Evening star., 1932-04-10
NEED BISON CLASH
AFTER THEIR LOAF
Johnson Is Eager to Stage
Workout-Judge to Play
at First Base.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

BY JOHN Is. KELLER.
TAIR weather and a fast field
r. are wanted today for the
l. Washington base ball club.
Manager Walter Johnson is
more than eager to send his Ma
tionals against the Buffalo outfit
in Griffith Stadium this after
noon that they may be well lin
bered for tomorroW'S major
league inaugural clash with the
Red Sox.
Baked by cold and rain Friday
and yesterday when they had ex-
pected to play the Baltimore club,
Johnson'S charges sorely need a
brisk workout to put them on
edge for the big business ahead.
With few exceptions, the Washington
players came up from the South last
week trained to the minute for their
plunge into the American League cham
pionship struggle. A lsy-off of two days
isn't calculated to help them, however,
WHICH accounts LOT IlST manager s
eagerneSs for action today.
Should there be a contest this after
noon those attending will see on the
field the lineup, excepting the pitcher,
that will carry the fight to the Boston
band in the season opener.
The infleld will include Joe Judge at
first base, Buddy Myer at second, Joe
Cronin at shortstop and Ossie Bluege
at third. Heinie ManuSh will be in left
field, Sam West In center and Carl
Reynolds in right. Roy Spencer will be
behind the bat. The pitching today
probably will be done by Monte Weaver
and Carl Fischer.
Tomorrow the all-important box as
signment will be drawn by Al Crowder,
regarded by Manager johnson as the
most advanced of the Washington pitch
ing staff.
INCLUSION of Judge in today'S line
i up indicates that the tuSSle between
the veteran and the youngster, Joe
Kuhel, for the berth at first base is of
temporarily. johnson has decided that
Judge will start the campaign, but by
no means has the manager put Kuhel
out Of the picture for good.
Johnson feels that with the Nationals |
tackling their most dangerous rivals, |
the early going, it Is better to have the |
benefit Of Judges greater experience and
more robust batting.
Kuhel, a superb fielder, but not so |
formidable at bat, is in excellent trim |
and ready to go at moments notice. |
The young first-sacker must wait |
though, for another shot at the posi-
ton he cared for quite acceptably the |
greater part Of last season.
VIIHuE Cronin and Spencer are
w slated to start tomorrow they are |
not to play throughout today's ex- |
hibition tilt, according to johnson.
Just recovered from sinus affection |
and q mild tonsilitis attack following a |
cold contracted down South, Cronin !
was to quit hospital bed only this
morning and could not be expected to |
be in condition to Withstand the strain i
Of an entire game today.
Spencer still has a sore left leg, TIE |
result of an injury sustained in train
ing not so long ago, and Is not to be
worked hard in mere practice game.
It may be that Cronin will not go
through tomorrow's season inaugural.
But he will start. The peppery short
stop still is the sparkplug Of the Wash
ington machine and his presence in the
lineup is deemed an inspiration to his
fellow Nationals.
Johnny Kerr, the little infelder ac-
quired from the White Sox during the
Winter, will stand by ready to take up
the shortstopping should Cronin show
the strain Of toll
TITASEINGTON may turn to its Chat
w tanooga farm for that extra in
fielder 1t needs. With the Look
outs again Is Yves Kingoon, recently
turned back to the Southern Association
Club after a trial with the Browns.
Manager Bill Killefer had infielders of
much class and experience in the big
show so Yves did not have a chance to
horn In, it seems.
johnson, however thinks well of
Kingdom and believes he would be
handy to have around until something
better turns up. The Lookout inflelder,
in fact is regarded as far better than
any other utility player the Nationals
could get hold Of at present.
Kingdom was with the Newark Club
when Walter managed it in 1923, and,
according TO the Washington pilot, was
a good shortstop then. Last year with
the Lookouts, Kingdom was at short
throughout the season. He flelded well
and hit for PIT. Although employed
mainly in the short1eld since starting
his professional career, Kingdom can
give good account of himself at second |
or third, It's said. /
T LLOYD BROWN, left-hand pitcher, |
- who has been thinking-in a left
handed way, it is rlmored-some-
thing was wrong with his arm, is due |
TO rejoin the Nationals TODAY. When |
the club left Knoxville for Washing |
ton last Wednesday Brown went over .
TO Chattanooga for additional arm |
treatment by his favorite muscle .
manipulator
Nothing has been heard from him
since he departed from the club, but |
only last Tuesday Brownie toiled for !
four innings against the Smokes in |
Knoxville and Johnson declares the |
southpaw's arm seemed pretty good |
then.
In all likelihood Brown will feel the !
urge once the championship season
gets under way and forget al about |
any arm ailment-if there is one
WASHINGTON to finish third in the
w American League race That's
going on record. What's more, the
AS to cop again and the Yankees to
get second money.
Simply can't see where the AS have
slipped at all after taking their lick
ing In the last Falls world series. They
still have great pitching and that dan
gerous attack that should carry them
to the heights again. And the Yanks
who were playing the best ball in the
league all last September. are as pow
erful as ever They may be short on
hurting, but how they can wallop!
The Nationals have more offensive
power. ought to get much good pitch
ing from the few moundsmen they
have and quite likely will prove the