Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-28
CLUB IS IMPROVED
IN RESERVE POWER
Griffith, Johnson Declare Out
fit Bit Better Than That
of 1880. f.
By WALTER TRUMBULT..

managers have been saying.
to me:
Washington can't be as stronG
this season. Last year Joe Judge
and Sam Rice were miracle men,
but miracles don't happen twice
in the same place. Those two vet
Grams can't go on forever and can't
be expected to have another six
month hitting streak"
Yet both Clark Griffith and Walter
johnson figure Washington a bit
stronger than last season. They think,
Tor example, that the club has better
reserve strength.
We haven't had much hitting" says
Gritnth, but that doesn't worry me.
know We have batting power. This
team has number Of veterans on It,
ana they VIII hit when the season opens.
Our pltcherS are In pretty good shape,
and we have bstter replacements. If arIya
thing happens to our regulars" u
washington is without question y
f1rst-diyision club. The chances of ata
being pannant winner are what fur
nlsh argument. In 1880 the Nationals
finished eight games back Of the Attn
letlcs. Washington was much better
against New York and PhiIadelphia
than against st. Louis, but disregardin0
those two clubs, it was the slightly SUE
perior efficiency Of the Athletics against
Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago which
told the story.
Connie Mack is not one Of those irlv
clined to regard Washington lightly.
Connie says that Joe Cronin is one az
those fine, aggressive players who hold
a team together and that he is likely to
De better with an additional years ex-
per1ence. He says that washington has
good pitching, good fielding, and that.
even II a couple Of the men don't 20
quite so well, 1t win be q tough team 70
beat.
Thinks Vets WIN De-
II probably win carry nine pitchers,
seven inflelders, five outfielders and
three catchers," says Walter johnson.
know what they are figuring con-
corning Rice and Judge, but / see no
reason why those two shouldn't have
another good season. Rice is 80, but he
IS man who always has taken care Of
himself and never Is out OF condition.
Judge may not be quite as far adj
vanced as I'd like to see him, but Joe
smart. f1ne ball player and win be
an set when the season opens. A
30-year-old veteran doesn't reach the
peak OF condition as quickly as young
ster. II Judge should have to take q
Few days rest at any time, feel that
We are wen fortified at first base In
Joe Kuhel.
THE catching staff Is strengthened by
the addition Of Bolton He is an mex
perlenced youngstzr, but he Is learning
last, and he has led every league IN
hitting with which he ever has been.
think the club is stronger"
Johnson's two leading pitchers prob
ably are Lloyd Brown, q left-hander
with speed and curves and q great
heart, and Alvin Cr0wder, the right
handler, who has all big league pitcher
needs and who won Is games last sea-
son. Bob Burke is a side-arm SOUTH
paw with good spesd and a cross-fire.
He looks bit slight, but Is q good
moundsman.
Irving Hadley has as much STUFF al
any highlander in base ball. He was
a winning pitcher last year and is one
OF those men who should be even more
effective than he Is. If he lacks any
thing, 1t Is more confidence IN his own
undoubted ability.
Sam Jones is 80 and still going
strong. Jones pitches as much with
his head as his arm and has fine con.
troll. Give him sufficient rest and he
viii win lot of those close low-score
games for you. Sam is no bargain
Tor any opposing team.
Marberry Hard Trainer. 4
Marberry has the courage of
couple OF lions, but has changed his
pitching style. He is a big, heavy-
hmbed man and it always is q Job for
him to get into condition. It isn't
that he doesn't work hard enough, but
just that he is Of the type who can take
on f1ve pounds in the afternoon and
put it on again before the next practice.
Babe Ruth Is on that order, but the
Babe has small ankles and legs for
his size, while Marberry is big from
top to toe. johnson is hoping that
Marberry viii recover the fast bah
which made him, with his heart, such
great pitcher to go in and save Q
game.
Lynn Grifith, a left-hander from
Joplin, probably will be sent somewhere
to obtain experience. He has a lot of
stun and in a season or two should be
q big Lacquer. Adolph Liska won nine
games for Washington last year. He
is a Highlander and what players
call a submarine pitcher, with an
underhand delivery.
Carl Fischer is a Ieft-hander. who
came to the Nationals from Newark
last season In time to get into q few
games. Walter Tauscher won a dozen
games for Dallas and probably win
stay with Washington. He, has not, as
yet. had much opportunity to show his
stuff.
Johnson's infield will be Judge ct
first, Cronin at short, and Bluege at
third. Myer played second last year,
but that position looks open.
Jack Hayes is q ball player It Is
going to be hard to keep of the team.
Kuhel, who came from Kansas City,
Will be kept as first base insurance, and
Dashiell is a second base replacement.
Roy Spencer probably will do most Of
the catching. Bill Hargrave, the only
turnabount hitter on the team, is a
good pinch hitter and can catch, but
has none too good an arm and isn't
fast. But he sure is a long clouter.
Bolton is an intelligent, aggressive
with an earned reputation
as q slugger. When he joined the team,
his baggage consisted Of his favorite
bat. He expects to use 1t.
Don't forget, when you are figuring
chances, that while Wal
ter johnson was one of the few great
pitchers Of all time, he had to learn
to be q manager. Johnson, a grand
fellow, has shown the same heart and
brains of the diamond as on it. He
will tell you that he has learned
lot, and he has. His extra year Of
experience certainly will
not hurt the chances Of his club.