. If he
gets control he is expected to take his
place beside the leading pitchers Of the
league.
Shaute. the big left handler has
brand new delivery which may increase
his effectiveness. He pulls the ball out
of his hip pocket much on the order Of
Earl Moore, the famous Phillie pitcher
| of two decades ago.
Infield Is About Set.
The infield Is about set Joe Sewell.
although he never played third base
until last season. already is at home and
seems to have conquered the queer
angles a shortstop finds at corner of
the inf1eld. Tavener, who gets as many
extra base hits as singles in a years
work. will play shortstop, with Carl
Lind. the double play expert, at second
base. Lew Fonseca. the Portuguese
song bird, has the call at first base.
The infield fight in the Indian camp
is for the reserve places. Ray Gardner,
New Orleans shortstop, can field, but his
hitting remains in doubt. John Bur-
nett, big and fast, who is a product
of the University of Florida, has made
a good impression and may be kept as
he is versatile performer.
Porter and Averill seem destined to
start the season in right and center as
both have hit we'll in the Spring. The
clever Jameson IS In a contest with
the hard hitting Bib Falk for the other
field. One will be an extra outfielder
with Ed Morgan, the only right handed
hitter in the first five outfielders.