Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-11
WILL TRAIN EARLY
u TO HELP HIS LEGS
Buddy viii Start Work at
Hot Springs-0peration
on West Unlikely.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

nI 1OkAIN 0s NGLLEns
- ONE players on the Wash
ington base ball clubs re-
A. serve list may not care for
salaries offered for their
services this year, but Buddy
Myer is not one of them. In fact,
the young inf1elder already is in
line for the 1881 campaign, hav-
ing notified President Clark Grit
nth of the Nationals he is salts
fed with terms mentioned in a
recent letter from the Washing
ton club headquarters.
Buddy thereby becomes the fourth OF
the Nationals to qualify as an active
member of the organization. Others
who have accepted terms for this year
are Joe Cronin, sensational young
shortstop; Alvin Crowder, dependable
veteran pitcher, and Dave Harris, right
hand swinging outflelder.
Myer not only lost no time replying
to Grifiths communication, but also
stated the terms pleased him greatly
and that he will be quite happy to get
back to the%gapne again. Il know tnat
playing around second base last season
was easier for me than before" wrote
the made y over third baseman. ana
el1ortstop, according to Griffith, and
am confident I'll be able to play bet
ter second base than ever this year"
Buddy requested that he be given an
opportunity to get his UNDERMINING in
trim before reporting to the Biloxi
training camp in March, SO he VIII be
, sent TO Hot Springs for a conditioning
course before proceeding to the Missis-
sippi coast field. Last year Myers legs
bothered him considerably during early
training, but it Is believed q course OF
work at the Arkansas spa VIII bring
them around.
AYERS development as q second
WI baseman has been slow, but he Is
an earnest toiler and of the type
that will give his club all he has in 9
, base ball way. When first tried at the
middle sack It looked rs though Buddy
never would make the grade as major
Lacquer In the position. However, r.
plugged along at the task and last sea-
son showed much improvements
He fielded In good style drives to
either side and his throwing, something
became stronger a. the season pro-
gressed. He never fully mastered the
knack Of pivoting In q double play,
though, and IL has been rlrnored that
Jack Hayes, an exceptionally clever
fielder, might wrest the second-base Job
from Myer.
As long as Myer hits the way he does,
however, he probably would have to fan
of greatly IN felding 10 have the place
taken from him and turned over to the
light-batting Hayes.
THAT Sam West, fiashy young
l. washington outflelder, probably
win not have to submit TO an OPP
Grafton to get his throwing arm In good
trim again must be pleasant news to
Manager walter johnson. Surgical
treatment might mean that West would
not be available for duty when the Ma
tionals open their championship CAM
paign next April and as the clubs squad
Is constituted at present the loss Of
West would be sad blow, indeed.
How he sustained the injury that put
out OF commission last year his once
great throwing arm West does not
know. Perhaps that piece Of bone
Clipped from his left elbow and moving
about IN the Joint was dislodged by
childhood accident. Whatever hap
pened, though, caused West plenty pain
last season. He suffered greatly when
his arm failed him at the Chattanooga
training base last Spring and when 1t
became worse as the season waned.
While Sam naturally worries over the
trouble, his worry has been relieved 70
some extent by the virtual assurance Of
those who have examined the arm that
It viii be sound again before the Amer
ican League season opens and that,
too, without . surgical operation.
DERHAPs the Nationals could make
L use Of Denny Sothern, Washing
ton boy who has had several
years experience as an outf1elder in the
National League, but before they could
get him the International League would
have to make peace With the majors.
Sothern now is the property Of the
Baltimore Club of the Int circuit, one
Of those IA leagues still fighting the
g-timers over the draft matter.
For some time rurnor has had it that
johnson Is somewhat sweet on Sothern,
an outfielder who Is Highlander all
the way. Denny, although he has been
Ia base bail some years, is only about
26 or a years old and should have
plenty play left In his system. With
the Nationals so short on outfielding
material, especially that which bats
from the right side, Sothern might nj
in here. AS relations between the In
ternat. oral League and the American
League are now, however, not much
can be done toward acquiring the Cap
ttal boy.
A MoNG those likely TO be with Sam
"A Rice and Buddy Myer at the
Hot Springs preliminary training
camp is Fred MarbeTy, big right-hand
pitcher who most Of last season was
the ace Of the Nationals pitching Staff.
The husky Texan was q trifle slow get
ting into physical trim last Spring and
this handicapped him early In the
championship campaign. Once In good
form, however, Fred burned up the
league until he broke q wrist in New
York early In August. This time those
in charge of the Nationals want to see
Msrberry get away in fine fettle so
probably an early course Of condition