Evening star., 1933-03-17
co ; ROUNDS EACH
IN OPPOSING TRIBE
CroWder, WhitehiII, Stewart,
Weaver Limited in TiIts
Tomorrow, Sunday.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

IL grooming, pitching arms
appended, a flock OF Ma
Honal veterans are believed ready
for the first test Of the year. It
will be only a brief workout un-
der fire, though, for the hinging
wings belonging to the hurlers
nominated for duty against the
Cleveland Indians in the games
to be played in New Orleans to-
morrow and Sunday. No undue
risks may be taken where such
slabmen as AL Crowder, Earl
Whitehill, Monte Weaver and
Walter Stewart are concerned.
This quartet along with AL Thomas
will be expected to pitch the Nationals
to worth while places, once the Ameri-
can League championship campaign
gets under way, so Joe Cronin, the boy
boss Of the Washington field hands,
ISN'T disposed to take any chances with
the big-timers at this early date. A
three-inning term will be the limit for
each of the four slated for their initial
appearances of the SEASONAL Thomas
isn't to be tried just yet-and when the
limit is reached of the hill will come
the old-timer.
Cronin's plans for the impending
tussles with the Tribe-the first with
major league opposition for the Ma
tonals in this training PERIODICAL for
Crowder, Whitehill and Weaver to get
their turns in the fitting tomorrow.
Stewart will go to the slab on Sunday,
sharing the mound work with those
two sterling youngsters, Ed Linke and
Bud Thomas.
4 IL four veterans-Weaver properly
IA may be called veteran, despite
the lone full season of service as a
big Lacquer back of him-appear in
superb trim physically and their pitch
ing practice indicates they have loos-
ened the salary soup bones as much
as might be expected at this stage Of
the conditioning campaign. However,
bearing down when there are men on
the runway Is vastly different from
throwing them through in batting drills.
This will have to be ironed out before
the more serious bushes Of base ball
gets under way in Washington on
April IL.
OF the quartet of Veterans scheduled
for the mix-up with Peck's Papooses,
condition. Almost down to his playing
weight of ITO pounds, the North Caro-
Qna gentleman-farmer and sometime
caterer appears to be almost as nicely
drawn as when he wound up his 1882
work with a string of well-earned VIC
tories to get record of 26 triumphs
against 13 losses, one Of the niftiest
marks made by moundsman during
the years campaign. In practice,
Crowder has displayed marked change
OF pace and superb control. He has
worked particularly to perfect control
and certainly seems to have benefited
through the extra effort.
EVEN with his first trial under fire
II ahead of him, the General Is con-
hdent he isn't far from the form he
hopes to have for the outset Of hostili-
ties when hostilities mean fighting for
the flag. That's some state for the
General to be In and something to
make all who have the interests of the
Washington club take heart, for the
General is noted around base ball
for being ultra conservative, especially
Wnere ne is concerned.
Weaver has drilled cautiously. giving
much Of his time to the strengthening
Of his underpinning. It's theory with
q pitchers legs depends his control, and
control more than anything else is
what Monte thinks he needs. He did,
at that, at the outset of his games last
season. Then he usually had to pitch
two or three innings before definitely
locating the plate. Too wabbly in the
legs to steady his pitch right of the
reel at that time, Weaver thinks. Now
u his legs are as right as he believes
them to be. he figures he ought to have
his control with him from the start. No
more need of the long warm-up to get
them ready is the thoughtful profes-
sor's idea.
nF the brace Of southpaws drawn In
~ from other clubs by trades during
the Winter Stewart, perhaps, IS
nearer condition than Whitehill The
former Brownie hadn't much weight to
dispose Of when he reached camp and
that little has gone. He claims he
feels much sturdier than he did at a
similar stage Of the training campaign
last year and is rarin' to go. With
Whitehill 1t is bit different. Earl
was somewhat pudgy when he landed
n camp and still seems to be toting
some extra poundage. He is shedding
the weight, though, and, as he still is
wearing that instrument Of torture
the rubber shirt-it won't be long until
he has the lines Of Midsummer ball
player.
These pitchers who are slated to bear
the brunt OF the Nationals mound bur-
c den this year look pretty good right
now, all In all. Just how good is their
present condition will be better known,
though, after the battles Of New Or