Evening star., 1933-03-03
|SAYS FINE BACKING
| WILL INSPIRE VETS
Pilot Confident Whitehi|I and
Stewart Will Shine-Sees
Russell Big Help.
BY TOM DOERER.

DA AO1 DOLhLhs
ILOXI, Miss, March 3.-Tll
X match the left-hand side
- of the mound department
Of the Nationals against
any in the American League"
said the husky manager of the
Griffs, Joe Cronin, as he paraded
some of the fine achievements of
Earl Whitehill, the former Tiger,
and Walter Stewart, the exist.
Louis pitcher, in tanning bee.
With the exception of Bobby Grove
OF the Athletics and Lefty Gomez of
the Yankees, Whitehill and Stewart are
the de luxe fork listers of the league"
he added.
Bobby Burke, the Nationals south
paw, who, Griffith and Cronin insist has
not reached his real pitching form, is
rated as being as good relief portsider
as the next when his tummy isn't trou-
bling him.
But in Whitehill and Stewart Cronin
sees the pair that is to make as much
trouble for the rest of the league as it
made for Washington time and time
again.
For long while this pair has been
jinx to the Griffs. Beating it meant
the Nationals had to be up on their
toes and feeling in fit form.
And remember, too," said Joe that
In Jack Russell we have Highlander
who used to make plenty of trouble for
us. When We played Boston the Bean
town boys saved Russell for us. And
it was no picnic stopping him."
WITH good defensive work behind his
w left-handers next season, Joe fig
ureS them to knock their last
years marks off the slate. And, added
to better defensive playing than they
have been getting at ST. Louis and De-
troit, Joe contends that the combined
batting of Manush, Goslin, Schultz and
himself ought to furnish enough Of
fensive spark to give the hurlers some
runs to start with.
In last years flight for the bunting,
the Nationals fielded .979, point
lower than the Athletics, who marked
up a season record for club fielding.
But the Nationals fielded 10 points
better than Cleveland, for whom Jack
Russell toiled; 9 points better than st.
Louis, Walter Stewards former team,
and 10 points above Detroit, for which
outfit Whitehill had to do a season of
hard work.
And in the matter of errors, the
National infield was as slick in keep
ing down the number of black marks
as any club in the loop. The comb
nation of Kuhel, Myer. Cronin. Kerr,
Bluege and the pitchers was supreme.
General Crowder of the pitchers max
ing no mistakes in SO games.
"Give Whitehill, Stewart and Rus
sell, our now moundsmen, some de-
NlA dc tnN n
their marks of last year will show
something else again.
Then. remember, we are going to
have more punch behind the bat with
Bolton there. Plenty more If the
utility inflelders, Cecil Travis or Bob
Boken, comes along"
DUT Russell got good hitting with
- Cleveland in the latter part Of
last season. and he proved that he
recognized it by hanging up a better
! record with the Indians than he did
with Boston, with whom he played in
the early part of the year. With the
Beaneaters, Jack won one and lost
seven. With a better hitting Cleveland
club. he won five and lost seven games.
While Cleveland, clouting .285, outhit
| the Nationals by / point last season, Joe
| feels that the new surroundings, better
defense and more spirit will make Rus
sell a far better pitcher.
Whitehill, toiling for Detroit, club
that pasted the pill for but .274 and was
weak an defense. took it on the chin
for 13 losses in hanging up Is victories.
Stewart, heaving for the Browns. who
hit for 276, was bumped hard, getting
but Is victories and the mean-looklng
mark of 10 losses.
In all, the trio of traded hurlers were
whipped 46 times while bringing home
| 81 wins for their sides. Firpo Marberry
and Lloyd Brown. who departed from
the Griffs. won % games while losing
| 16 sessions.
Figures" said Cronin as the boys
began to pop them up in this left-hand
pitching discussion, 'are o. K, but I'll
wager that spirit this year is going to
tell the story and the yarn will be
around the reversed figures. Stewart
and Whitehill are going to be a great
pair to put with Monte Weaver and
General Crowder, great duet Of right
| handlers