Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-15
KUHEL ROOKIE
GUARDS FIRST BASE
Doe'S Knee Injured Again as
Tribe Is Beaten, 5 to 4,
for Clean Sweep.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

ter Jordan, third-String first
~ baseman with the Nationals
will be guarding the initial
sack for his club for some time un-
less an examination to be made
here today reveals Joe Kuhels
right knee not so severely hurt as
was feared when Manager Walter
johnson and his henchmen left
Cleveland last night, after sweep
ing the two-game series with the
Indians.
When rounding first base after sock
Ing two-bagger in the second inning
OF the game yesterday, Kuhel, who has
been f1lling in at the initial station since
an appendicitis attack laid low the vet
eran Joe Judge. again hurt the knee
that first was Sorely injured when ii
stopped hot shot from the bat OF
Charley Gehringer Of the Tigers in a
washington engagement last season.
Kuhel gamely stuck to his task, how
ever, until after putting down sacrifice
bunt in the seventh. Then his post
was turned over to Jordan. the draftee
from the Newark Internationas. Kuhel
said later he had hurt the knee several
days ago in fielding practice, but felt
that the injury was so slight he paid
little attention to it. The pull on the
knee yesterday, though, was so severe
he hmped noticeably during the re-
mainder of his stay in the game.
This morning the knee was badly
swollen, and Kuhel was to undergo a
surgical examination today in addition
TO having an X-ray made of the injured
joint. Even though the hurt may prove
rather slight, Kuhel probably will be
compelled to rest for several days. His
lay-of may prove Of no help to his
club, for the young fellow has been
banging the ball savagely and timely
of late and has improved af1eld steadily
Baxter Jordan, who will fill in at
FIRST base while Kuhel is laid up, hit
well in fhe International League last
season. He swung for an average of
1852 in 1876 games. He collected a
number of extra-base hits. Like Kuhel,
Jordan bats from the left side. Jordan
was something OF an al-around player
with the Newark Club, performing at
third base, in the outfeld and at first
Manager johnson thinks Jordan is more
a third sacker than anything else, but
he does q right capable bit of work
around the first base
THHEN they were leading the league
w the Indians were regarded hot
stuff out his way, but since losing
six games In a row they have fallen
greatly in the estimation Of the ardent
followers Of the Western clubs of the
American League. OF course, the Ma
tionals were perhaps fortunate to catch
the Tribe in slump. but even granting
it Is capable of better base ball than
that flashed against Jonnson's band,
the Peck-led pack does not seem to
deserve particularly high rating. Ger
tainly not one as high as many critics
gave the Indians in preseason reckon
ing.
In q way the Cleveland club looms
as sturdy as the Detroit club, the only
other Western outfit the Nationals
have had a chance to test to date. The
Indian outfield is nothing more than
an average outfield so far as ly-chasing
Is concerned, the infleld is quite un-
certain, there Is no steadiness yet in
the pitching staff and back of Luke
SeweN there Is nothing to boast about
IN the catching department.
There is power in the war clubs of
the Indians. no doubt They can hit
as club. In their lineup are five or
SIX batterS likely TO give the ball great
trip at any time. But the Cleveland
club. despite the presence of two or
"n &C Lcd4Iy meet runners, Is SLOW aIOOL,
nNerably slow. Nor does it display any
snartneSs on the paths or in the field.
Neither Fonseca nor Hodapp, on the
right side Of the infieId, has any speed.
The left side OF the inner Gordon still
Is In the experimental stage. Manager
Pecktnpaugh has yet to determine
whether the better hitting Hunneheld
should get the call over the better
felotng Goldman at short, and the
third-base business has him puzzled.
Johnny Burnett is fair third sacker
George before is better Ed Morgan,
the great hold-out OF the training sea =
son, Is no third sacker But Morgan
can hit better than Burnett and far
better than before, in Pecks opinion.
So Morgan, as soon as his spike wounded
hand heals, is 70 get the job at third
again.