Evening star., 1932-04-05
FORGET AILMENTS
IN SENSE OF MIGHT
Hit-Crazy Mats Overlook Slab
TroubIes-Johnson Praises
Condition.
BY TOM DOERER.

NOXV1LLE, Tenn, April S.
x 1t is impossible to squelch
IN the optimism of your Uncle
Clark Grifith's base ball
club. Not that any one wants to,
understand, but just when you
think the Nationals are a little
blue about their pitching or a
trif1e sour about one thing or an
other, up pops something to turn
the blue into a rosy red.
Down in the lobby of the Farragut
this morning bevy of young newspa-
per men circled Sir Walter johnson,
the manager, to learn what the field
boss of the flock thought of his team
and what Spring training had done
for it.
"The greatest conditioned team I
have ever brought out of the South"
that mild, soft voice of Johnson's was
saying, while pencils raced over pads as
young men were paying more attention
to who was talking than what was said.
Walter says this and means 1t, despite
the trivial aches, pains, sneezes and
wheeZes with which his players have
aching arm of Lloyd Brown, one of his
southpaw reliables, and in face of the
Wabbly whip of Bobby Burke, another
OF his portSide pea-f1ipperS
And also in face of Cronin's sinus
trouble, Spencer's cold and some more
minor ailments.
johnson, celebrating for the men of
the press, said that if given one more
pitcher there would be nothing to stop
the Nationals from being at top at the
first of the season to give the Yanks
and the Athletics the stiffest fight in
years.
And that was the feeling of the en-
tire squad as it came trekking to Knox
vile late last night.
VOU would think that the pitching
L weakness at the moment would
make the hitters a little discon-
solate. But it has not. Not a bit.
Ask one of the veteran hitters on this
CLUB about the pitching and he will
gr1mly say: Those pitchers have got
TO come through. When we start to
nlaze away at that onion next week,
there will not be any time for sore
arms or aches among the pitchers"
Inls club has gone hit crazy AL it
tninks OF now is clubbing. 1t furgets
the pitching situation. Thinks of
nothing but base blows and extra hits.
PITCHERS are smacking the ball hard
Tor no other reason than that the en-
tire team is punch conscious. 1t has
1alth in the new spirit shown by the
We eran hitters and everybody has been
going up to the platter in the citrus
center with more than q mere desire
to get his hit.
MONTE WEAVER left the flock this
4'A AFTERNOON for trip back home
TO Bristol. Va, where he will get
IN day or two of rest before he starts
TO work In Washington.
With Brown named to start this aft
ernoon and with Ragland due to come
IN later, the choice for the game with
the Boston Braves in Washington
Thursday comes down to Fred Mar
berry. Bobby Burke's arm is on the
mend, but the left-hander will not be
rTdy for acton until the season gets
u1der way.
There will be not much room for
complaints frcm the pitchers when the
Nationals punch gets going. There is
nothing spectacular in it, but there is
a world of power behind this new bat
Ting array, and, best of all, it has con-
ddence in itself.
So much confidence that it is paying
no attention to the pitching problem at
all They will have to roll when we
move" Is what the hitters are saying.