Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-11
BOLTON IS TAUGHT
BACKSTOP TRICKS
Apt Pupil to Face Orioles To-
morrow in First of Series
of Tests.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor, The star.

NLOxI, Miss, March 1.-THE
* first of a number of search
ing tests planned for Clin
Bolton will be given tomor-
row when the Nationals tackle the
Baltimore Orioles in their initial
exhibition of the Spring training
season.
The 23-year-old native Of High
Point, N. c., whose feat of topping
at bat all three of the minor
leagues he has played with to date,
despite glaring deficiencies on de-
tense, is being drilled hard and
thoroughly by Manager Walter
johnson and his aides in the hope
of making an acceptable catcher
of him.
Considerable progress has been made
in the fundamentals thus far, and it
is with the idea of polishing his rough
points under the fire of competition
that it has been decided to start him
back of the bat against the Birds to-
morrow and also to assign him plenty
Of service in other early practice tits.
Bottoms hitting ability is so marked
that extraordinary efforts are being
made to develop whatever other latent
talent he may possess. He already mas
shown aptitude toward conquertng his
weakness in catching foul flies, and al
though he came up tagged as poor
thrower despite his strong arm, he Is
Welding to treatment in this respect
also, It was discovered that Bottoms
penchant for low pegging to the bases
was due to the fact he didn't have the
knack of getting set properly, and now
that he has been practicing shifting MS
feet upon making the catch he has
been getting the ball away in far better
style.
WHATEVER portion of the game to-
w morrow that Roy Spencer feels in
clined to catch will be his, other
wise Ed Kenna will do the receiving
that isn't handled by Bolton. Spencer
rates this consideration by reason OF
his position as frst-string backstop and
Bill Hargrave temporarily Is removed
from consideration, due to q crick In
his neck which developed while he was
swinging in the wand drill yesterday
and which was so painful last night a
physician was called to treat him. Har-
grave undoubtedly will start the season
as first assistant to Spencer on mitt
staff that will number three, and so 1t
will depend on what he shows in the
exhibition joustS whether Bolton Will
win the other berth or be shunted back
to the minors in favor of kenna,
competent workman, but who no longer
is youth and falls far short OF Boil
tons pounding proves.
Box work in the game tomorrow also
viii provide an element OF dueling In
that the trio listed to of1ciate three
innings apiece-Walter Tauscher, Carl
Fischer and Lynn Grimth-will be
tnaugurating a series Of trials to de-
termine which one, If any, win be re-
tanned with the Capital crew this
season. Seven hurlers are assured Of
Jobs, these being the hold-overs, Lloyd
Brown, Bob Burke, Al Crowder, Bump
Hadley. Sam Jones, Ad Liska and Fred
Marberry, but one other finger will be
carried in addition to workman to
be used exclusively for batting practice
and Of all the candidates in camp only
these seem entitled to serious con-
sideration.
n light now it would appear Lynn
N Griffith has the best chance. He
already has shown plenty of speed,
in addition to pretty good knuckle
ball and an encouraging amount OF
control especially for left-hander. He
also has considerable Of an edge over
his two rivals as regards to age.
Tauscher, the eldest Of the three,
naturally has more polish, due to his
greater experience, but Is shaded by the
others in the matter Of sheer stuff and
has about reached the age where
further development is not expected.
Between these two is Fischer, who
probably comes closer to filling the bill
for an extra pitcher, but he doesn't
appear quite as ready to make the big
league grade and is too accomplished
to be sentenced TO rust on the bench.
He is just about ready to do lot OF
effective hinging in a fast minor cir
cult and as the Nationals own farm
in the Southern Association it should
occasion little surprise If he ultimately
is sent there. 1t is known that Presi-
dent Joe Engel is eager to land Fischer
for his Lookouts.
NONE Of the other pitching candi-
IN dates, who include Art Fidler, Ray
Mcmahon, George Grayson, Joe
Smith, Melvin Eckfelt and Buck Elk
slime, Is ready for fast company and 1t
is doubtful IL some of them ever will
be. although jobs in the bushes will be
sought for those displaying the most
promise.
It is unlikely any of the youthful as
pirants for pitching will be cut loose for
q time, at least, as they are useful in
the hitting drills, but one separation
already has been effected, Chick Mon
roe. the youthful fielder who paid his
own way here, having started back to
Watseka, HI, TO resume his job there
following pleasant vacation.