Evening star., 1932-04-12
CRACK SH0RTSTOP
IN HOSPITAL AGAIN
Toe May Face Athletics in
Saturday TiIt-Red Sox
DoWned in Tenth.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

by rain from opening the Aneri-
can League season in this city to-
day with the Red Sox, Washing
ton will begin a series of three
games tomorrow using the same
lineup which scored a 10 ten-in-
ming victory in the Capital yester-
day.
Joe Cronin, regular shortstop,
did not come North with the club
and will not join it here, so little
Johnny Kerr will carry on in the
position through this Beantown
series, at least.
Last week end Cronin was thought to
be sufficiently recovered from combi-
ration of sinus and tonsil affections
that he might leave the hospital in time
to participate in the opening game in
Washington. 1t seems that Cronin was
out for time Sunday, only to suffer
q relapse that forced his return to the
hospital.
While his teammates were showing
some $4,000 fans, among them the
President of the United States, how to
dispose of the Red Sox in Griffith
Stadium. Cronin again was in a hos
pital bed and running a temperature.
Not only was his sinus giving him
trouble again, but his throat also was
20 inf1amed as to be quite painful.
Evidently the Nationals shortstop
Isn't likely to improve much until the
weather becomes milder Even should
his temperature be materially reduced
and the Inflammation in the sinus and
AHrCof dieciF,ofod oanordifaer To ,,l,,
sicians it would be very dangerous for
him to expose himself to rawness and
dalnpnesS such as prevailed In Wash
4ngton the last several days.
The weather sharps declare the Ma
tionals are to get some unpleasant days
here, so even should Cronin improve
rapidly 1t would not be advisable to
risk his employment In this place, where
they have all kinds of weather, mostly
awful. at this time of the year. Joe
may be able to take his place with the
Club when the Athletics are tackled in
Philadelphia next Saturday, but this
seems no town for him.
In the meantime the Nationals are
apt to get a pretty nice game from
Kerr in the shertheld. He plays a ball
well and can throw it, too. Kerr is
mot UP among the big hitters, but he is
no mark at bat at that. Manager Wal
ter johnson figures Kerr should take
care of the shortield in acceptable
manner until Cronin is ready to return
to the job.
JOHNSON already is looking well
j. ahead for his pitching. Having
scheduled Fred Marbury for the
series opener here, he now has listed
Monte Weaver. the hurting professor,
oy1G %prl NAo
man. for duty in the next two engage
me1ts. However. Walter has not de-
cided whether it will be Weaver or
Fischer to follow Marberry
The Red Sox outfit is regarded the
spot" one for these two young slab
men. johnson sees this Beantown club
as just right for breaking in the right
handed Weaver for the campaign. It
will be only the second start for Weaver
In the big slloW-he hurled against the
White Sox once last September--so the
tormer Oriole ought to be helped by fir
ing at a ''spot" club.
F1sche. looked mighty good against
the Red Sox last year. They did not
take kindly to the southpaw's fast stuff
and he still has ii, with him.
After Weaver and Fischer, it might
be Bob Burke. The stringbean south
paws arm appears to have come around
nicely after having given him lot of
trouble. Bob cut loose yesterday in the
bullpen in Washington. If any sore
ness remained in his salary wing he hid
1t well. And remember, Burke pitched
a no-1it game against the Red SoX in
the Capital last season.
A L CROwDER, who gave such an
N excellent account of himself in
the Washington opener, isn't apt to
face the Red Sox again for some time.
The General for several seasons has been
noted particularly for his effectiveness
in battles with the Athletics so with
the Nationals having four games in
row with the league champions after
this set with Shane Collins club, Bean
town has little chance of seeing
Crowder this trip.
II may be that CroWder will be put
IN the hill against the AS in Philadel-
pfia next Saturday II so, Capital
customers may expect to see Marberry
firing away at Simmons and the rest
Of the enemy AS in Griffith Stadium
the following day.
Getting or to poor start last year
and thereby handicapping the Nationals
considerably, Crowder promises to do
Just the opposite this time. The Gen
eral yesterday pitched Just as smooth a
ball game as could be desired, limit
ing the Red Sox to seven safeties spread
over five of the 10 innings. Crowdsr
was In a ticklish situation three times
and each time he pitched out of it
neatly.
The first was in the third frame
when big Charley Berry doubled with
one out. Here Crowder frightened TO
fan Danny MacFayden while Jack
Rothrock's best was a hoist to the
shortstop. Pickering opened the fifth
with double and Van Camp followed
with a sacrifice, but Pickering was
caught at the plate when Oliver
grounded to Bluege With one gone
in the seventh, Webb and Pickering
singled in succession. All Van Camp
could get of Crowder. however. was
an infeld pop while Oliver skied to
the outfield.
The Red Sox clustered two singles
IN the tenth, but it really did not
was sandwiched between the blows and
MacFayden, who had struck out three
times came up after the second hit
TO fan again
Crowder had great control, register
ing seven strikeOuts and not issuing a
pass. The General is in tip-top physical
trim fo~ he finished the ln-innirg %
seeming sS f. 9s when he stared.
He should be big help TO his club
this year.
IF Nationals and Red Sox battle as
j stubbornlv in the series here as
they did in that Capital inaugural.
Beantown base ball boosters will get
plenty Of thrills. That opener was one
Of the greatest ever seen in Washing
ton and the nearly $4,000 who braved
the chill and dampness to attend got
O kick every minute
President Hoover and his party left
after the seventh inning, but one Of the
Presidents secretaries later Informed
Secretary Ed Eynon at the ball park
that the White House heard the game
over the radio to the finish And from
the President down all were aglow
when with one out in the tenth Heinie
haf,iIsia ctaclEad that