Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-24

base ball, and, with the
local weather man predict
ing even colder weather for today,
it seems this American League
inaugural series in Quakertown
will be brief one. The ther-
mometer registered in the 70's
here early Wednesday, tumbled
quickly, and when Connie Mack,
looking at it shortly before noon
yesterday, saw it had dropped
into the 40's. he lost no time call
ing off hostilities.
1t wasn't cold enough however, to
chill the vocal chords of a pair OF erst-
while batting greats who have done lit
tie TO brag of in the WY OF attack this
season. Heinie Manush, who led the
Washington club with the stick last
year, and Albert Simmons Of the AS,
the American Leagues 1880 batting
leader, visiting the Nationals hotel had
plenty to say about what's what at the
plate in the current campaign. With
this pair about there was more moan
ing in the hotel lobby than in hospital
accident ward.
Last year Simmons stung the ball for
O fine average Of 1881. Manush raped
it for the healthy mark Of $50. In the
eight games he has played this season
Simmons has hit for .l86. Manush in
eight games has hit for 1913. Some rea-
son for the moaning.
HEINIE already had admitted that
i J. the pitchers seemed to be way
ahead of the batters this Spring
and had no further explanation to give
for his failure to get going at the plate,
but Simmons came out with new one.
He has decided there is such thing
as too much learning" 1t doesn't pay
to experiment with batting form that
already is getting good results, figures
the big shot of the world champions.
Fred Marberry helped Simmons ar
rive at that conclusion when he famed
him with the bases crowded In Wash
tngtom last week, and the Yankee
pitchers drove the fact home In the
three games the Athletics played in
New York.
Last year, Al declares, he gave no
attention to form. His stance at the
nothing to him. This Spring, though,
while working out at Hot Springs, he
began to experiment and the expert
menting did him no good at all, he
has decided.
Il got to know too much" says AL.
"I decided that with a shorter and
lighter bat and different stance I
might become right-f1eld hitter. I
did right well at Hot Springs in shoot
ing for the short right-fleld fence there,
but against clever big league pitching
At guess I'd better 60 back to the
style Of my rookie days. Then picked
up the heaviest bat could find, grab
bed it at the end, waited for one 70
my liking and swung from my heels.
That was hitting without thinking, but
1t was hitting.
Form may be all right for some,
but I'll try my way again. Let 'em yell
Bucket Foot Al at me. II I'm getting
the hits, III never worry about form
again"
THIS Turner boy the Nationals got
l. from the Hagerstown club to use
as a batting practice pitcher
greatly resembles Yves Ferrell of the
Indians in stature and feature. II he
has anything like Ferells pitching
stuff he will not be batting practice
pitcher long.
That bad leg Of Jimmy Foxx's is
mending rapidly, and the big boy may
get back TO first for the Athletics be-
fore this series ends. FoxX now takes
his batting drill regularly and Is sting
ing the ball.
A little matter of five minutes kept
many of the Nationals away from the
ponies at Havre de Grace yesterday.
That was how late they were for the
train. And they had a lot OF good
things picked, too.
Joe Cronin stepped before the mike
last night to tell Philadelphia's youth
how TO play the game. They may boo
Joe when he goes TO bat at Shibe
Park. but they like him here, never
theleSS.
That game postponed yesterday will
be played of July 10. Philadelphia
postponements, under a new American
League order, may be played on the
first series here, and johnson wanted
to double up today, but Connie would
not agree.
Should today's game be called of
johnson will urge a double-header to-
morrow.