Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-03

GENTLY widespread degree to cause gobs
of distress and 1t is conjectural to what
extent this will delay acceptance of the
offers.
GRANTING that all eventually sign,
~ as they invariably do, Manager
Walter johnson will be In the
enviable position of having to do no
experimenting so far as his regular
array is concerned when he assemblies
the BOYS at their conditioning base in
Biloxi next Spring and to fill out the
squad to the new limit of %. which 1t
already has been decided will consist
of 5 outfelders, s inf1elders, 8 catchers
and 9 pitchers, he will have little pick
ing to do.
With players of established ability
available for all of the infleld and
garden positions, the only problems con-
fronting the pilot will concern battery
men, and these are not so completing
they cannot, be solved in the course OF
the training maneuvers or a deal OF
minor magnitude.
Acquisition from the White Sox re-
Gently of Carl Reynolds, orthodox swing
ing slugger, tentatively assigned to right
field. IS regarded as having plugged
the only hole In the outer works. Sam
West, the far-ranging ball hawk who
topped all his mates in hitting last
season and whose ailing wing is be-
lieved to have yielded to the wizardry
of a surgeons scalpel, has the middle
pasture berth sewed up, and Heinle
Manush, despite q poor year, for him.
with the fail, again will be cast for
the assignment in left.
Unless something develops to alter
the roster of the club as it stands at
present. any emergency work neces-
sary will be taken care of by Sam
Rice and Dave Harris, who last season
strove to fill the right field post IN a
manner that left much to be desired.
The latter, If able steadily to main
tain his best batting pace, would prove
thoroughly adequate, in an attacking
way, although a bit deficient from
defensive standpoint, but he Is streaky
hitter.
Rice, still capable all round per-
former Notwithstanding his twoscore
wears Of age, 10 of which have been
devoted to professional base ball, Is
a first-class relief man for any sector
He can travel at a fast pace for few
weeks, but due to the inroads of Father
Time requires occasional layoffs for re-
Operative purposes. Four other picket
men are listed-Ralph Boyle, Tom
Clark, Dave Banks and Jake Powell
but all are slated to be disposed OF.
At this writing there are eight in
"A fielders on the reserve list OF the
Nationals and, barring COM
plexion- altering deal, all but two Will
be carried throughout the campaign.
Oss Bluege, one of the best defensive
men in the circuit and also danger
GUS man at the plate. as his 1881 rank
ing of second best run producer among
the Griffmen attests, Is fixture at
third base.
Of course. Joe Cronin. the spark
plug and big punch of the Nationals,
who Swon the most valuable player
award in 1880 and crashed nearly every
all-big league team named for, last
season, has no opposition at shortstop.
and it is unlikely Myer will have to
combat any serious contention for the
keystone covering chores.
Buddy was off few points in his
stick work during the most recent race,
but Offset this with greatly improved
fielding ability and has an established
reputation as a dependable batsman.
According to present plans, Joe
Judge will have contest with Joe
Kuhel the flashy youngster who dis
placed him last season, Tor the Job OF
guarding the initial station. The vet
eran, whose career as Griffman has
been contemporary with that of Rice,
although couple of years his junior,
figures to have fully recovered from
the effects of his appendicitis opera
ton by the time campaigning is re-
suned and should make the lad from
kansas City hustle for all he is worth
to retain the position.
To Johnny Kerr, who comes from
the White Sox, along with Reynolds,
will be given the role of understudy
for Bluege, Cronin and Myer, the niche
Jack Hayes filled last year. The Pa
cific Coast product, while appearing
with the Pale Hose chiefly as middle
cushioner, Is regarded as well equipped
to afford temporary protection at third
or short and, for that matter, both
Bluege and Myer effectively can play
more than one infield position. The
two other inner Gordon actives, Cecil
Travis and Jim Mcleod. are due some
additional seasoning in the minors.
UNTO the capable shoulders Of Roy
~ Spencer again will be piled the
bulk of the backstopping duties,
but who will act as second-string re-
ceiver has not yet been determined. Cliff
Bolton and Gordon Phelps, youths who
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