Evening star., 1932-04-09

this years American
League pennant race are
considered that pitching problem
will bob up to confound the Wash
ington base ball clubs we'll
wisherS.
True, the club has pitchers who
on past performances ought to be
good. But it has very few of such
caliber, and back of them appears
little in the way of worthwhile
relief force.
AS first-stringers Manager Walter
johnson already has nominated the vet
Grams Fred Marberry and Al Crowder-
naturally-and the recruit Monte Weav-
er, right-handers all, and his two we'll
experienced leftieS, Lloyd Brown and
Carl Fischer.
For relief work the field boss has
picked Bobby Burke, the stringbean
southpaw who has been finishing
games for the Nationals for some sea-
sons. Back of Burke, though, what?
Right now there are only Frank Rag
land and Bob Friedrich, fingers of the
orthodox type, and each has yet to
prove himself of big league caliber.
For a time Ragland indicated he
might develop into hurler capable of
filling a relief role. He was impressive
in his early training at Biloxi. Re-
Gently, however, Ragland has Jagged
and it is not believed he is ready to
fill the bill acceptably. Friedrich,
although possessing a lot of natural
ability, is glaringly green and woefuuy
uyild Not much hone in l1iS
1t seems.
Lacking hurlers for relief toll may
prove a fearful handicap to the Ma
tionals in the early going of the cam
paign, when they are scheduled to stack
up against the hard hitting Athletics
and Yankees frequently.
I Asst season johnson was especially
IL fortunate in his choice of relief
boxmen. So fortunate that the
Nationals rescue slabmen built up the
best record in the circuit for saving
games.
But johnson had to call on his regu-
lar starters often to fill relief roles and
the extra effort probably did these first
StringerS no good. Burke. whose main
assignment was to relief pitching,
scored signally in turning in three VIC
tories and losing not a game when
rushed TO the rescue of faltering team
mates, but Crowder, Marberry and
Fischer were the stalwarts that enabled
the Nationals to grab many games out
of the fire.
Doing relief pitching Crowder was
credited with four victories and charged
with one defeat, Marberry turned in
three wins and one loss, and so did
Fischer. Fine work, but perhaps putting
too heavy a burden on these first
stringers. Brown was no shining sue
cess as q relief pitcher last season.
johnson was especially fortunate In
getting such good results from his regu-
lars when assigning them to relief roles
last year, as mentioned before. It is
questionable whether he can afford to
risk giving the first stringers the extra
work this time.
WITH Browns pitching arm still an
w uncertain proposition, and neither
Crowder nor Marberry apparently
ct top hurting form, it would seem that
those occupying starting berths will
nave plenty to do taking care of their
regular jobs for some time at least. In
1act, 1t may be that Fischer will have
TO shoulder the greater part of the task
OF keeping the Nationals heads I'D in
the early going just as he did last sea-
son. While Weaver looks a fine pros
Pect, there Is quite gap between the
international League and the American
League. The former Oriole will find the
batters much smarter in present COM
pany
Burke has been effective as a relief
worker, but in spots Bobby, in fact, has
peen somewhat of spot" pitcher. as
base ball terms a hurler sent against
only those clubs which display marked
weakness before his brand of slabbing
ever since he graduated from the ranks
OF the batting practice toilers. There
are several clubs that Bobby has been
able to stop cold when they threatened
10 knock the ears of the preceding
pitcher.
However, the Nationals most dam
gerouS foes-the Athletics and the
YankeeS-are not among those clubs
Relief pitching Of super quality USUALLY
Is needed to quell these demon slugeers
once they buckle down to the attack.
And very likely johnson will have to
call upon more than one pitcher often
IN tne early games with the rough play
mates OF Philadelphia and New York.
But trying to find game-savers may
furrow the managers brow.
TIVEN some good weather the Ma
" tionals today will wind up their
spring exhibition series with the
Orioles in a Griffith Stadium tilt, start
ing at 3 o'clock. They tried to scrap
with the Orioles yesterday at Balti-
more, but arrived at the International
Leaguers' park only to find the mo
game" sign hanging out. TOO cold for
game" said the Baltimore business
management. Weather too poor to as
sure decent attendance" might have
been a better excuse
Tomorrow the Nationals will get their
f1nal tuning for the season opener in a
tussle with the Buffalo Bisons. Maybe
Joe Cronin, shortstop. due to leave the
hospital today with sinus and tonsils in
better order, will show his wares for a
brief time In this last Of the exhihitions