Evening star., 1932-11-20

N base bali club this Winter
will deal the coaching staff
a hardy blow. During the 1888
campaign the Nationals must
struggle along with two coaches
only, the clubs headquarters has
announced.
They will be Al Schacht and
Nick Altrock, who jointly have
served the Nationals since the
early part of the 1924 season.
This means the separation from the
Washington pay roll of Ed Charity
and Ed Ainsmith. one-time catchers
with the club, who lately have had
coaching jobs. Charity served through
out the johnson regime, recently ended,
while Ainsmith was added to the coach
ing staff only last Winter.
The retention of Altrock should occa-
sion no surprise. Excepting CLARK
Griffith, president, no one has been
connected with the Nationals longer
than Nick. He came to the club In
1913, made Washington his permanent
residence in 1915 and for years has been
regarded fixture with the ball CLUB
In some quarters, however, there may
be eyebrow lifting because Schacht Is
kept, Fans who are prone to blame all
base-running mistakes on a coach
and they seem to be in the majority in
Washington as elsewhere-long have
berated AL and since last season many
have tried to talk him off the club.
THEIR unfair criticism of Schacht,
i though, has had no effect on
Griffith. He realizes, as do other
keen students of base ball, AIS worth In
the third base ccach's box. Real base
ball people know that coach can do
the thinking for a base-runner, but
can't do the Egnning for him. The
thoughtless far, however, always bawls
out the coach fJr base-runner'S boner.
Whatever the fans may think OF
Schacht. basc ball folk regard him as
one of the Sest third base coaches in
the business. He is adept at trans
ferring 70 the batter signals received
from the manager on the bench or
coaching line, instructing base-runners
and sizing up offensive situations.
Furthermore, Schacht's humorous bent
often proves an asset when the Ma
tiorals are inclined to become mopey
following reverseS. He's good man in
O tough spot.
The cutting loose of Charity and
Aiiismith was expected. The handwrit-
ing on the wall was evident when
neither was carried to the end of the
past campaign. Charity at times held
a players status, but he had gone back
to such an extent since his last catching
year with the ationals-l923-that he
could not make himself of much use
to the club actively. Ainsmith mar
rowly missed being pressed into service
behind the bat last Summer when both
Roy Spencer and Moe Berg were put
out of commission by injuries. Howard
Maple. however, flashed such surprising
form as a receiver that Eddie's chance
quickly faded.
And now the Nationals are through
with a pair that years ago did great
work for them.
A LITTLE about Joe Judge, who has
II been with the Nationals since the
latter part of the 1915 season and
who up to last year was accounted the
clubs regular first sacker.
Whether this veteran viii be with the
Washington club next year will not be
determined until he has a conference
with President Griffith, a conference
soon to take place, according to the club
executive The chances are that Judge
will emerge from the conference with
Grifith's permission to cast about for
favorable spot as 1t isn't likely the
Washington club cares to retain the
erstwhile brilliant first baseman. With
xa up-and-coming player like Joe
Euhel at hand, and such promising
initial sack recruit in Harley Boss COM
iiYg up from Chattanooga, there seems
no reason for the Nationals to hang on
to Joe.
Certainly the Washington business
MANAGEMENT would not consider carry
ing Judge at salary close to the
generous one he has received for some
years, and perhaps it would be doing
him real favor in permitting him to
make a deal for himself elsewhere.
Well know all about Judges fate
soon.
WHILE some oS the pitchers now on
wv the Washington roster may be
shifted to other clubs by Winter
deals and releases, Lloyd Brown, the
only left-han0er of the squad, seems
destined to be among those present
when the Nationals gather for training
at Biloxi, Miss, next Spring.
Both Griffith and Joe Cronin, the
new IudIlaSSI. 1ASAA4y Va elAAo
southpaw, who was brought up from
the Memphis club and has been with
the Nationals through five seasons. The
past three seasons Brown has performed
exceptionally well in the early going
well enough to record his wins in
double figures Performing as usual the
past campaign, Brown turned in Is VIC
tories against II defeats.
Why Brown, after starting so nicely,
should falter in the waning part Of
season is something that puzzles those
in charge of the Nationals. Even when
slipping he appears to have everything
that had made him successful except
stamina. Being a well put up man
physically, there is no apparent reason
why Brown should wear down to the
extent he does as the season progresses.
Both Griffith and Cronin feel that
way about Lefty. and perhaps before
training camp opens they may, with
Trainer Mike Martins assistance. de-
We some means to fit Brown physically
II Withstand the rigors of full cam
paign.