Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15

II
~ Washington's chances Of a
real pennant contending
ball club in the American League
next year and the "if" has nothing
to- do with the clubs pitching
prospects.
The "if," instead, is this: If the
Nationals put forth an infield as
good or better than they boosted
in, 1890 they should figure quite
prominently in the 1882 flag
chase.
THAT 1880 infleld more than any
thing else kept the Nationals in the run
Ming for the pennant in the campaign
IN which they finished second to the
Athletics. 1t fielded well. executed
plays speedily and smartly and hit
plenty. In short, it was the backbone
oftthe club.
with Joe Judge at first base, Buddy
Myer at second, Joe Cronin at short
and Ossie Bluege at third the Ma
tionals had the best inner combination
insthe American League, If not in the
majors. Judge hit for 1926, Myer for
.303, Cronin for .346 and B'uege for
.290. Judge afield excelled all other
initial sackers in the circuit and Cronin
ball.
THAT infie-d made the Washington
club q great club that season. 1t did
about everything that could be desired
ofsan inner Gordon and did all IN high
class manner. It played along day in
ausi day out superbly and was the ad-
mtration Of base ball fans everywhere.
Lacked Snap This Year.
But the snap went out Of it after that
one wonderful season. Throughout the
past campaign it never functioned well
as a whole. True, Myer this year de-
Vesoped into a better second baseman
than ever and for a timea Bluege per-
fofmed marvelously at the far corner.
But Bluege faded quickly. Joe Kuhel
neter rose to heights after taking over
first base from Judge in May ana
Crbnin failed utterly to fash the form
that had caused him to be voted the
NEST valuable player to an American
LEAGUE club In 1880.
Not only did the 1881 washington
anfeld wabble 6efensively, but 1t also
fen on at bat to such an extent that
the club was seriously weakened. Not
orr of the three infielders who had
plkyed throughout the 1890 season hit
up to that seasons mark this year.
MHer fell back to clubbing rate OF .z94,
Bluege dropped TO .2ee and Cronin
slhughed AZ points to become sos pat
wtelder. =
And Kuhel swatted at rate Of only
.215 as against the fine 1926 Judge had
batted the year previously. That was
real depreciation in attacking power.
SThe batting figures given for the
washington infielders this year are un-
ofhcial, of course, the statistics not
having been given out by American
LEAGUE headquarters yet. But not
true they are pretty close to being 50
,,lfnch the inner Gordon lost, q loss that
Affected the Nationals in entirety no
IT was the infield with its sterling
HSfensive ability and crushing power at
bit that kept the Nationals up In 1880.
AID It was the infield with its uncer-
tim work afield and leesened power
extensively that was largely responsible
3R the Nationals drop this year.
gnt IL that ir,field comes back to its
1880 form, watch those Nationals next
year.
T1NIESS Judge manages to regain his
~ berth at first base-President
Grifith OF the washington ball
Glib has said the veteran will tight with
K1ihel for the position-it will be the
same washington infie.d In action next
season that played throughout the
ryeater part Of this year. There's moth
inn In the way of extra infield talent on
stlle clubs roster now that seems likely
&ds displace any of the 1881 quartet.
The Nationals are well provided with
fiFst basemen at present, for in addi-
ton to Kuhel and Judge there are at
hand Harley Boss and Baxter JORDAN,
b6h with the club before. However,
Boss was not particularly impressive In
previous trials, although he did wen
With Chattanooga the past season be-
fore he had hand hurt. Jordan looked
mere an outfelder than an initial sack
guardian while playing in a Washing
ton uniform early the past season. He
WaS shipped to Newark, where he played
fairly we'll But neither Of these seems
O Judge or q Kuhel.
IN addition to Jack Hayes, who has
been around some time now. the ma
tionals have as an extra second sacker
Bhl Andrus, purchased from Chatta-
neoga. Bill was no wonder with the
L8pkouts in the infield and probably
wal not Itnger long in big company.
HHyes has been fine fielder from the
start, but Jack has yet to show ne can
kor trial at snOrCSLop OF uuHo Dase
tllere are on the roster Cecil Travis.
bd1ght from Chattanooga, and Jimmy
Mcleod, recalled from York. Travis Is
O smere youngster, with little profess
SIGNAL experience back of him, although
he did sock for fine average in the
Southern Association. Mcleod, brought
uK two years ago from Little Rock. was
q promising player when purchased, but
SiAce has slipped in his work.
Looks as though the Nationals would
h&ye little to fall back on should their
1nAeld regulars again fail to make the
RrAde.