Evening star., 1932-07-01

- When his ball club entered
the last series of its recent
Western swing, the series
with the Indians, Manager Walter
johnson without advance notice
shuf1ed his batting order. The
Nationals hadn't been hitting so
well and the pilot figured some
good might come of new often
Sive lineup. Now another shuttle
is imminent, for the new lineup
has brought only 500 results,
nothing to please Johnson.
The field general of the Nationals
said this morning he probably would
not make the batting order change dur
ing the three-game series here with
the Athletics that was to get underway
this afternoon. Unless his club picks
up in is attack in the Snibe Park tilt
ing, though, Washington fandom may
look for a revised hitting list when the
Nationals engage the Athletics in Crit
fifth Stadium next Sunday.
When he changed the Nationals line
up in Cleveland June 20, johnson shift
ed the veteran Judge from sixth position
to first, lowered Myer, who had been
lead-off batter, and Manush, second in
the list, to second and third places, re-
Spectively. West, originally third in the
batting list, was dropped to the sixth
hole. This revised batting order in its
Of only .257, which isn't the kind of bat
ting that wins many games. 1t has
scored a total of 40 runs. That's an
average of five runs per game, and
not so often in these days OF free swing
ing at the plate is a game won with
five runs.
only Buddy Aiyer of all the players
" has done any startling hitting
since the change. The deposed
lead-off batter has swung for an aver
age of 400. Judge. who was moved
up to the lead-of position. has hit for
an even 800 in his new post. but in "a
trips to the plate had gained the run
way Just ID times. In his last four
games Judge has made only three safe
ties in IA times at bat.
Manush, kept out OF two OF the eight
games by an ailing leg, has hit for .240,
Cronin for 800, and Reynolds for .265.
These men are natural hitters, though,
far better than these figures would in
dicate, ana are likely to emerge from
their slumps any day.
Most disappointing has been West.
He mas hit even poorer in his new posi-
tion than he did when up in third place.
In his last eight engagements Sammy
has driven the ball to safety only four
times for an average of .133.
Bluege, who has been batting in the
seventh position generally since the out
set of the season, has hit over the eight
game stretch for rating OF .296.
With so many of his supposedly star
batters not playing up to their roles, no
wonder Manager Johnson contemplates
another batting -order shuttle. Although
the Washington field boss has yet to say
how he might rearrange his batters, 1t
looks as though Myer, getting on the
base path so often as he is will go back
to the lead-off job Manush probably
will be restored to the second place in
the order and Judge lowered to third.
Bluege, who seems to be swinging into
a good batting stride at last, perhaps is
slated for rise to the sixth hole, while
West, woefully weak with the fail is
apt to be dropped to the seventh notch
l
johnson may do to the batting order
might prove beneficial to the club. The
present offensive lineup is no bargain.
THIS fellow Bluege now is recognized
l. as one Of the fielding sensations of
the major leagues. Washington's
third baseman, who has not missed one
OF his clubs games in the campaign
and has made but two misplays, un-
doubtedly is the class of the hot corner
guardians of the American League if
not Of both big circuits. Not since
June 2 has Ossie made an error. Then
in the second game of double-header
in Boston the Nationals third-sacker,
after picking up a difficult grounder
back of his base, heaved wildly past
first permitting the batter to get on the
runway. Bluege since has accepted
cleanly all Of 76 chances coming his
way and many have been of the tough
est type, too He has gone back Of
third to dig EN- out of the dirt rushed
In to get bunts and topped drives and
camped under the high ones, and when
he threw he got his man. The Ma
tionals' veteran hot corner man GER
tainly is setting a dizzy pace for the
other third basemen.
Remaining in New YORK until late
yesterday when they had no engage
ment the Nationals Just couldn't stay
away from a ball game. Like sailors
on liberty who go roYing on the lake,
Johnson's charges fiocked to the polo
grounds to see the Giants and Braves do
battle and a good time was had by all.
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