Evening star., 1933-04-10

highly a pitcher, who, in
no start during the train
ing period, has gone over the full
route of nine innings. The game
is the accepted gauge for the pilot.
Yet Joe Cronin, the Nationals boy
field boss, puts the stamp of ap-
proval on both Alphonse Thomas
and Earl Whitehill and neither
has gone through the regulation
string of innings thus far this
year.
They have shown me enough
to make me believe they are ready
for all they'll have to do" said
Joe after watching them turn
back the Buffalo Club in the Sum
day tussling in Griffith Stadium.
Thomas has convinced me that the
arm he had repaired last Winter is quite
sound again, dependable in every way.
Whitehill breeZed through his workout
SO impressively there's no question as to
his condition. They're both in shape
for the grind"
Tommy's performance against the
Bisons was particularly pleasing to the
young washington chieftain. Although
the pitcher had contended right along
that the surgical treatment he received
shortly after the last season ended had
restored his arm to normal condition,
those in charge of the club were some
what skeptical. They have no doubts
now.
AS to Whitehill, the Washington field
directorate had awaited assurance only
of the pitchers Improvement in control
before rating him in fine fettle for heavy
campaigning. For some time there has
been no question as to his physical fit
ness.
In his last two appearances Whitehill's
ability to pitch to spot has been so
marked that the control question
seems out.
WITH Tommy and Whitehill tabled
w 20 K' by the boy field boss. the
Nationals mound ''big five" finally
is lined up for the heavy going the club
will come across day after tomorrow,
when the chase for the American League
championship gets under way
.. Al Crowder and Monte Weaver, the
two that shouldered the greater part of
the washington pitching burden last
season, have demonstrated they are in
cRlCllulo VI LII 1O1 ttlC II ulQ
So has Walter Stewart, although not
slated to go nine-inning route until
today. But the left-hander trains so
easily that he did not need much time
to reach the peak of condition.
For quite while with him 1t has been
only matter of maintaining his fine
edge.
A LPHONSE THOMAS is finally passed
"A by his bosses after hurting only is
innings under fire, but he probably
has done more work, all told, than any
other member of the Washington curv-
ing corps this Spring.
Through six weeks down South, the
chunky right-hander went through a
steady grind. So eager was he to prove
to all concerned that the operation of
last Fall and the later treatments given
by Trainer Mike Martin had thoroughly
repaired the pitching arm for years
handicapped by bone chips inf1aming
the tendons that he went out of his
way to find some exercise apt to be
beneficial. Almost daily, he hurled to
batters and was on the mill for long
throwing also, toiled with medicine
ball and went through stunts planned
to give his shoulder muscles plenty of
action.
He worked earnestly to get his arm
In proper trim and just as earnestly to
build up generally. Tommy perhaps
was the clubs most willing road work.
err He seemed to delight in the jogging
about the Biloxi Park that was done to
improve his underpinning and wind, the
one training stunt so distasteful to vlr-
tually all big leaguers.
TOmmy'S eaTneStneSS was worth while.
It brought back the arm that for sew
eral seasons was in such poor shape he
appeared through rs pitcher. He
looks far from being that now.
Instead, Tommy is regarded by his
leaders as one of the Nationals best
hill bets of the year.
THAT three-inning term Whitehill
/ i went through yesterday was merely
intended as an arm-looSener, &C
coroing to Manager Cronln. Just 10
keep Earl in the splendid form he was
/ in when he came up from the South
last week." said Joe. 1T was only his
fifth time in a game this Spring and
the longest he had been in the box was
six innings. Earl is a pitcher who can
stand lot of work. The more work he
gets, the better he is.
He needed no nine-inning test to
show me he can go. Why, Earl could
have finished that game he pitched here
last Wednesday And for that matter,
he could have gone a full game yester-
day. Whitehin says he is in better
condition now than he has been in
years, and believe it,"
, DISPUTED CHAMPIONS