Evening star., 1932-03-13
MANUSH, SPENCER
VETS TO IDLE
Rookie Batterymen to Toll as
GriffS Open Exhibition Sea-
son With Orioles.
BY TOM DOERER.

right-hand punch and push,
q very tough wallop if you listen
to the chatter down here in goS-
sipland, gets the opportunity to-
morrow to show the natives and
his fellow players what good
man can do when he gets grip
on the shillalah.
Carl bats fifth in Walter Johnson's
starting lineup against Fritz Ma1zels
Baltimore Orioles down on Biloxi
Field. 1t will be the opening grape
fruit contest for both clubs, and some
what of test of the early competitive
spirit of your Nationals.
Other than the pitcners, the names
in the lineup are just ABOUT the same
as when you missed your supper last
season to see the boys pull late one
out of the fire. Buddy hIyer will blaze
the trail, Rice, West, Cronin, Reynolds.
Kuhel Bluege and Bolton Will follow,
with the big boy from Chattanooga,
Rags Ragland, Tipping over the pitches.
Others to Show, Too.
But when the old ball gets moving
more rapidly, Johnnie Kerr will step
into Blueges place to give the former
Chisox his first opportunity to work In
National harness; Boyle VIII go out into
the outfield, Joe Judge Will take up the
flrst-base position and Maple will get
the wind-pad on behind the plate.
Then the other rookie pitchers, Lynn
Griffith and Bob Friedrich, will follow.
Or, it is possible, Bob Friedrich Will
draw the center assignment in the
pitching cast.
Manush will draw a bye for few
days account of being fa5, and Spencer
will decorate the bench so mis- youthful
understudies can be inspected.
Roy Van Graflan, the umpire, is due
tomorrow morning to onlciate In the
first of the tussles, while cerem ONES
will open the combat, in which Mayor
Jonn kennedy of Biloxi will skid out
the first pellet.
A peeping sun just came out in time
this morning to save rom smacking
to particles B.loXi's record of having
era3'ei the Grius to never miss prac-
tic day in their three years here.
It was a close shave, very close be-
c2dse the wind was yowling of the
Iii and prior to the suns coming a
B eak SKI greeted the hand, as it hesi-
t2ted in the lobby of the hotel.
Mercury Finally Climbs.
But the weather grew warmer hourly
eni the wind ab3teI, giving the highly
poIish2d Nationals their usual brisk
rnorning workout. 1t was a little too
windy, however, for mu3h batting.
Throwing and f1eeting around the pill
lows was the major part Of the drill
Everybody but Sammy West pulled
through without a hitch. Sammy got
in the way of one of Walter Johnson's
pitches and went to the club house with
a bruised leg. But it was not serious
enough for Walter to call him out OF
tomorrow's lineup.
Moe Berg the new catcher, came into
camp this morning, looking bit heavy
He went out for the session at the ball
park and took it easy. Dave Harris is
due this evening and Camp Griffith
then will have its full quota, unless
some Of those rumored trades take
place. In this event there may arrive
an extra pitcher or two, some catchers
and utility infielder, but that is just
a portion of banana oil. Not meaning
however, that Griff wouldn't take a
pitcher. catcher and an infielder for
himself any time there is one around.
Hist to a Figger FiIbert
have just had visit from a Figger
Filbert, who shows me with q lot Of
dots and a hat full of ciphers where
the Nationals were the best defensive
base ball club in the American League
last year; where they need only the
recovery Of Manush's and Cronin's bat
ting eye, an extra infielder and some
help on the part of Monte Weaver and
Ragland, Griffith and Friedrich to give
the club top position in the race.
This young man can show me with
pencil, some paper and an argumenta-
tive tone, where Clark Griffith got him
self Just what the doctor ordered when
he shared Reynolds from the White Sox
and unloaded Sam Jones. Bump Had
ley and Jackie Hayes upon them.
Yes. sir, in no time at all he proves
that pitching staff of Lloyd Brown
Bobby Burke, Gen. Crowder, Carl
Fischer, Fred Marberry, Rags Ragland,
Monte Weaver, Lynn Griffith and Bob
Friedrich will bring your Uncle Clark
just 80 ball games, figuring a few more
games here and there over last year,
because of the boys present form and
allowing 10 games to Weaver and 5
apiece to the youngsters.
Using Mirrors Might Help.
In losing Hadley and Jones, Griff
dropped 20 ball games of this years
list. But Weaver. Rags, Griffith and
Friedrich will give him them right back
again and there stands none other than
Mr.. Reynolds. who pelted in II runs last
year, ready to deliver much better for
lhe GriffS. So Mr.. Reynolds is that
something extra that cost us a flag
ct year.
But you can figure that out for your
self. And also consider when you get
around to the figuring that Cronin and
Manush dropped of some SO points
spiece last year. Kuhel batted for but
.269, and that with two of the trio
coming back to 1880 form you can add
mess of percentage points to the
clicking of the Nationals.
Listen to my pal here and get your
self down for a flock of world series
tickets. Let him tell you that If the
Griffs can get another pitcher and a
utility infleloer, then there will be no
use in the Athletics and the Yanks
opening up at all this season
Such people, these figger flberts! Oh,
yes, and 1 want to mention another few
lines from another source on a kid
pitcher here of whom little is being
said because he is Chattanooga prop
erty for one thing. and for another is
mere merely TO serve soup to the batters.
Thomas is the Name.
He Is Bud Thomas, the right handler
AND Walter johnson says OF him that
ne has seen few kid pitchers with so
much promise. But, Walter wisely adds,
you never can tell where the kids are
going because SO many things can hap
pen TO them. But Walter Is sweet on
BUD and says that If nothing develops
to set him back the boy will make
great pitcher. Bud is ambitious and
anxious to learn.
Kuhels eye is getting along a little
better. 1t was a bad-appearing optic
and Griff was worried.
Another casualty, too, Is getting along
well Mrs. Griffith. suffering a tonsil
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column 81