Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-10
WOULD CONSERVE
MOUND STARTERS
LiSka Apt to Help if Arm
Comes Around-Griffmen
Overcome PhiIS.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

~ ALTIMORE, April 10.-WaSh-
x ingtonS ball club is pretty
J well balanced organization,
but it might lie rated per-
fectly balanced for entrance into
the impending American League
championship campaign if it had
on its pitching staff one high
class relief hurler. Even President
Clark Griffith, who has had much
to say in praise of his outfit this
Spring, admits that.
Yes, like the club as it stands very
much" stated the prexy To-Day as the
Nationals were on their way here to
engage in an exhibition tilt with the
Orioles, the eighth with this Interna-
tional League bunch. Il like its speed, 1
admire its spirit, believe it will hit and
am confident it will get good pitching.
A fine-loolling club"
DO you think the main burden of
carrying the club will be up to the
pitchers again as it was last Seascn?'
Griffith was asked. The club hit
strongly, but last year its pitchers had
tight-score games"
We'll, We have all the pitchers this
time. fine starting pitchers" replied the
clubs chief executive. Il look to them
to stand up well when the season gets
under way. Bu!," he added, I would
like to have around an experienced re-
lief pitcher. We seem well prepared for
emergencies in the infield the outfleld
and back CT the bat. We could use an
extra nitrhRr Though
With one more pitcher for emergency
service" concluded Griffith, Il would
say we'd have a perfectly balanced
club"
TRIFFITH during the conversation
~ carefully pointed out that almost
any member of the Nationals
mound corps could be employed as an
emergency pitcher, but that it was not
so good to employ game starters in such
a role. While Connie Mack got away
with it last season when he used Grove
and Earnshaw, particularly Grove. in
pinches often, Griffith contended that
nothing else is so likely to break down
q pitching staff.
For that reason it seems the Nationals
will employ Brown Marberry and Crow
der as starters, and that alone, from the
outset Of the campaign. Should they be
called upon for relief work it would be
only in direst need. There never has
been any idea Of using Jones as a relief
man. it seems. Nor is Hadley likely to
be pressed into service in such a role
Bump never has functioned very well as
a relief worker.
Which leaves Burke, Fischer, Tauscher
and Liska. OF these. Burke is the most
experienced and can do neat job of
relief work every once in a while, but
the string-bean left-hander probably
could not do it all He would need aid,
and at present neither Fischer nor
Tauscher appears polished enough TO
give this aid.
Unless Liskas sore arm comes around
however, it looks as though Burke will
get the call in pinches.
IT may be that Liska's visit to Bone
i setter Reece in Youngstown, Ohio
will give the Washington club that
desired relief pitcher. When LiSka is
right he is pretty handy to have around
for service when the opposition is firing
back at the Nationals hurler But
Liska has to be just right to be effec-
tive When he's good he's exceptional.
When he isn't good he's very, very bad
That sore arm which has been
troubling Liska most of the training
stretch may respond to the ministra-
tons and manipulations of the re-
before leaving to visit Reece yesterday,
said his arm was similarly affected sew
eral years ago-it's a misplaced muscle
under the right shoulder that causes
the trouble. Liska claims-and that
Nebraska surgeon put it in trim in
day. He believes Reece can do so, too.
II the bonesetter does, Liska ought
to be quite helpful to the Nationals
after easing UP the repaired wing with
a u-neky Of fu1n Of mild drilling
CINCE returning home the Nationals
- have twice looked over major league
pitching and they seemed to like 1t
much better than the minor brand they
ran into in the South. Following their
lacing of the Braves hurlers. they leap
ed upon the offerings Of the Phillies
rnoundsmen yesterday and treated
themselves to a 1o-to-5 victory.
Of three of the four Quaker City
pitchers. the johnson band collected 10
hits. for extra bases. Six Of the II
players Manager Walter sent into the
FRAY hit safely, only West. Bluege. the
two pitchers and Pinch-batter Harris
failing to connect. Spencer was most
selpful in attack with two doubles that
drove over four runs.
The Washington hitting was at the
expense Of John Milligan. Steward
Bclen. left-handers. and Fallenstine.
recently picked-up rookie. Ben Shields,
a southpaw, was in the game only long
enough 70 pass one batter and hit an
other.
Tha Nationals pitching was put up
TO Al CroWder and Bump Hadley Al
went through five rounds, yielding seven
hits and three runs. He made good use
of a slow ball. Hadley gave six hits
the remainder of the route. four clus-
tered in the last inning and netting
the Phillies two tallieS.
The Phillies lived up TO their reputs-
items as sluggers, pounding the ball
continually. But thev had 10 slam over
all their runs while the Nationals took
advantage Of the one alien error and
deal Of wild hurting. The home side
sailed the game in the third when four
bits two walks and an error at plat.
were good for five markers.
CHUCK KLEIN. who gave up bowl
~ ing alley lob u come TO terms with
the Philiies only last week, made
his first appearance of the season in a
game with the National Jeaguers
the big fellow and demon slugger got
two hits Mallon Of the Pills made
three safeties. while Whitney got a
homer off Crowder in the second ses-
sion. drive into the sun parlor back Of
left field Dolly Stark, who shared
1nfielder with the Nationals back in
1921 he's a National League arbiter
now Tom Clark, outfielder, has
been optioned to Hagerstown of the
Middle Atlantic League :. Joe Smith,
pitcher, and Charley Montague, infield-
er, go TO that club outright Dick
Goldberg, first sacker, has been OPP
toned TO Charlotte ;. Another game
with the Orioles tomorrow In Griffith
Stadium.
Dave Bender, Iafayette's new Ia
r.rorea coach starred in that sfnnrf and