Evening star., 1933-03-10
THINKS 0SS|E SURE
TO HOLD NEW POST
Boss of Nationals Praises
Batting Position Cronin
Gives Veteran.
BY TOM DOERER.

n uOXI, Miss, March TO-
X With the Nationals exhibi-
IL ton series scheduled for an
auspicious opening tomor-
row at Mobile with the Atlanta
Crackers as the other half Of the
bill, Manager Joe Cronin has re-
served second place in the batting
order for the third baseman he
will use THIS does Cronin show
he intends to go through with the
elevation Of Ossie Bluege to that
position in the regular hitting list.
While Battling Joe is being censured
IN some quarters for his decision to use
Bluege in the second batting spot, Uncle
Clark Griffith, the man who should
be the first to kick If he thought his
new pilot had booted one, is all praise
for the kid leaders decision.
He recalls that it will not be the
lirst time for Ossie in second position,
but will be the first time he assumes
It with a great chance Of sticking In
the runner-up notch.
While the discussion raging around
Bluege's batting position is an important
one down here where colds are diSap-
pearing and warmer weather is bringing
the boys around, the condition of the
hitters is making Cronin stalk about
camp wearing a grin.
Cronin cannot recall another year
he has been with the Nationals in
which the boys have shown such top
rhysical form With Goose Goslin,
Fred Schultz and Luke Sewen setting
the pace the regulars have been
punching at rate far above antici-
pations.
TRIFFITH. resplendent in a new
" straw kelly. strutted over the field
this morning. holding confabs with
his new men and shoulder-patting his
young pitchers.
Young Lloyd Cessell, the greenest
rookie. suddenly has found himself and
Manager Cronin took him aside today
to tell him how pleasing is his showing.
Cassell had been having trouble in To-
eating the plate and none here seemed
to understand why the big boy lacked
control His speed, too, and pitching
stance had suddenly become poor.
1t developed that Cassell had sore
arm and had not told Doc Martin. A
treatment by the trainer put Lloyd in
such shape that both Griffith and
Cronin were tickled by his performance
today.
While Cassell is far away from max
ing the grade with the team, chances
are that Chattanooga is going to get a
base ball. He reminds me 80 much OF
Walter johnson when Walter was q
rookie" Griffith insists. And because
the boss man feels that way about it,
the Virginian is getting especial at
tention.
DOTH Ellsworth Hazard and Paul
- Lines whom Griffith admitted did
not have enough stuff to stick
around a camp full Of smart pitchers
have been let out. Lines left yesterday
for his Idaho home. Hazard heads to-
ward Chicago today.
Lines seemed to feel that the boss
man should have permitted him an
other week to get his inner" working.
But Griffith told him his pitch was too
high, would be useless in big league ball,
and that he ought to spend the Sum-
mer trying control
THOSE due to make the trip to Mo-
l bile tomorrow are Joe Kuhel. John
ME Kerr. Buddy Myer, Manager
Cronin, Bob Boken, Cecil Travis. Dave
Harris, Sam Rice, Fred Schultz, Cliff
Bolton, Moe Berg and trio of hurlers
Three youngsters will go three innings
each on the hill. Bob Friedrichs will
start, Ed Linke will get his chance IN
the middle Of the fracas, and Bud
Thomas, who Is going great guns in the
daily firing practice, will finish.
Tomorrow's starting batting order
will be Myer. Travis, Rice, Harris,
Cronin, Schultz, Kuhel, catcher and
pitcher