Evening star., 1932-03-14
FIVE T|LTS SLATED
|. FOR NEXT SIX DAYS
Orioles to Be Encountered
Tomorrow in PIay-off of
Postponed Game.
BY TOM DOERER.

K day of enforced rest and a
- mornings drill put your
Nationals ON edge for the
opening of the exhibition series
which starts tomorrow with Fritz
MaiSels Baltimore Orioles and
ends April 10 with Buffalo of the
International League in Washing
| ton
Tomorrow'S tilt, deferred yes
terday because the Biloxi sunshine
was tempered too strongly with
Arctic blasts, is expected to Stiffen
the fighting attitude of the Griff-
men, who for two weeks have been
yearnlng to tear the lining out of
one thing or another.
But Walter Johnson's action-seeking
club may get quite bit of that if the
rookie pitcher the Orioles plan to start
evinced against your boys last year at
this time.
Griffs to Face Gumbert.
He is Harry Gumbert, the young
man who faced Washington three times
Cleveland once and the Athletics once,
last Spring only to allow the entire
outfit one run and seven hits in IA
innings of pelting onions at them.
Cleveland scored the single tally.
But like the flowers that bloom in
the Spring, Harry never finished with
such a record. A few weeks after the
season got under way he found himself
tossing for the York team of the New
pulled up with nothing better than
9 and S.
Cliff Melton will be next in order
for the Orioles, while Wally Tauscher
once here with the Griffs, will take up
the third shot, For our side Frank
Ragland, Johnny Friedrich and Lynn
Griffith will serve the soup.
While Baltimore will offer Buzz Art
lett, the big Frisco fence buster, in the
cleanup spot, Uncle Clark's nine will
offer Joe Cronin, fanked on one side
by Carl Reynolds, the new hope, and
by Sammy West, the old reliable, on
the other.
Bolton and Maple will catch. Judge,
Kerr and Ralph Boyle will get in action
during the game.
Baltimore admitted its inability to
get Catcher Howard Maple from Clark
Griffith to help it out in the series. At
| the moment the Old Line States team
has but one catcher in camp, Nc
| Kenna, who must serve until another
comes winding his way from Baltimore.
Why Nationals and Orioles could not
get together yesterday on Maple is
something which still is not public prop
erty.
Heavy Exhibition Slate.
Another game with the Birds will
take place Wednesday at Gulfport, the
| training camp of that team. Louisville
| cf the American Association will be
| here Friday and Saturday the Nationals
will take bus to Mobile, Ala, where
the Louisville club will be played two
games to end the first week of grape
fruit skirmishing.
Walter Johnson's pitching problems
at this hectic moment are not the ones
that make him pace the managerial
suite pondering over material fit to go
| in and throw Southern onions at the
enemy, but rather, ones which force him
to keep veteran pitchers from climbing
to his neck at breakfast to beseech his
favor in permitting them to work
At this moment Walter is ducking
both Crowder and Marberry, as they
try to win him over to the suggestion
that they both be permitted to get
going his week.
Either can go in now at any tin
agrees Walter, but what chance will the
kid pitchers get If he permits his regu-
lars to work? This Is the first time in
a long while that regular pitchers have
been so anxious to get into action" said
johnson during practice today. Il
know they are ready, but we just can't
permit 1t, as much as I would like to
see those enthusiastic vets toss in their
stuff"
Fischer Eager to Start.
Not only Crowder and Marbury are
pining to start, but Carl Fischer is anx-
ious to show off his new pitch in actual
combat. 1t is slow curve mastered for
the first time by the anxious Carl, and
its addition to his repertoire Of Slants
is what is making johnson predict that
the southpaw not only may get those 20
games for which he is cunning, but
many more victories than that.
johnson seems anxious to see his new
batting punch, Car Reynolds, get NOV
ing in the exhibition tussles. Johnson
does not hide his admiration and bis
hope in the former ChiSoX fielder.
Walter thinks he is just the boy to put
the club over this year
Brownie, for instance" argues Wal
ter, may not lose SO many of those one
run games with fellow like Reynolds
in there to slap the ball at the right
moment"
Sir Walter, despite the blustery
weather yesterday, was in one Of those
very CHEEKY moods about his ball players.
Look at Manush over there" said
johnson, pointing to the big, tanned
outfielder chinning with some play
mates. "He is in better shape than
last year and, while he is no longer
a kid, he is due for some good years
in base ball I look for him to pull
up more than so points over last sea-
sons batting mark Of .307. That was
not hitting for Heine.
Sees Players Just Right.
Sammy West is in great shape, his
arm is fine and he will hit again this
year, I'm positive. Rice is ready to
go right now. He's fine ball player,
steady and reliable and can be counted
upon to step into breach.
Maybe our infield could stand more
protection, but we have Johnny Kerr,
very fast boy. and there is Dave
Harris to shoot in if there is an emer-
gency. Bluege is good this year, Cronin
is in shape and l mean it when tell
you that a first-base battle is on be-
tween Kuhel and Judge and the place
not sewed up by Kuhel.
There is nothing to any deal with
Detroit for Catcher Hayworth. That's
out. Moe Berg may fool a lot of them
and, besides, he has the poise neces-
sary for us to push him in should
anything happen to Spencer. Bolton
is young and can help some. Maple Is
learning. Our catching department
may need little Strengthening out, but
it is okay.
Our young pitchers may show US
something worth while, while upon the
regulars we place the finest kind Of
hopes.
In all" concluded Walter, I'VE will
have a better club than last year We
will have a real punch in Reynolds, a
group of players in great training camp
shape and a fine, heady pitcher in
Monte Weaver. Weaver will get us 10