Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12

the champions chances II Simmons
or Fox, their big batting punches,
or Cochrane, their indispensable re-
ceiver, were out of the game for
weeks at a time through injuries as
was Heinie Manush last Summer?
am not wishing Mack or his men
any hard luck, but accidents are
part Of the game and under the law
Of averages this may be their year
to suffer while the Grihmen get q
respite.
4 LII but of the % victories
n registered by the Nationals last
season and which enabled them to
finish two games better of than
the pennant winning Cardinals of
the National League, were turned in
by the seven men upon whom the
main hurting burden will fall this
season. Crowder,, including the
games he won before being obtained
from the Browns. copied Is deci-
sions, Brown Is and Hadley, Jones
and Marberry Is each, while Liska
won 9 and Burke 3.
There isn't man on the staff,
with the possible exception of Liska,
whose present sore arm makes him
doubtful quantity, who shouldn't bet
ter his 1880 mark, and at least three
Of them-Crowder, Brown and Had
ley-should attain 20 or more wins,
while Burke has all the requisite
stuff to bounce up well over the
dozen mark in triumphs. And this
doesn't include Fischer nor Tauscher,
who might sneak over q few wins
between them.
Joe Judge and Sam Rice, the vet
Grams, about whose ability to carry
on doubt has been expressed in some
quarters, appear to be just as agile
as they we're last year, when each
enjoyed one of his best seasons, and
II they falter competent replace
ments. lacking then, are available
in the persons of Joe Kuhel and
Harry Rice
Ali the other members of the en-
semble are in great condition, with
the exception of Sam West, suffer-
ing from cold that has settled in
his throwing arm, while two formi-
dable pinch-hitters, not at hand
then-Red Hargrave and Cliff Boil
ton-have been added. And, most
of all, the Nationals are convinced
they are going somewhere. They
have the will TO win.
7 LOOK for Cleveland, q young,
/ ambitious band, with plenty of
hitting strength and a great
pitcher in Yves Terrell, to beat out
the Yankees, despite the latter's
murderous punch, and a none too
reliable Indian infleld situation.
Mccarthy lacks the pitching to
match his smuggling.
Detroit looms as the best Of the
second division outfits, with DOME
Bush's White Sox next In line. The
Browns as constituted this year ap-
pear too much of an experiment to
improve much on their showing of
last year and may have to yield to
the Red Sox, revived under the lead
ership of Shane Collins and who need
just a bit more punch to support
their tight pitching to climb.
IN the National League the Cardi-
i nails appear to have too much all
around strength for the rest OF
the field and figure to win by q
greater margin than last year with
the Brooklyn Robins, because of their
power and pitching, and despite their
slownesS, offering the stiffest OPPOSE
ton. McGraw, who always can be
depended upon to put a formidable
team on the field, should vie with
the Pittsburgh Pirates for q first d.
vision berth. Sixth place looks to
be made to order for Boston's Braves
and 1 look for the smuggling Phillies
to climb out Of the cellar at the ex-
penSe Of CincinnatiS sorry-looking
Reds.