Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-01
OPEN WITH M|LAN'S
BARONS TOMORROW
Chattanooga Also Will Help
Determine if Team Is Ready
for Grind.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor, The Star.

set of conclusions regarding
IL the fitness of the Nationals
for the opening of the
American League championship
campaign a fortnight hence may
be drawn from the showing they
make in five tits with a pair
of Southern Association clubs now
in the immediate of1ng.
Pulling up stakes here tomor-
row night, Manager Walter John
son will steer his charges into Biz
mingham, where the Barons are
to be encountered Friday and Sat-
urday, and then pilot them to
Chattanooga for trio Of tuSsleS
with the Washington clubs Look
out farmhandS before they get
home for the final tuning-up ma
neuverS at Clark Griffith Stadium.
That the Barons will present the
strongest opposition yet encountered by
the Nationals is a foregone conclusion
for more than enc reason. In the first
place Birmingham always has been
tough spot for the Griffmen in their
Spring exhibitions and if they contrive
to escape defeat there this time it will
be the first year in many they have
made the magic city a stopping of
place en- route North from training that
they have not dropped one or more
games.
Milan Is Ambitious.
Then, the Barons, who proved strong
enough to finish third in the 1890
Southern League campaign have ac-
quired a lot of promising new talent
which is sure to be driven to the limit
by Manager Clyde Milan, who will be
striving to prove to folk back in Wash
ington that he still is a force to be
reckoned with in base ball way even
though his playing days have long
since passed
Zeb for many years was a star out
fielder with the Nationals and for one
season-1921-their manager and his
friendship with johnson his roommate
and buddy during his entire term Of
service at the Capital was so close the
pair came to be known as the Damon
and Pythias of base ball. this relation
ship continuing after Milan ceased to
function as an active on the field and
confined his duties to coaching. In adj
dition the Barons will have the benefit
of some first-claSS prepping for the
tits as they will have just finished a
quartet Of battles against the New York
Yankees, st. Louis Browns and Gin
cinnati Reds.
Test Pitcher StaSnina.
But to get back to the revised eSti-
mates of the condition of the Griffmen
for the title campaign, which may be
formed from the contests ahead, their
arrival at Birmingham will mark the
start Of the program by Manager john
son Of sending his pitchers the full
route, or as much OF it as they can
stand. instead. Of designating in advance
merely from three to five innings OF
toll in the box. Tentative plans call
for Gen. Alvin Crowder to open fire
against the Barons Friday, and II he
displays the necessary stamina, he VIII
be permitted to travel the nine innings,
but in the event Of him firing Fred
Marberry will ofnciate over whatever
distance is left.
For the second game, Saturday,
Lloyd Brown viii be drafted for duty,
and as there is less question OF the
portEder's readiness for nine rounds at
top speed no alternative has been
named in advance for finishing-up pur-
poses, although there will be plenty
of candidates in reserve. including
Bump Hadley, Bob Burke, Walter Taus-
cher and, If the weather is not too cold,
Sam Jones.
On their showing in these Birming-
ham games may depend Pilot Johnson's
choice of hurler for the campaigns
inaugural against the Philadelphia Ath-
Ietics at Washington April IA He would
prefer using right-hander in view OF
the preponderance of orthodox sluggers
the AS present, such as Dykes, Fox,
Miller and Simmons.
CrOwder Likely Choice.
And this means Crowder, as Mar
berry usually Is short Of condition Tor
the curtain raiser, Jones needs all the
time he can get to smooth the KINKS
put Of his ancient ripper and Hadley
IS adjudged to lack the confidence Is
sential to successful performance IN so
important a battle as the first OF the
season. II Crowder looks good in his
initial marathon performance or proves
strong enough to function effectively
for as many as seven sessions, he Is o
good bet to occupy the center OF the
diamond when the bell rings.
If the general appears to be some
what shy Of form for the test walter
will not hesitate to call on Brown,
however. as he has every confidence IN
the ability of the courageous and well
equipped southpaw. to give winning
performance, no matter how important
the occasion nor how high the stakes.
Wants to Examine Subs.
1t is likely the custom which has
been followed in most Of the games
thus far of withdrawing the regulars
some time after the halfway mark Is
passed will be continued, for Walter
not only wants to see more OF his re-
serves such as Kuhel, Harry Rice,
Hayes. Harris, HargraVe and Bolton,
but also is anxious to give them as
much work as possible TO keep them
on a fielding edge and enable them TO
find their batting eyes.
Although the weather yesterday was
somewhat chilly with high wind pre-
yatling which made it rather difhcult
for the athletes TO avoid cooling on
after getting up a sweat all hands
contrived to get in a beneficial work.
out. of which there will be only two
more here. The final practice Is set
for tomorrow and that for today was
to be combined with tilt against the
bearded House of David athletes in
which Sam Jones and AID Liska were
expected TO divide the chucking chores.