Evening star., 1932-04-23
REGULAR LOT HITS
At ONLY .255 PACE
Batters Must Show Punch
to Garry on Great Test
for Club Ahead.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

Our Nationals are getting along
right well so far, but there seems
no chance to make the grade until
they break out with that punch
that was supposed to be in them
when they were in training down
South.
Sailing along in second place in
this American League race, the
johnson band isn't in a poor posi-
tion to offer battle to it's great
rivals, the Athletics and the
Yankees-it still appears the
Tigers are shooting above their
heads, despite their leadership
but it must relieve its pitchers of
some of the burden.
On past performances and on some
OF the batting displays in a few games
those Nationals, who are regarded GER
tain to put the Washington club into
this years race should produce. But
80 far the results have been lamentable,
despite the standing of the outfit in
this early season.
Here's a club that stands second in
the pennant chase, and good second,
too, even though it hasn't been clouting
in any respectable manner Only the
pitchers have held it up. Great, but
the hurting staff cannot be expected to
do all the work throughout the year.
Thus far the regulars of the Wash
ington club, excluding the catching de-
partment, which mainly means Roy
Spencer, have batted collectively only
for an average of .255. That's a mark
which shouldn't get a club anywhere
over long stretch Of games. And the
American League campaign calls for
The regular outheId, composed of
ManuSh, West and Reynolds, has
smacked for a grand average of .267.
or course, Reynolds has been out of
action some of the time and those sub
stituting for him, Rice and Harris, have
hit at a far higher rate combined than
Reynolds, but that's the outfeld ex-
pected to carry the club to success this
season.
The regular infield has batted at ex-
actly an average of .246. Nothing in
that for high-class club. For almost
a week Joe Cronin was out of that in
field, but Johnny Kerr, who substituted
for Cronin, hit at a pace 4 points
higher than Cronin, the regular short
stop.
Too mach on the pitchers. it seems.
It's about time for the supposedly good
batters to come through Until they
90, the Nationals will find it tough !
Shedding.
MO wonder Manager Walter John
IN son has ordered morning batting |
drills for the Nationals with the |
drills TO continue until there is some !
pleasingly consistent exhibition of
punch by the club.
The boys worked out yesterday, an |
off-day in the schedule for nearly two |
hours and while it remains to be seen
whether the practice meant anything to
the batterS 1t probably did much for the
pitchers and also for Reynolds. The |
new rightfelder, who had been in the |
throes Of mild attack of influenza for |
several days, participated in the grind |
and his efforts showed he has fully re-
covered from the indisposition.
Carl has yet to establish in the esti-
nation Of the Capital fans that the |
trade between the White Sox and the
Grifts last Winter which sent Hadley
and Jones, pitchers, and Hayes, utility
1nflelder, away from the club in ex-
change for him and Kerr was justifi-
able. Give the husky right-hand hitter
chance. He has the record back of
him as batter and a fielder.
FOLLOWING this Red Sox set, which
l. has been a tough one and since the
start of the season, too, the Ma
tiOnals will have for dayS of trouble
for they meet the AS tomorrow here
and the Yanks in New York for three
days. And after that more tribulations,
for the johnson band will have to
tackle those Athletics again. And that's
a continuous schedule to make any club
wonder why there are reasonable
schedule makers.