Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-31
HARD JOB CUT OUT
FOR MOUND STAFF
Team Lacks SIugging Punch,
but InfieId Is Sharp, Out
field Capable.
By JOHN B. KELLER.

H A 7 T A N 90 G A, Tenn.
March 31.-With the open
ing of the American
League championship cam
paien only two weeks away, the
EFFORTS of those charged with the
conditioning of the Nationals tor
the flag race from now on VIII oe
devoted mainly to improvement
of an already sturdy LOOKING
pitching staff. In all Likelihood
the club will have no more punch
than it had last year-and then
its punch was weak-So Whatever
headway it may make this year
will depend upon its defensive
strength and it's pitching.
AS a defensive unit, the washington
club ought to rank among the best IN
the majors The inf1eld is fleet ana IN
telligent. the outfield strong and the
catching staff clever. At present; Ine
pitching corps on paper is likely
ed Fred Marberry, the first-string corps
is exuected to include also Irving HAD
lev. Adolph Liska, Sam Jones and LLOYD
Brown.
Johnson Is Pleased.
hacking this crew will be Myies
Thonnas. Garland Braxton, Bob Burke
and carlos Moore The first three
named of this second lot are apt 10
start occasionally as well as act In re-
lief roles. And there will be Don savage
ia take of the shoulders OF the mann
hurIers much of the burden OF pltchlIls
in batting drills. .Io.a
m the staff last year excepting Mar
nerrv's is impressive, those pltcners'
WIN have displayed their wares In eX-
l1ibitions this Spring show improvement
over mast performances. According 70
,,,sgnarer walter johnson, their Work
has been quite satisfactory. But Ine
nilot hopes for even more improvement
before the championship season sta!Cs.
johnson figures that ms cruz, ,,I laI haue
exceptionaf pitching and must nave ~
At the outset of battling with us KlVais
in the Barnard circuit. a. Mo-
rsleven games remain on the Ma
tinTals' exhibition schedule. the Cnat-
tanoorans will be met once , 1I,oLe
and the Birmingham club twice. 1ne a.
the Nationals will encounter tnen nLsS
big league opposition. rive IhV 60, a.
slated with the Braves, one IN CnaC-
+anooca and four on the washington
cIlb's homeward trip. After that tne
baltimore orioles will be played twice
and the Rochester Internationals once
Some Need More Work.
An the washington hurlers, excepting
urobabIy Savidge and Herbert rye, IN
--fcSyeg the -craftee from Cnatanoosa,
,.1vo ,s Iikely to be returned to that
rl,,h will see action in these games, Out
~oTne are destined to get nluch more
r,orE than others. Marberry still mas
,oucl, To do to harden himself properly:
e. have Hadley and LiSka. Eacn OF
this trio is to go through full game
ma The birmingham series. at the end OF
this week. Is to see the debuts OF Jones
and Braxton, according TO pIesene
plans. Jones perhaps IS reaoy 10 ~
r. the slab now, but johnson has nao
the veteran nurse himself in training
anfI does not want to hurry MN INTO
Braxton apparently has recovered
%ror, "a series of operations undergone
IN the Winter and, being one OF those
fortunate athletes who trains quickly
NAV be able to make creditable snow
ing AGAINST the Barons. Should ne not
do so, though, 1t would occasion no
worry on the part Of the washington
MANAGEMENT. 1t feels 1t mas oInel
Y,itchers to carry on while Braxton Is
rounding into form.
VIII Train Mornings.
Training in actual competition VIII
not be all the Washington pitchers VIII
get during the two weeks remaining
before the big business of the base oaH
wear gets under way. There VIII De
morning drills for all members OF the
mound corps, and on game days those
not scheduled for service against the
foe will he sent through as much drill
ing as they would get in a game. For
the Nationals to make a go Of 1t, their
noundsmen must be 1T for brilliant
getaway. And if hard work under the
direction of Johnson and his assist
ants will bring this about, the pitchers
will be at.