Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-12
REGULAR QUARTET
DISPLAYING CLASS
Reserve Talent Also Rated
Adequate-IntracIub
Games Listed.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

second baSeman OF InaC DILL
liant hot-corner performer, Ossit
Bluege. Nothing like that now
Instead it looks as though the
washington club will enter thu
American League campaign mex
month with the best inner defense
possessed since the days Bucky
Harris and Roger Peckinpaugf
were teaming around the Seconc
base, with Joe Judge and BluegC
thanking them.
With Judges underpinning seemingly
In great trim, Myer looking better thar
ever at the middle sack. Bluege back
at the third cushion, with leg appar-
emily much strengthened after surg1-
cal operation last Fall, and Joe Cronir
more solid and powerful than last sea-
son in the short field, the Nationals
on April II should present an infield
ranking among the best to be found In
the majors.
The performances of three of the four
players slated to make up the Ma
tionals' inner Gordon in training sessions
In Biloxi Stadium are sparkling. Judge
covers more ground around the initial
sack these days than he has in the past
several seasons. Myer rapidly is set
Ting into excellent Second-baSing form
and Bluege once more is the flash
around third that made him the wonder
OF the circuit not so long ago.
Cronin, who ended long trip from
San Francisco to camp today, looks
almost in the pink now and with a few
days work should be able to throw with
the strength he did last year. Joe's legs
already are good, for he spent much
Of his spare time during the OF season
tramping the wooded hills around San
Francisco Bay. If wood chopping gives
a ball player more power at bat, Cronin
should have that added power, for dur
ing his jaunts over the hills he says
he often felled trees for exercise. And
his arms show it, too.
InfieId Displaying Glass.
Judge, Myer and Bluege with Jack
Hayes. now a veteran utility inflelder
and Jim Mcleod, rookie, alternating at
shortstop, have flashed speed and
cleverneSs all through the inner de-
Tense drills. Brilliant stops. fast and
accurate throws. speedy pivoting have
marked the practices. The combina-
ton working now looks much better
than did the quartet being developed
at Tampa this time last Spring and
when Cronin becomes well enough con-
ditioned to take his place at short
regularly in the drills the play should
become even more marked.
Perhaps the greatest improvement is
IN Myers work. This young teller who
was found wanting when tried at third
base and was no great shucks at the
middle sack, to which he was shifted,
plays at second as though he had been
toiling there several seasons. He moves
to his right or left freely to handle
sharply hit grounders, goes back with
good judgment for the pops to the
short outfield, rushes in with burst
of speed on slow rollers and when he
gets the ball whips It to base accurately
and without hesitation.
The best feature, though, Of Myers
Improvement is his ability to pivot
well, something that was missing from
his plav at second to the end of the
last season. Somewhere in the few
days the Nationals infleld has been per-
forming, Buddy discovered the knack
of taking q throw and wheeling properly
to propel the ball to another base.
Both Hayes and Mcleod have been
feeding him short throws and often
forcing him to get the. ball while in an
awkward position, but invariably Buddy
has recovered his balance sufficiently to
get the sphere away with no undue loss
Of time. With Myer having the pivot
down so pat, the washington inner
defense should prove apt at double-play
making during the championship cam
paign.
Reserve Talent Strong.
Nor will the infield reserve be much
shy Of the regular formation in fielding
strength. Hayes, although in the league
but a short time and used at irregular
intervals, is recognized as one Of the
cleverest fielders in the game. He can
I'LL the bill admirably at second, short
or third Then there is Mcleod. Daily
this rookie, up from Little Rock, has
the manager and coaches maIvennS ga, at
his fielding ability. A great ground COW
erer. capable handler Of the ball, whether
hit hard or tapped, and a strong and
accurate thrower Jimmy looks adequate
in every way defensively.
II Is questionable now whether Bill
Bradley, the lanky first base recruiI
drawn from the New York lots, VIII
stick with the club. He Is gooo-looKlng
worker around the initial sack ano IN
batting drills walIops the ball surpris-
fngly well for a player OF MS slgnt
bIfiId But Bradley has had no pro-
fessional experience and undoubtedly
needs a deal of polish before ne may
be regarded as q major league prospect.
But the Nationals still nave Hariey
Boss, ana BOSS mas pLONCu AiAo VIZ va
Tr1Ie he is with Chattanooga at pres
emf. but subject to recall on "a hours
notice. which gives the club a fne I'M
derstudy to Judge. :.
A scrub game between the teams o.
two club houses used by the squads was
expected TO be played this afternoon
FRANKIE Baxter, in charge Of the housi
used by the reserves and recruits
challenged the athletes OF the house
controlled by the iron hand OF Mlkl
Martin and the older crowd announced
its willingness TO battle. Manage
johnson believes the scrub game a gooc
thing for the squad in training, and al
the Nationals have so few engagement
here he may order several tntra-Squat
contests before the club heads for Chat
tanooga.
The squad was reduced by one las
night with the departure OF Herber
Pyle, pitcher, drafted from the Look
outs, for Chattanooga, where ne VII
undergo dental treatment. Pyle ha
been suffering with neuritis and the AZ
lection has been attributed TO trouble
with his teeth. He will work out will
the Lookouts now in training at Chat
tanooga until the Nationals transfe
their training camp to the Tennessee
town.
PENSACOLA, Fla, March IL Pl.-