Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
~LEvELAND. May 4.-sad sa

Washington hurting corps is
~ to face the Indians here Sum
day in his fourth effort this
year to score a victory. Sam twice has
been thumped well by the opposition,
once pitched well, but gave way to
pinch batter before he could claim the
triumph. then started a game in great
style only to have it halted by rain be-
fore a decision was reached.
Manager Roger Peckinpaugh tonight
was not certain as to who he would
pick as pitcher for the Indians, but
thought IL would be the veteran John
Miljus or the left-handed Walter
Miller.
After looking over all the Eastern
rivals of his club, Manager Walter
johnson figures the Athletics rather
than the Yankees must be licked If the
Nationals are to get anywhere in the
flag chase. Contrary to preseason
rating, the Philadelphis outfit is an up
and-going one these days, as the Wash
ington pilot sees it, while the New York
aggregation is anything but the cham
pionship affair it was last season.
And Johnson's figuring seems sound.
The AS. off to fine start. apparently
have everything needed to make them
a club difficult to beat, whereas the
YanEs do not appear as good defensive
ly in the box. behind the bat or in the
infield as they were last season.
Connie Mack's club has hit like a
pile-driver since the bell rang. Long
hits have ratified of the AS bats so
frequently that opponents time and
again have exhausted their pitching
resources in efforts to check the bonn
bardment. The AS have been good on
defense and they have played smart
base ball. too.
As Have Edge in Box.
Above all, Connie Mack seems to
have the edge over all others in pitch
ing. Old man Quinn has been going
great guns. Grove ought to be eXcep-
tionally effective now that he knows
he can lick the Yankees. Washington
saw two corking good persons in Wal
berg and Earnshaw, and Orwell seems
to be ready to do some fine slabbing.
That's tough staff to lick.
And where the AS are particularly
strong the Yankees are particularly
weak. About the only dependable
hurler the world champions seem to
have at present is Hoyt. He can't
carry the burden alone.
Pennocks ncuritis still is bad and
that banging Vests drive gave the
pitchers arm last Thursday was no
help. Pipgras is only fair. Johnson is
a big disappointment and Heimach is
only relief pitcher at best. In fact
the best bet Higgins has in pitching
way other than Hoyt right now is none
other than Zachary, and Zach is no
sure-fire artist by any means.
In the inficld, Lazzeri looks as good
as ever and Durocher is playing a nice
game at short. But Durocher does not
ol- OF hi
is not so good. He over-runs slow
Founders and is poor at handling bunts.
He can throw out he must get the ball
before he can throw it, The Yankee
inner defense is further hurt by the
sore arm Gehrig has developed. The
big first saCker cannot throw across
the diamond with any speed or ac-
curacy and that's no help to Higgins
club.
Right now it looks as though the
Nationals must watch the Athletics
more than the Yankees. And Incl
dentally Mack's club will be the first
Johnson's charges will tackle upon re-
turning East Maybe those four games
in Washington the middle of this month
will bear Importantly upon the Ameri-
can League race.
Clark Griffith. president of the Ma
! tionals is here to look over his club for
a few days. The preXy blew in this
morning from Chicago where he visited
/ for a day TO clear up some business
matters with Judge Lands, commits
sioner of base ball. He had no news to
give out--so he said-but intimated he
still is casting about for a rieht-hand
! swinging outfielder. Spencer Harris,
southpaw swinger, was sent back to
Minneapolis last Monday to make room
| for right -handCr and Griffith seems
! to be ready TO pick up any young fellow
who shows some promise of becoming
| worth while ball player.
Although Griffith did not divulge the
nature of his business with Judge
! Lands it is understood the commits
sioner called the Washington president
! into conference about the case of Ed
| Wells, pitcher, who for time was the
property of the Washington club. Wells,
procured from Detroit by waver in
| 1927 was sent to the Birmingham club
without being used by the Nationals. In
I fact, the big left-hander never even put
! IN a Washington uniform. staying with
the club just long enough to be given