Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-13
PUNCH WINS BUDDY
PLACE HAYES HELD
West III, Harry Rice Will Play
center-NationalS Beat
Rochester.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

letics before as many
pop-eyed fans as the stands in
Grifflth Stadium will hold they
will do so with Buddy Myer at sec
ond base and Harry Rice in center
field, according to hints made by
Manager Walter Johnson.
The pilot has intimated he will en-
ploy this pair instead of Jack Hayes,
who has been performing at the middle
station, and Sammy West, regular mid
field patrolman, in the opening contest
Of the season here.
That Harry Rice instead Of West
probably will be used in center is not
surprising, for the regular worker not
only has sore throwing arm, but also
is suffering with mild attack OF in
f1uenza. While West quite likely will be
on his feet tomorrow and in uniform he
probably would feel the effects OF his ill
ness too much to be of any great help
to his club.
The switch from Hayes to Myer, how
ever. is something of a surprise. In the
exhibition games Hayes fielded smarIS
and batted at a fast gail. In fact, the
'Bama boy hit at such a rate it was re-
garded as settled that he would get the
call over Myer for the middle station
job But in sending Myer instead of
Hayes TO second base yesterday when
the Nationals faced the Rochester In
ternationals in the last of the Spring
exhibition series Manager johnson in
dicated he would have Buddy in the
lineup on opening day.
MO doubt Johnson's choice of Myer
IN for second base would be influenced
by Buddy's superiority at bat. Al
though Hayes hit well in the exhibitions.
past performances do not warrant rating
him the batter Myer unquestionably is.
Jack may be more adept than Buddy
afield. but he can't punch with him at
the plate, and as to speed afoot is not
IN q class with his rival middle sacker.
Last season Myer hit for an average
of 1893 in 1873 games. Hayes batted for
there. And Myers hitting was produc-
tive Of scores. too. Buddy with his bat
ting drove across 81 runs and he tailed
81 times. Hayes drove across just 20
runs and scored Is times. In picking
the player for the second-base job with
the Nationals that attack record of
Myers can't be overlooked.
TOO bad that West had to suffer I'LL
i ness right on the verge of the cam
paign Sammy was clouting the ball
brilliant manner Nor YVES IN re any sign
of the arm trouble that handicapped
him for time last year until three DAYS
ago. Then West complained Of swell
ing in the limb and day Later was
attacked by influenza.
According to the club physician
Vests arm trouble Is not recurrence
Of last years aiinent, but due instead
to cold settling in the muscles. Merely
among complications brought on by the
fu attack, the doctor states. But 1t may be
serious enough to keep Sammy idle some
time. However. Harry Rice is a capable
fielder, has . deal Of speed. and Is no
mean hitter Fortunate, indecd. are the
Nationals to have around such a sturdy
utility outielder.
UNLESS Lloyd Browns left arm drops
~ on or he suffers some other serious
injury, this pitcher win southpaw
against the Athletics tomorrow after
noon Manager johnson has decided to
start the left-hander in the battle with
the AS, and decided with no ifs at
tached.
Brown by far is the best conditioned
pitcher of the Washington corps and
seems more advanced in the art of hurl-
ing than any other Of his fellow slab
men. His arm is strong, he has speed,
his curve is banning, and he has shown
excellent control II the southpaw is
himself tomorrow, he should give the
world champions an interesting alter
noon.
That ambitious finger, Carl Fischer,
may have more up his left sleeve than
he has BEEN credited with having. An
fu-and-outer last year after he came t.
the Nationals from Newark. Carl has
had his weak spells this Spring In train
ing and for a time it was questionable
whether the club would retain him. Last
week Fischer asked Manager johnson
20 send him against the Rochester club
In the Sunday exhibition tilt, declar-
ing the Red Wings were just what he
wanted to practice upon. johnson took
Carl at his word and Carl more thar
made good.
Just eight hits were CLEANED of Fis-
cher by Rochester. all scattered but
three. which were clustered in the Sec
ond inning to give the visitors their lon.
counter of the 3-to-1 engagement. Carl!
control was a trifie wabbiy at times
yet he walked but two batters and hi
one. He ives good enough, however. II
strike out half a dozen Of the Rec
Wings.
All In all, Fischer gave an exhibition
OF pitching that makes his retention
seem wise.
Fischer had to pitch a pretty gooC
game 70 get away with it, fort he Ma.
tionals were not in a hitting mood. OF
Bell. irwin and Foreman, who hurleC
three innings each, they collected bu
five safeties. two of them Of the infielS
variety made by Myer. -
Bell. who used to pitch for the Car
dinals. got away with his three inning
by hurting to only nine batters. No
sign Of a hit of him. Net unit
the sixth. the last inning in which Ir
win. q left-hander. stabbed, did tn
Nationals match the Rochester second
inning tally. Then after two were Oh
Myer walked and scored as Same Ric
riied a double to right.
Errors figured In the making Of tn
other Washington runs An infiel,
boot put Cronin ON at the start of In
seventh. Joe was forced out by Judge
but the latter counted on Harry Rice
single and Blueges infield erasure. II
the eighth, with Sam Rice, who ha,
forced out Myer. on the initial sack
Manush slaShed single to right. Georg
Fisher, who once outfielded for Wash
tngton. let the hit get by and Sam Ric
a = = L. 4