Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-26
FINE FIELDING APT
TO GET JACK POST
Nat Utility Player Likely to
Improve at Bat-Birds
, Beaten Again.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON,
Sports Editor, The Star.

NnOXI, Miss, March 26.-Al-
X though Charles Solomon
- Myer nominally is rated as
the regular second baSeman
Of the Washington club, he by no
means has the berth clinched, and
the impression daily Is growing
he will find it a tough job to get
the call over Minter c. Hayes, his
Up-and-coming rival.
Where Myer has it on Hayes, of
course, Is In the swatting department.
Buddy is regarded as good hitter and
the record books bear that out mas
much as he boasts an average Of an
even 800 for his five full seasons in the
American League. A 3O4 when he
started off with the Nationals in 1926,
. .2s1 for Washington and Boston the
following season, .313 with the Red
Sox exclusively in 1928, then an even
800 when brought back with the Griff-
men in 1929 and, finally, a 1903 last
year.
During his career in the big show
Myer has been stationed first at short,
then third and finally second, but his
fielding deficiencies at all three posts
makes it questionable whether he can
Withstand the challenge from the youth
who Is markedly his superior from q de-
fensive standpoint. Buddy comes UP
with most of the raps knocked in his
general direction, but is rather weak
: going to his right and leaves much to
be desired In the manner in which he
collaborates with his short fielder on
al-important double plays.
HAYES, on the other hand, although
i i slower afoot. makes up for his
lack of speed by intuitive judgment in
getting started earlier and so far as
this correspondent has been able to dis
Germ has no fielding weakness. being ex-
pert at the business of feeding a ball
to the middle cushion and getting his
throws OF fast when pivoting for dual
erasures.
And as regards his hitting, Hayes Is
not nearly so far inferior to Myer as
generally is supposed. When the Ala
baman, who will not be Is until next
July and is aboSt two and one-half
years the junior of Myer, first came to
Washington from Birmingham in the
flag end Of the 1927 season he achieved
IL 70 .257 for so contests the following
year. EARNED to Minneapolis in '28
Hayes hit American Association pitch
ing for 1892 average in 81 battles, then
returned to the Nationals and got a
.276 for 123 games, finally notching
.2s5 In 81 games last season.
IN other words Jack has steadily
i boosted his batting mark each sue
ceeding campaign under the main
tent. There Is every reason to believe
that II worked steadily he would show
Q corresponding increase In sticking
skill this year which would place him
very close to Myers normal gait. When
it Is considered that goodly number
Of the btngles Hayes gets are produced
when they are needed-in the pincheS-
and that he would greatly strengthen
the team from q defensive standpoint
It Is easy to understand why his aspira-
tons to win a regular berth are being
taken seriously BY the club management.
To date this Spring with almost all
of the Nationals way on their stride at
bat Myer has shown to advantage,
comparatively speaking, having regis
tered seven hits for his 10 times at bat
In seven games for an average OF 1858.
Hayes however, although appearing less
frequently, has done better with an
even 400 to his credit with four bingles
In 10 trips to the tee in five contests
We have seen him perform IN.
1.-TWO Of these swats, one q single and
i the other q double. were compiled
r by Hayes yesterday when he was
sbermitted for the first time to hold forth
ut the keystone sack for the full course
Of the game in which the Nationals up
get the Baltimore Orioles for the third
time this Spring by count Of TO 4.
- "A Under nf the
cast also played the full nine innings
tend although their run total was salts
factory, their bat work again lacked
balance. OF the eight safeties credited
to them. one by West and two by
Bluege were scratcfy affairs. the gen.
erous tallying being due in the main TO
the fact that West and ManuSh collided
for round trippers with mates on the
bases.
Both Of these home runs were en-
tirely legitimate affairs, the sphere in
each instance travelling to the limits in
right center. Cronin and Judge simply
couldn't get untracked, but Sam Rice
contrived to edge in a sweet single that
helped get the Griffs Of TO q flying
start.
HADLEY, opening fire IN the box.
L / was belted for q home run by
Ralph Boyle on the second de-
livery he made. the ball carrying over
Manush'g head to the fence. Bump
held the enemy at bay handily there
Aafter, however and at the end Of the
sixth inning the aliens had only two
other hits TO their credit of him.
Burke, who went to the slab in the
seventh, got along Swimmingly for a
couple Of rounds, but encountered
Trouble In the ninth when Jim Stroner
evolved q duplicate of Boyles round
Grfpper and before he could retire the
side four additional bingles Melted the
Orioles~stwo more TALES.