Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-20
LOSSES TO CH|SOX
|RK PILOT M'GRAW
Second Base Continues to
Constitute Chief Problem
of New York Club.
BY GAYLE TALBOT, JR.,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

- AN ANTONIO, Tex, March
~ 20.-Behind with their train
ing schedule and Smarting
from a series of luSty lick
ingS at the hands of supposed
ly weaker club, John McGraw and
his Giants are not in a happy
frame of mind as they prepare to
wind up Spring laborS here.
Just around the corner, so to speak,
is National League campaign, and the
McGraw men are not ready. First, there
was bumper crop of holdoutS. and the
big guns struggled in slowly. That made
John j. fretful. Then the weather be-
came capricious and the boys have
taken too many of their workouts on
the overstuffed interior furniture.
AS fitting climax the New York
entry has been taking it on the chin
with alarming regularity in practice
bouts with the Chicago White Sox, who
apparently have thrived on Texas
weather. The fact might not be i'm
portant at this stage but the Gotham
ties received three hearty beatings and
were held to an thinning tie before
they finally achieved victory over the
Windy City delegation. Four more
scheduled exhibitions with the Sox have
been Cancelled on McGraw's plea that
his club needs practice.
As Strong as Last Year.
There is consolation for the veteran
pilot, however, in the premise that no
team as good as his can go on being
bad forever. Except for what has come
to be an annual pain in the region Of
second base, the Giants appear to be
had enough to finish third In the last
race. The club certainly is no weaker.
Eddie Marshall, rangy youngster
who compiled a 1916 batting average
with Bridgeport last year, appears
ready to plug that gap at second He
and Andy Reese, who eSsayed the task
| most of last year, have waged lively
scrap for month, with Marshall hold
ing an edge. If the rookie can hit any
thing like last years mark, it will be
an improvement over Reese's 1858 and
give the Giants fairly explosive in
| field.
Big Bill Terry, who whaled the ball
at 1872 clip last year and threw in
| IA home runs for good measure, leaves
little to be desired at first, and Travis
Jackson and Freddie Lindstrom are, Of
course, fixtures at short and third.
LindStrom hit .319 last season; jack
son, 295.
Melvin OFT, the versatile hoy won
| der" who cracked 179 hits, including 40
homers last year, again may be expected
| to supply the big punch in the Giant
| outfleld. He was about the only punch
| last year, excepting the veteran, Eddie
Roush, who hit 1924 in lis games.
| Chick Fullis and Fred Leach, other
| members of last years fy-chasing corps,
did no hitting to speak of. A trio of
power in the outer works are Johnny
Mostil, obtained from the White Sox,
and Sam Leslie and George Fisher,
slugging recruits from Memphis and
Buffalo. Leslie raped .376 for Mem
phiS In 1929 and probably win stick in
the big show.
Pitching Is No Worry.
Although his chuckers have been slow
TO attain top form, McGraw is untrou-
bled about that department. In Carl
Hubbell and Bill Walker he has q pair
| OF the niftiest southpaws in the busi-
ness and Larry Benton, Fred Fitzsin-
mons, Joe Genewich and old John Scott
are veterans who can be depended upcn
for bundle of wins if they get fair
share CT the breaks. Hubbell sailed Is
away last year and Walker IA: includ-
ing his last eight starts.
Among the most promising Of the
youngsters seeking place on the paw
roll are Joe Heving, bought from Mem
pms; jim Tenant, a big fire-baller
from York Of the Pennsylvania League:
Leroy Parmelee, up from Toledo, and
Ralph Judd, who joined the club last
Fan and won his only three starts.
Then there is the veteran Club"
Pruett, back for another fling at the
majors after winning IS out of % for
Newark last season. McGraw has a
bunch Pruett viii make him a winner.
Bob O'Farrell and the large Francis
hogan again will team up to give the
Giants great catching staff. That de-
partment is. perhaps, the least of the
CLUBS worries. O'Farrell hit for .3O6 in
81 games last year and Hogan mad a
.297 mark in 102 contests.