Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-07
GR|FF AND HARRIS
PREDICT STARDOM
Dee's Stick Pace SloughS
as Big Time Hurting Be-
gins to Tell.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.


gins to Tell.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.
A NATIONAL for exactly one
~ month today, Dee Miles finds
~ himself still very much on
4 n trial as far as Capital fans
are concerned. After first laying 'em
In the aisles with his amazing speed
and a bunch of base hits, Miles has
discovered there is a difference in
major league pitching and the brend
served in the Southern Association.
But while the newest of the Wash
ington outfielders is having his strug-
giles at bat, Manager Bucky Harris
and President Clark Griffith are
stringing along with the 22-year old
Chattanooga Express. Individually,
as well as collectively, they see in
Miles the makin's" of a really fine
outflelder.
Griffith thought well of the young
speedster when he secuted him prior
to his graduation to the Nationals.
Nor has Griff changed his mind since
Dee's 400 batting average tailed of
to a commonplace .284 clip.
Harris, ever Shrewd Judge OF
young talent. thinks Miles will be
ready for the big show by next year,"
Fielding His Only Worry.
Ills only problem quoth Bucky,
seems to be afield. and there he
has made the greatest progress since
we've had him. When he first joined
us Miles was little tight and slow
in starting after fly balls. Lately he's
been getting away faster and looking
better all around.
LAS for his hitting, I'm pretty sure
he'll make the grade With his speed
. it's hard to see how he can miss.
Miles will get lot of inf1eld hits, and
when he begins to swing little more
loosely, he'll bang a few for distance,
too"
Of course, month is short time
for even q base ball manager to pass
judgment on a rookie ball player.
Strictly speaking, Miles still is on
trial with Harris, too, but in his
si5e-up of the youngSter so far Bucky
seems well pleased. Unless his bat
ting average continues to shrink for
the rest of the season, Dee undoubt-
edly will figure in next years plans.
Purposely he was brought up mid
way of the American League cam
paign in order for Harris and Griffith
to obtain a definite line on what
they can expect in 1886. =.
Running Mate for Powell.
IT IS no secret that Grifith is plan
ming a big Winter trading session
in an effort to rebuild his pitching
staff and to get capable hurlers dur
ing the current slab famine it will
take more than cash. Players will
have to be snapped and probably
the only outfelder on the club certain
to wear Washington uniform next
year is Jake Powell.
Potentially, Miles is the type Of
player fancied by both Griffith and
Harris and if he should blossom
into a big-leaguer by next season he
would prove a great running mate
for Powell. While they are different
types, Miles and Powell possess sew
eral similar characteristics.
, Both, for instance, are strong throw
ers and capable Of cutting down many
an overambitious base runner. They
are the two fastest gents on the
Washington club and Harris ever has
been disciple of the dragged bunt
and stolen base.
: The fact that the Nationals have
trailed so often in games this season
probably has been responsible for the
comparatively small number of stolen
bases, but improved pitching easily
could open the way for more daring
base running.
Swings Too Freely.
pOWELL is more on the type Of
Goose Goslin, both naturally and
by preference. AS a kid he pat
termed himself after Goose and, while
he may never hit for the distance
Goslin used to get, Jake is longer
swatter than Miles.
The latter, If his development full
fills expectations, some day may family
revive memories of Sam Rice, who
may be remembered as a fair sort of
an outf1elder while playing for the
old Griffith A. c. At least Dee has
pair Of legs on Rice's type, feet
and potentially good for many years
OF service.
II. Miles does pan out this season,
finding the correct place for him in
the batting order will be the next
step. AS far as speed is concerned,
Dee would make an ideal lead-off man,
but he also is prone to swing too
readily at doubtful strikes. Expert
ence might overcome this fault. =,
Then, too, the kid has the happy
faculty Of getting most of his hits
when runners are on base. In the
Southern Association he was the leader
In runs batted in and he has displayed
much Of that talent here.