Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-17
NEED IS NOT GREAT
WITH CRACK STAFF
Brown Would Be Ideal for
lob, but Is Valued as
Starting Finger.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor, The Star.

NlLOA1, MISS, Marcn l1.-tOr
K all their wonderful balance,
L. the quality which enabled
them last season to finish
just a single notch behind the
pennant winners, although gener-
ally picked for a lowly berth, and
which this year is expected to land
them as high, if not higher, the
Nationals again will have to worry
along without one asset. Most
championship aggregations pos
SesS a star relief pitcher.
Just few years back they had in
Allan Russell, he of the rubber arm,
very valuable adjunct who could be
tossed into the breach when a box
mate was faltering, and when he be-
gan to fade Fred Marberry came to
the fore and established himself as one
of the greatest emergency boxmen the
game ever has known, Since, how
ever, Marberry has lost the hop on
that terrifcaily fast ball, although
able to give a good account of himself
in the role of a regular starting finger
through the medium of judicially mix
ing up his assortment of shoots, and
none has come to the fore to take his
place.
Brown Has the Stuff.
There is no question were he avail
able for the purpose, that Lloyd Brown
would prove a whale of an emergency
moundsman, as he warns up quickly
and has everything" in the way of
stuff, including what has been referred
to politely as intestinal fortitude, a
quality imperative to the success of a
finger called on for service exclusively
In tough spots.
This valiant southpaw, however, can
not be spared to appear solely in a
rescue role as he is far too valuable
as a route" man, one who can be
counted on not only to start battles
but to see them through to the end
with far better than an even chance
to emerge victorious.
Were he a bit more impressive of
aspect Bob Burke might fll the bill
nicely, for he has plenty on the ball
and splendid control to boot but the
lean left-hander has such an easy de-
livery alien batsInen are encouraged
to dig in for toe-holds where they
would be ehary if opposed by hurler
more menacing of mien. Besides,
Burke has not been er@'owed by nature
with a constitution sturdy enough to
Withstand the rigors of everlaStingly
warming up in the bull pen.
Needed as Starters.
Sam Jones, Bump Hadley and Al
Crowder are debarred for the same rea-
son as Brown and Marberry, as they are
needed to start games in regular rota-
tion-which leaves only Adolph Liska
1or consideration in view of the paucity
of big-league experience possessed by
the trio OF tyros, Lynn Gr1nth, Walt
Tauscher and Carl Fischer. Ad might
I'LL the bill well, at that, as his peculiar,
underhand delivery, through its sheer
difference, would be tough to gauge
coming in the wake of orthodox fling
ing, and he is crackerjack at fielding
his position. With the youthful Nebras-
kan it would be largely question Of
steadinesS and stamina to meet the
arm-wearing and soul-trying require
mentS involved.
With a staff such as Walter johnson
has at his command, however, there is
less need for some one to be constantly
prepping for a quick call than is the
case with teams less generously manned.
The Washington corps generally Is
credited with having larger number of
good pitchers than any club IN the cir
cult, despite the absence of any one
outstanding star, and If they all func-
ton at anywhere near maximum OF
efficiency they can take turns at doing
whatever relief work is necessary.
In this case, the lack Of finishing
specialist should not prove a severe
handicap.
Likes New Sphere.
In Brown the much discussed new
base ball has an outspoken champion.
He is enthusiastic about the possibili-
ties for manipulating the sphere with
the raised seams and is confident, as
result, of lettering his record of last
season by comfortable margin. The
Texas portsider, although he has
hurled only three innings in regular
game thus far this Spring, is con-
WINGED that the better grip obtainable
because of the heavier stitching will
improve his speed and make for better
results with his curves. The impress
sive manner in which he turned back
nine straight Orioles last Sunday, four
of them via whiffs, must be accepted
as corroborative evidence until fuller
returns are tabulated
Brown hung up Is victories last sea-
son with the old smooth ball and
somewhat modestly has set 20 wins as
his goal this ysar, although well quail
fed observers in camp are confident he
will beat that mark.
Another session of routine drilling
was on the program for the Nationals
today at their Biloxi training grounds,
but they will go into action again to-
morrow when they trek to Gulfport
to stage the third of their series Of
battles with the Baltimore Orioles. The
slab work again will be taken care of
by Lynn Grifith, Walter Tauscher and
Carl Fischer, toiling in three-inning
shifts, as in the opener Of the exhibit
ton series last week, with two COM
plete sets of inflelders and outfielders
getting into action.
Although the rockies have started
leaving camp 1t appears they also still
are coming, the latest to arrive being
Russell Reed, an I8-year -old infielder
from Shawano, Wis, who is getting an
inspection on the recommendation Of
Coach Pat Charity. The lad, who
checked in yesterday evening, has made
quite reputation with his shortstop-
ping and hitting in a little circuit "up
70 hum" called the Wolf River Valley
League and is something of an all
round athlete, having just finished par
ticipating with his high school team
in a county championship basket ball