Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-20
assigning REEVES.
TATE TRADE TALK.
Weaver and Brown to Split
Nine Innings of Box Toll
Against Dodgers.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

NAfHFA, ria, MATCH Zu.-AIt6I
three weeks of training the Ma
tionals' pitchers are ready to
Il attempt as much as five in
nings of work, Manager Walter
Johnson believes, so during the re-
nlainder of the exhibition engagements
he hopes to employ no more than two
hurlerS over the nine-inning route.
The first pair TO get the longer tricks
of duty will be big Jim Weaver. the
right-hander from the Kentucky hills,
and the left-handed Lloyd Brown.
These have been named for the slabbing
tomorrow at Clearwater. when the Ma
tionals will stack up against the
Dodgers. In all likelihood. Weaver will
get the flve-tnning portion of the con-
tcSt
Tomorrow's game is to be the first of
the year for Goose Goslin. champion
batsman of the American League, who
has been training under wraps to avoid
injuring his throwing arm, which was
out OF commission virtually all of last
season. The Goose today declared him.
self in trim to take over the job in left
field, and johnson announced he would
start the veteran against the Brooklyn
club. Goslin, however. does not expect
to do any hard throwing in tomorrow's
tilt. and says that he may not attempt
any long heaves until the championship
race begins on April Is.
Roy Spencer Joins Club.
Roy Spencer. newest of the Nationals,
Joined the club today. the catcher COM
ing over from Sarasota. where the In
dianapolis outfit with which he trained
before declared free agent Saturday
by Judge Lands has its camp
Spencer sold himself to the Ma
tlonalS late yesterday. He is an expe-
rienced catcher, having been with the
Pirates twice. 1t was because the
Pirates and the Indianapolis club Jug
gled Spencer about that he was declared
free agent Saturday, when the base
ball commissioner dissolved the con-
tracts of several other players sup
posedly in "cover-up" deals.
With Spencer at hand, the Nationals
again have five catchers and are in posi-
ton to dicker with the Yankees. who
are casting about for a receiver Presi-
dent Clark Griffith still insists he is not
negotiating with the New Workers, but
reports from st. Petersburg where the
Yankee camp is located. intimate that
Miller Higgins is mere than willing to
give up Sam Byrd hard-hitting and
fleet outflelder, for Benny Tate. back
stopper, who has been with the Ma
tionals since 1923.
The club certainly does not need
more than three catchers during the
championship season. Cliff Bolton, one
Of the five now in camp, will be- let out
soon, perhaps farmed instead of being
sold outright. He reported at camp late
with little chance of sticking In drills
here he seems likely prospect, but too
far from big league caliber to keen
around. Muddy Ruel, of course, is
destined to be first-string catcher again,
while johnson thinks much of AL Bool.
the big fellow who was bought from
Nashville late last season. So it seems
that Spencer or Tate will go from the
staff, and the Yankees certainly do
want Tate.
Griff May Shift Camp.
Grifith today conferred with the
mayor of Tampa about getting a clear
field for the Nationals here next year.
The arrangement with the Tampa Club
of the Southeastern League is not prov
ing as satisfactory as expected and the
Washington prexy appears ready to
choose another training site for his club
unless city officials protect his interest
more.
Grifith, in getting the Tampa Clubs
permission to use this Florida west coast
town as base this year, had to break
his exhibition schedule so that the
Tampans could play training games at
Plant Field, too. In making this ar
rangement, though, Griffith did not be-
lieve the local team would slate games
with major league outfits. But that
was done and the Washington chief
declares these contests are hurting the
attendance ot the Rationale cannes
To date the attendances have been
very disappointing to Grifith, and un-
less he can be assured Of more bust
ness next season he very likely will
look elsewhere for a training camp.
The mayor was to let Griffith know
some time today just how much support
the Washington club may expect from
the city of Tampa and the various civic
organizations here next year.