Evening star., 1933-12-03
.CONFAB OVER MATS
OPENS WEDNESDAY
Bottoms Use to Be Left to
PiIot-Head for Chicago
Trade Mart Sunday.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.
w yINTRY blasts may have
NV Washington vering
Y V Wednesday, but there

u n
wv Washington vering
Y V Wednesday, but there
will be base ball
Warm-up at Clark Grifflth's head
quarters off Georgia avenue.
On that day Joe Cronin will
breeze in from his San Francisco
home and the young manager
of the American League cham
pionS Immediately will go into
conference with the president of
the Washington club on plans for
the 1884 campAign.
According to Griffith, he and his
Held general will have plenty to discuss
before they, with Secretary Eddie Eynoa,
entrain next Sunday for Chicago, where
the trio will take in the Winter session
OF the major leagues.
Cronin Is coming East with head
chockful Of ideas for the betterment of
the washington club, that took 1t on
the chin from the National League
champions in jig-time in the world
series after anneXing the title in its
nature OF these ideas, the Washington
prexy has nothing 10 reveal, but IL is
no secret that the outcome Of the world
series convinced both the big boss and
the pilot that their Nationals have some
fences to mend
While the Washington club set the
pace at bat for the remainder OF the
league the greater part of the past
season and finished on top in offense,
its stickwork was entirely too streaky
to satisfy Griffith and Cronin. Doubtless
there will be sought requirements
calculated to bolster the club Extensively
without detracting from its defense at
perhaps two or three positions.
The four days he Will be here, Cronin
VIII null over promising prospects and
bartering possibilities with Griffith, 50
that when they get to Chicago they will
be prepared to talk turkey with any
club having talent the Nationals might
have a chance to land.
Would Bolster Four Posts.
TT IS understood that the washington
president and his field general are
particularly eager to add to their
clubs strength at third base, behind
the bat, in an outfield post and on the
pitching slab. To back up the veteran
Ossie Bluege. and possibly to replace
him, at third base, the Nationals al
ready have likely material in the person
of Cecil Travis, youthful Chattanooga
infielder. But the club still must dig
up talent for other spots it hopes to
improve.
Griffith again is saying that his clubs
catching department could be boosted
nicely by fairly regular employment Of
Cliff POltnn rrk hoe
been the property Of the Nationals for
some time and was with them steadily
the past season.
When Bolton was brought up from
Chattanooga last Winter, Griffith in
timated the young fellow would see
plenty of service behind the bat. In
stead, Manager Cronin used the more
experienced Moe Berg as Luke Sewell's
relief during the campaign the Ma
tionals went through to the champion
ship.
Probably Griffth's renewed interest
in Bolton is due to the handsome bat
ting mark made by the ex-Chatta-
noogan the past season in the American
League. Swinging from the left side,
Bolton in the 33 engagements he
crashed hit for the smart figure of
42l. That was the best average built
by any member Of the Nationals, the
best by far. Not only that but Bolton
also was the king Of pinch -hitters in
his circuit
Bolton landed his steady job with
the Nationals mainly because he had
led at bat IN every minor league in
which he had played. His hitting for
some time was his main asset, how
ever. He had glaring faults as a re-
ceiver. Carefully groomed in two train
SFr11E -, L
proved greatly behind the bat and Grif-
nth believed the youngster was ready
for second-string service last Spring.
Bottoms Use Up to Cronin.
DUT Manager Cronin thought diff
ID ferently and Berg got the call. 1t
may be different this time. Per-
haps Cronin, too, may see greater pos
sibilities in Bolton when the young fell
lows fine work at bat is recalled. The
decision in Bottoms case will be strictly
up to Cronin, says Griffith.
Should Cronin decide in Bottoms ia
vor, Berg's days with the Nationals will
be numbered. Moe then would 60 on
the block at the Chicago sessions when
the major moguls generally devote about
as much time to trading efforts as they
do to base ball legislative action. With
good receivers rather scarce, Berg
might prove tempting bait in Wash
ington's angling for players. While no
sturdy batter, Moe Is an accomplished
performer behind the bat and a catcher
who handles pitchers we'll Any one of
several major clubs could improve its
catching staff by the addition of Berg.
AS to getting an outfielder and q
pitcher, Griffith says plans at present
are vague. He will go to Chicago pre-
pared to buy them or trade for them.
but clubs so far approached with re-
spect to such players have not re-
sponded warmly to the Washington
presidents overtures. He wants the
outflelder to swing from the right side
and the pitcher to hurl from that side
and has his eyes on several who meas
ure up to Cronin's estimate of what
the Nationals need
Getting them for the young man
ager viii be no easy matter, but while
IN chicago next week Griffith will be
trying. ~ WAL 'o
GONZAGA is AMBITIOIJS