Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-19
TWIN BILLS CAUSE
NlSTRA|N ON DOXMEN
Juveniles Must Garry Burden
of Pitching Until Vets
Attain Form.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

out in two days has the
Nationals piling up double-head-
erS right early this base ball sea-
son, and these poStponementS are
no great help. 1t was tough the
johnson band could not play these
matches, for with the sun shin
ing it seemed ready to make hay.
Keeping a club on edge during
two days of idlenesS is nothing
easy, as any manager will testify.
However, with the exception of two of
their pitchers, the Nationals are in good
trim. and the hardening they got in
training camps at Biloxi and Chatta-
nooga where the air was more bracing
than that of Florida camps where many
of the major outfits conditioned, should
tell during this spell of inclement
weather early in the championship
campaign. 1t may. be that President
Griffith moved wisely in abandoning
the gator State for cooler training ter
ritory.
Pitchers below par at present are
Lloyd Brown and Fred Marberry. Brown,
sent back to Washington yesterday be-
cause he was suffering with a stomach
complaint, is apt to be around again
in day or two. With Marberry, ace Of
the Washington mound corps last sea-
sui, ~ q otl1CLCl4b cbOAy.a EICo ID INV
well conditioned, and it is difficult to
figure when he will be In the pro-
verbal pink.
Fred's Case Is Odd.
His case is odd. Down at Biloxi early
In March it seemed the big Texan
would whip himself into shape quickly.
No one worked harder than he, and as
he did not report with much extra flesh
on his frame, it was thought he soon
would be ready for creditable service on
the slab. After 10 days of toiling, Fred
looked fit as a fiddle. but when at last
the pitchers were told they might put
some steam into their pitching, Fred
simply did not have the steam.
He looked strong his arm felt good
and he seemed to possess stamina
aplenty. But he had no snap. john
son was puzzled so were Trainer Mar
tin and Marberry himself. Fred speeded
his training. speeded it to the point
where he had to be warned not to over
do it. He persisted in the extra effort,
though. and it must have Slapped him
to some extent, for when he broke into
the exhibition series he wasn't the
Marberry of last year by long shot.
At that Marberry was assigned to-
start the opening game of major league
base ball last Monday and what hap7'
pened then is history, history we'll
known to Washington fandom. Fred
was far brom being finished pitcher.
q pitcher in great form in that contest
with the Red SoX. He had little on the
bon and at times actually appeared
w-ak. 1t will be recalled that when
he socked that two-bagger in the sixth
inning and put his side two runs to
the good he sat down on the second
sack to rest. He needed a rest after
pounding the baseline for trifie more
than go yards and in the next inning
the Red Sox drove him to cover. He had
lost his stuff
But Marberry still is training earnest
ly and within short time hopes to
be himself again. Until then, it is well
the Nationals have other pitchers who
promise to be much more effective this
year than before. 1t is not SO good
usually when club cannot get service
early in the season from its ace of
the previous campaign With Hadley,
Brown, Burke, Thomas and Liska at
hand, however, the Washington club is
quite likely to overcome this handicap.
Hadiey, Brown Deliver.
Hadley and Brown already have been
tested under fire and found good They
gave sterling exhibitions in the cur
SdA1Co oOOJOIl SC1ACS. WCdt1Cl RCAUllb-
ting, Thomas was to show his wares
against the Athletics here and Burke
and LiSka are to be sent against the
Red SoX during the three-game set
in Washington next week.
Young Burke, cheated of a shot at
the Red Sox by cold weather in the Hub
last Thursday, is the pitcher Manager
Johnson particularly wants to see in
action early. The pilot has an idea this
slender southpaw has a fine chance to
make his mark in the American League
this year and that the better the start
the pitcher gets the better he will
progress
For this reason, the manager plans to
pick spots for Bob early in the cam
paigning. While young Robert has a
deal of confidence in his ability and
would as willingly tackle the AS or the
Yankees as the Red Sox, JohnSon's
scheme to build him up probably is a
wise one. More experienced and durable
slabmen than Bob have had much
taken from them by the smuggling world
champs and Babe Ruth and company.
So it will be the Red Sox for Bob as
starter and If he gets away well he'll
soon be tackling the larger fry.
Another young pitcher johnson looks
to for good results this year is Liska
In the early part of the Spring exhibit
ton series the submarine hurler went
great guns, but toward the last he
faltered. However, while pitching in
recent batting drills Ad has flashed
slabbing of the quality to make his
manager beam whenever he thinks Of
the hurler. johnson now regards Liska
as quite ready to take his place on the
hill and hopes to be able to use him
frequently, for the Bohemian boy is
strong and can stand deal of work.
That game with the Athletics washed
out yesterday may be played as part of
a double-header at Shibe Park Monday.
when the Nationals Jump here again.
American League rules ban the play-off
OF postponement during the first
series of the year between clubs, but as
the Nationals are to play the Yankees
in Griffith Stadium tomorrow the one
day stand here next week will be the
second visit to the AS park