Evening star., 1933-05-01
SERIES WITH TRIBE
OPENS 1}T|[T TRIP
WhitehiII Slated to Hurl
First Game-Myer to Top
Hitting List Again.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

~LEVELAND, May 1.-Out
where the West begins, the
~ Nationals are putting on
no May day demonstra-
ton, but only because the Ameri-
can League schedulemakers left
this a rest period for them. To-
morrow, though, the Washington
athletes make their first thrust of
the season at the Western battle
line and at the conclusion of the
two weeks offensive they should
have more than a fair idea of
what to expect through the re-
mainder of the championship
course.
The Nationals long have found
Western swings unfruitful, but
this aggressive new deal" club
seems better than others sent out
from the Capital in recent years.
The Cronin-led crew is apt to
surprise the inland sector this
time.
There's mystery in the West, though.
Great feats by pitchers have been
numerous out this way In the early
going Some of the experts have claimed
the superb slabbing has been brought
about by deadening of the ball put out
back on that ancient alibi, "the pitchers
are ahead of the batters," in explana-
ton. Neither bit Of explaining has a
reasonable ring.
The same kind of ball has been in
use in the Eastern sector and wnne
pitchers there have done choice lot
Of chucking they have not as group
matched the Western hillmen in con-
sistently fine work. So that "deadened
BALI alibi does not sound right.
And mixed with the lowhit games
the batters freely slammed to the out
lying reaches of the parks and beyond.
They still are hitting out this way.
That throws out the argument based on
the possible advanced state OF the
Western pitchers.
Maybe it's a matter of the pitchers
being Just what they should be after
their weeks of training down South
and the batters in general not such
good batters, anyway. That's some
thing the Nationals will learn shortly.
THIRTEEN games are scheduled for
i the Washington club this trip and
right of the reel they encounter
one of the Vests best clubs. The In
dians Today were III fourth place and
right at the heels Of the Nationals.
Thus this set here may turn out to be
a struggle for third position or, perhaps,
second should the White Sox do some
Even first place might be gained by
the Nationals, for the Yankees are to
tackle the Tigers in Detroit the next
three days and anything might happen
there But climb to the top by the
WASHINGTON club in this Cleveland
series Is nothing more than a remote
possibility.
From here the Nationals will move to
Detroit for a three-day stand against
Bucky Harris rebuilt Tigers. The
Harris horde has had lot OF flne
hurting this Spring, but it has not been
batting for fancy figures. Bucky thought
he had an improved club at the outset
of the campaign. Now he Is expert
menting with it again.
The third series for the Cronin crew
out this way will be played in st. Louis,
where veterans with the club Will run
into old pals. How comparisons Will oe
drawn as Nationals and Browns clash,
with Schultz and Goslin. former ST
Louis stalwarts, playing against west
and REYNOLDS, eX-Washington stars.
And Stewart, picked up from the
browns. may run against Brown. sent
out from the Nationals, in a southpaw
slab scrap, too.
The longest series Of the trip. one OF
four games, will be played in st. Louis.
After that the Nationals will invade
Chicago for a three-game set with the
White Sox, the surprise club OF the
wear. Lew Fonseca'S hands have Chl-
cago fans dizzy these days. They have
not been accustomed to seeing the Sox
soar since the days Of 20.
THOSE veterans Of the battle of Grif-
i fifth Stadium. restored to good
standing after an enforced five-day
rest and payment Of sl00 fines. will see
action against the Indians tomorrow
principals in the beginning of the big
rumpus in Washington last Tuesday.
goes back to second base and Earl
Whitehill. who was a main figure in the
later scuffling with the Yankees, goes to
the hill to lefthand his stuff to the
Tribe.
Manager Cronin says the batting
order that was in vogue before the COM
bat will be resumed. Mver will return
to the head Of the hitting list, while
Ossie Bluege will be dropped from first
to seventh position.
The athletes arrived here early this
morning with nothing to do but enjoy
a hackmans holiday later on This
III - ~l$ %tHn fry
city stadium which the Cleveland club
uses to watch the Indians and White
Sox battle. You can't keep a ball play
er away from ball game.
Pike-perch and pickerel will strike
preferably at moving bait. artificial or
natural. and occasionally they are
taken from the same water in trolling
or casting.
III 81