Evening star., 1932-04-04
LACK OF RESERVES
CLUBS WEAKNESS
Must Have Luck to Succeed.
Plenty of CoIorfuI Men
in Organization.
BY WALTER TRUMBULL.

bf WALTER TRUMBULL.
TINE Washington team has
color on and OF the field.
i There is the owner, Clark
Griffith, once star pitcher
and later fine manager. There
Is Walter johnson, the manager,
the big train, the Washington ex-
press, the cannon ball unlimited.
big Barney, the fastest pitcher
who ever hurled a ball. 1t was
Ty Cobb who, batting against
Walter Johnson, said, You can't
hit what you can't see."
There is Nick Altrock, now a coach,
but once a fine, smart, southpaw with
the White Sox, the "hitleSs wonders"
led by Fielder Jones' There is that
other coach, Al Schacht, also once a
pitcher, and now Altrock's running mate
IN base ball clown act which gets
many laughs from fans before Washing
ton games. There is Eddie Ainsmith,
another coach, known as q greater
catcher and as about the strongest man
In base ball
There is Joe Judge, long a star first
b2Seman; Joe Cronin, one of the most
transcendent of shortstops, and Sam
Rice, who, in spite of his age, Is as fast
as youngster.
LEW better inields than Washing
tons are to be found. Walter
johnson is giving Kuhel chance
at first base, not because Judge isn't
stlll fine ball player, but because, II
Kuhel can make the grade, he should be
a fine ball player for many years to
come. There is no trouble with Kuhel's
fielding. The only question is whether
he can hit.
Myer, at second, is Mississippi prod
uct and a greatly improved infielder.
He will do, and Cronin, at short, is the
answer to managers prayer. A great
ball player, this young man from Cali
forria. Bluege is one Of the best field
ing third basemen in the game.
Sam West is grand outhelder. He
can hit and he can go get 'em. Manush
appears to be in great shape this Spring
and should have fine year. Carl
Reynolds, obtained from Chicago, gives
washington right-hand hitter in the
outer garden. johnson thinks that he
viii hit. Mike Martin, that fine trainer,
thinks there is nothing really wrong
with Reynolds legs. But, If he doesn't
come through, there always is Sam Rice.
Washingtons worries are not In the
outfleld.
,, Spencer will have help behind the
bat this season. The Nationals now
have Moe Berg. Charity, Maple, this
former foot ball star, and Bolton from
whom to pick Spencer's supporting cast.
Berg is likely to be the second-string
catcher.
MUCH will depend upon the pitch
1'x ing. Alvin Crowder, Fred Mar
berry, Carl Fischer and Lloyd
Brown are known quantities. Crowder
and Marberry seem to be in fine shape.
Monte Weaver, who won 81 games for
Baltimore, appears ready to step in and
do his share of the work. Bob Burke
is hurler who seems to have every
thing, except aggressiveness. He has
pitched some fine ball. Frank Ragland,
from Chattanooga, probably win stick.
Dave Harris and John Kerr are re-
serve men. Johnson needs at least
enc more infielder and another pitcher.
There is Washington's weakness. 1t has
base ball nine rather than base ball
squad.
If the Nationals are lucky, If they
get the breaks and nothing happens to
any of the regulars, the team is going
to be tough to beat. But the team Is
weak in reserves. In most instances, It
cannot replace a regular with a man
even almost as good.
1T would appear to an outsider that
i the team will have to go through
the season without illness or injury
to accomplish the results of which It
seems capable. 1t is apparently team
which lacks good scouting system.
Power, the Nationals have in plenty.
They have good fielding strength. The
answer to what they accomplish will
lie in the pitching and in the chance
they can obtain more reserves.
(Copyright, 1892 by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Incl