The Washington times., 1934-04-14
BY GARRETT WATERS
Times Staff Correspondent

By GARRETT WATERS
Times Staff Correspondent
PITTSBURGH, Pa, April IA.
A jump from the bull pen to .
starting pitchers role
That's the pleasing future Jack
Russell, young hurler, had thrown
at him today as the Griffmen ar.
rived here to engage the Pitts
burgh Pirates in q single game
before dropping down to Balti.
more tomorrow to conclude their
exhibition schedule for the spring
of 1884.
The news is just part Of Man.
ager Joe Cronin's late plans for
the opening Of the regular cam
paign, fans, but in this instance.
plans that had to be formed
quickly and deftly because Of the
Importance attached.
CrOwder Tagging
Russell, it seems, is to be a
starting pitcher from now on,
due to the slowness which Gen.
eral Alvin Crowder has shown in
reaching his best form this
spring.
Just how long Jack will be
kept in his new role depends on
Crowder. It is hoped not for
long as Jack is topnotcher
when it comes to relief pitching,
and Manager Cronin realizes it.
But because Crowder is not quite
ready to hurl at top speed, Cronin
has found it imperative to put
somebody else in the veterans
place until events shape up better
a little later on.
OF course, Cronin's first thoughts
were Of Russell when he finally
decided to name a starter to fill
Crowder's shoes. The young
twirler has worked hard all spring,
has all his speed and stuff of last
year (although he didn't show it
in yesterdays game with tn e
Brooklyn Dodgers at Griffith
Stadium) and is in the best shape
of his career.
Earned His Spurs
Besides, Russell earned himself
this starting chance over others
on the staff by his excellent pitch
ing from the first day he put on
a Griff uniform last year. It will
be remembered, Jack worked his
head off for Manager Cronin in
1888, turning in performances that
had the entire league talking, not
to mention the New York Giants
whom he stopped cold in the world
series last fall.
But enough about Russell for
the time being. Crowder will take
over Jacks job as first string re-
lief pitcher for the Griffs until he
is ready to start games again.
The veteran has willingly agreed
to this arrangement, following
several conferences with Man
ager Cronin anent his form and
condition at this important hour.
This means that 1.-THE General"
will work hard during the times
he's not called upon to rescue a
faltering mate in the idea that
his recovery" to top form will be
short and sweet.
" CrOnin Hopeful
Naturally Manager Cronin iS
hopeful that it won't take Crow.
der very. long to get feeling right
again; as he would rather have
Crowder among the starting group
and Russell as his No. l relief
man than any other arrangement
that could be devised. And all
because of its success of 1888,
when both hurlers turned in such
impressive performances in their
respective assignments.
RuSsell's first appearance as a
starter will be in the Boston Red
SoX. series at Boston next week.
Just which game hell work, Mana
ger Cronin hasn't decided yet, but
it'll probably be the third of the
SERIES, as. Cronin will most likely
start Earl Whitehill in the opener
at Washington next Monday, fol.
low with Prof. Monte Weaver and
Lefty Walter Stewart in the first
two games at Boston on Tuesday
and Wednesday, and end with Earl
Whitehill again in Fridays con.
test.
Crowder, in the meanwhile, will
Jump to the rescue of any Of this
group il the occasion demands, as
part Of his program to get back to
the form that made him the best
pitcher on the Griff staff in 1888.
ARAbHrr MINP rOm