Evening star., 1931-04-16


4 tionals this year Some
thing seems to have put
new life into the underpinning of
the players. Those who were fast
runners appear faster and those
who did not shine as sprinters
now are livelier. Manager Walter
Johnson declares he intends to
take advantage of this added
speed and tone up the offensive
in his clubs campaigning.
While the sacrifice is to play promi-
nent part in attack, johnson says this
does not mean that there will be less
hitting behind the runner. THE club
looks pretty fast to me-" the pilot puts
it, and believe we'll get lot out of
the hit-and-run play. And the men
will be on their toes trying for steals,
too. With their speed they should steal
many bases and that would help WON
derfully in attack.
You know there has not been much
base stealing for some time. The clubs
have all but passed it up since the
lively ball came in and batterS began
the Washington club has done its share
Of base stealing right along. Why, last
season this club stole more bases than
any other in the American League. And
We are out to steal more this season.
Washington plans to be more daring
than usual on the bases now" Walter
states. Wen have the catchers throw
ing plenty. OF course, they'll get some
Of the runners. but some will get away,
too. And getting away with a base
steal generally Is q big help toward
run.
Watch our smoke on the bases this
season, I'm sure we'll show the other
clubs some real speed"
IF Philadelphia is the club Washing
i ton must beat out to cop the flag
and generally base ball critics about
the country so figure the American
League tllSsle-the fate of both clubs
so far as real pennAnt contending is
concerned may be settled early in the
season. Before the championship cam
paign Is three weeks old, Nationals and
Athletics win have completed almost
half the battling scheduled between
them provided the weather doesn't in
berfere.
Including today's contest these two
clubs are booked to go through seven
more games before night falls on May
.. 24bCE bAiE iii VI llAdb Onys AlE
postponements, they will have played
9 of the 20 engagements on their
mutual schedule.
What an opportunity is offered one
club to get well ahead of the other, so
well ahead that 1t would take a deal Of
fighting by the defeated club TO even
matters during the remainder Of the
season.
Right now the Nationals look to be
much better than the Athletics. Better
physically and better at all-around base
ball. Their chance to fight of the Ath-
1ettcs right at the outset of the cam
paign is bright. And II they manage
to take q good majority Of these early
engagements with the world champions.
the Nationals pennant stock certainly
will soar.
IF the pitching thus far shown is a
i true indication Of what may be ex-
pected OF the washington mound
STAFF this season, there'll be many fine
exhibitions by the johnson band. Lloyd
Brown, even though he was relieved in
the ninth inning Of the opener Tues
day flashed a brilliant left-handed
effort, but yesterday, when the Ma
tionals turned back the AS, to /, and
evened the series, Irving Hadley gave
q more brilliant performance on the
hill.
All In the way Of hits the mauling
Macks CLEANED Of Hadley were tri-
pie, q double and two singles, and these
were spread over four innings. True,
Hadley wsS wild at times, for he gave
six passes but as one of the clubs
veteran hurlers remarked after the
game, Bump was just wild enough to
be especially good"
Hadley walked batter in each inning
except the second. eighth and ninth,
he A nd a
with a walk. but only in the sixth did
this net them anything. Then Todts
stroll NaS followed by Miller's triple TO
keep them from being whitewashed.
TTHAT run meant nothing for the
i Nationals already had tucked away
the game They did so before 1t
was four innings old and at George
Earnshaws expense, too. Five OF the
nine hits they got in the affair were
mads of Earnshaw and he gave three
Of the four passes that came the Ma
tionals way.
All of the club but Sam Rice and
Cronin crashed the hit column, Judge
and Spencer each helping himself 10
two blows. Spencers hits were telling,
for they drove across three runs.
pass 10 Bluege. his theft Of second
and Spencers single gave Washington
a run in the third inning and In the
fourth they added five more Manush
starte' this attack by beating out a
bunt and Cronin walked. Judges long
hy advanced Manush before Harry
Fices stroll filled the bases.
Here Bluege rolled TO Boley. but the
Mack shortfelder with a side-retiring
double play In sight cuffed the ball
about and ManuSh counted. Spencers
second single sent over two more mark
ers. Hadlev singled one across and the
NTH Of the round was made when
Bishop fooled Myers tap. Il was
bad daY for the Mack crew about
second base
Earnshaw faded ont with that fifth
run Of the inning but the Nationals
got TO his successor Roy Mahaffev, for
a tally in the fifth. Successive singles
by Judge, Harry Rice and Bluege turned
the trick. Buck Carter came on 10 hurI
two rounds and took no punishment.
MACK used 16 players, but couldn't
vi stop the GrifiS Foxx hurt
his left leg while running the
bases in the fourth and had TO give
way TO Todt . Heving relieved Coch-
rane in the fifth ;. It's said Mack in
tends TO rest his star catcher whenever
the AS get far ahead or are well in the
ing more than a walk in his trips to
the plate . Al famed once
West took another workout before the
game and said he felt fine a9ai1
declared the throwing arm that was
ailing Is once more in good trim
Altrock and Schacht are to entertain
at the monthly stag at Congressional
Country Club tonight . they win put
on their boxing burlesque . no game
here tomorrow the Nationals will
20 10 Annapolis and give the Midship-
men q treat In Q tilt with the Navy