Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
MARBERRY, HADLEY,
L|SKA, mound ACES
Burke Looks Best of Others.
Braxton and Jones Rated
Uncertain Quantities.


- defensive club to get, any
where in the American League
championship race and Manager
Walter johnson fully realizes this,
Lacking batting power as it has
lacked it for many seasons the
club must depend upon its
strength afleld and cleverneSS on
the slab for making Roadway and
the pilot is devoting the greater
part of his time to the perfection
of pitching and defense.
This early it appears the Nationals
will be able to care for themselves IN IN
the field. The inner defense should
rank among the best in the majors on
what has been accomplished in train
ing here. Joe Judge at first, either
Buddy Myer or Jack Hayes at second,
Joe Cronin at short and OsSle Bluege
at third make a great inner Gordon.
There is speed and good judgment in
the outfleld. too. And the club has
capable catching. The Nationals ought
they get into the American League
campaign.
whether the pitching is right re-
mains to be SEEN The entire staff
of veterans is rounding into good trim
so far as physical condition is con-
cerned but whether those who we're
supposed to do their bit in good fash
ion last year but failed are likely to
make the grade this year cannot be
we'll forecast until they have been
thoroughly tested in the series of exhi-
bition games to be played after the
Nationals leave this camp and head
north.
Last year Fred Marberry, Irving
Hadley, Ad Liska, Garland Braxton and
ei,r
club deal of fine pitching. Yet of the
lot only Marberry carried on. He had
the best season of his career in base
ball and had it as a starting pitcher,
too, role he had not filled steadily
before.
Fred Is in Fine Shape.
At this writing Marberry is in ex-
cellent form physically and his arm
seems to have lost none of its cum
ming. He says he feels good and is of
the opinion he will have another fine
season. OF course, pitchers are like
that, but in Marberry's case 1t seems
the confidence will mean much to his
club. He certainly looks as though he
should 90 on to more and better slab
bling.
Back of Marberry the Nationals best
bet this year is Hadley-if he develops
into working condition. Hadley pos
sesses about everything needed to make
a good pitcher, but in other seasons
ne has lacked one eSSential-the will
to win. II Hadley ever learns to spur
himself to greater effort when the odds
are against him he should become one
of the finest pitchers in the game
Bump believes he has developed the
proper spirit but he believed he had
last year, yet he made no progress.
This may be said of Hadley. He iS
attacking the training grind with more
spirit and determination this Spring
than he ever did before. Bump should
be in form when the championship
campaign starts, and that's something
he has not been in other years. If M
gers away to a good start, 1t may be-
the making of him. And once Hadlsy
finds himself as pitcher he'll be tough
to lick.
Liska probably would have been
valuable asset last season but for a
combination of unfortunate circunl-
stances. To begin with, Ad pitched
brilliantly in his early starts. only to
be trimmed because his club always
seemed in batting slump whenever
he took the hill. Despite these rather
disheartening setbacks, however Ad
plugged along until May, when a
spralned ankle put him out of COM
mission. Then when he was about to
essay comeback he suffered ton
silitis attack and he was through for
the year.
Now Ad minus tonsils and in great
health, is toiling strenuously at camp
and Is the most advanced in condition
OF the mound corps. For a seemingly
slight athlete Liska possesses a deal OF
strength and can Withstand the strain
OF heavy hill duty He's of the type
that should be able to pitch every
fourth day during the season, and that
type Is somewhat rare these days.
Furthermore, LiSka knows much
more of the technique of pitching now
than when he came up to the club last
year. johnson has tutored him care
fully, and when AID steps to the box III
the American League race the fans
should see mighty fine performer
BraxtOn, Jones Uncertain.
Braxton and Jones never moved along
at the pace expected of them last year
and whether they will make more head
way this season Is not to be guessed at
present. Jones isels well, he says, and
he certainly looks better than he did
at a similo" stage of the training period
last Spr.ng. But Jones Is a veteran i'll
service, and pitchers who have been in
Hction as long as has Jones are apt TO
lose their strength and cunning at any
time Such pitcher can go great
guns for game, then be of little use
to his club for long stretch.
BraXton reported at camp more than
O week after the other pitchers started
training and reported in not the best
of health. He has improved little since
working lightly here and still has to
receive dental attention before he will
be ready to take up more active train
ing. While in the past seasons 1t did
not take Braxton long to round into
pitching form, he will need much time
this Spring evidently and it is doubt
ful whether the Lanky left-hander will
be at the peak of condition when the
bell rings on April IA.
should Marberry, Hadley and Liska
make go of it this year, the Nationals
VIII not have to worry much about
their pitching. Braxton, Jones ard the
others could fill in to give the trio a
rest occasionally and the club would
get along well 'ery likely. But should
any one of the three fail to make the
grade johnson probably will have to
turn to Bob Burke, Lloyd Brown.
Myles Thomas and Carlos Moore rather
than to Braxton and Jones for aid.
OF the second string lot of pitchers,
Burke now gives most promise of
rounding into a capable performer.
Brown, too, is coming along, but he
does not have quite the assortment of
stun possessed by his fellow left
handler.
Three 10 Pitch Today.
Three Of the hurlers are slated for
their initial tests Of the year tomorrow
when the Nationals tackle the Louis
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