Evening star., 1935-01-06
ADMITS SLAB ACE
GREATLY NEEDED
Has a Hunch One of Rockies
Will Make Grade-FVe
Youngsters Sign.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.

right f1ipper upraised, Clark
Griffith swears that he will remove
the rubber band from the $50 grand"
that was Tom Yawkey's and that once
again he will flourish greenbacks as
well as players in an attempt to grab
a needed pitcher for the Nationals ere
the 1885 American League flag chase
begins.
But" cautions the president of the
Nationals, don't be surprised if a
pretty good pitcher bobs up from
where many least expect. mean by
that from the crop of kids I'm taking
to Biloxi this Spring"
Possibly the old gentleman with the
white gable eyebrows was feeling in
a kindly mood toward youngsters yes
terday, for the mailman brought him
the signed contracts of five of the
younger Observation-Disclosures Or
vile Armbrust, Reese Diggs and Archie
Scrivener, Outfielder AL Powell and
Catcher Sam Holbrook-thus starting
the ball rolling. Possibly he is merely
whistling to keep up his courage in
the face of failure thus far to procure
a seasoned hurler by trade or pur-
chase or both. It is more possible,
though, that he really is sold on some
of the slab aspirants he will crate
southwark for Bucky Harris to ex-
anime.
Realizes Staff Is Shaky.
CRIFFITH frankly admits that his
II hurting staff, as it now stands,
seems bit incapable for seri-
Gus bid in the forthcoming pennant
scramble, even if Earl Whitehill has
another good year, Bobby Burke con-
tinues to improve and Monte Weaver,
Walter Stewart and Jack Russell bet
ter their 1884 records. Somewhere,
somehow. I'll have to get another
pitcher who can win some games, "
Griff comedies. "If I can't grab him
in trade, have hunch one of
the kidsll make good"
Griffith thought he had found that
hurler last year in Ed Linke, but the
Chicago fat boy pulled up with his
queer arm ailment and despite recent
encouraging reports on the dead" fin
Griffith is not so sure that Linke's
arm will produce enough pulse beats
by Spring to make him a winner. Al
Thomas is good enough Spring slab
man when his fast one breezes by the
batters, but the boys welding the
sticks have habit of catching up to
Alphonse before the season is very old
and materially cutting down his
effectiveness. Alec McColl turned in
some uniformly good performances
last year, but Alec is nearing 40
which all but lets him out, especially
in view of Griff's announced policy OF
rebuilding.
Therefore, with other American
League magnates ostensibly bent on
hanging onto most of the really serv-
iceable talent, Griffith naturally is
placing considerable hope on his
youngsters.
Diggs Fine Prospect.
DIGGS, raw, 19-year-old kid from
Pinlico, Md; Arrnbrust, roly-
poly 24-year-old built along the
irving Hadley lines. and Sid Cohen,
25-year-old southpaw brother of Andy
Cohen, formerly of the Giants, are
those whom Griff regards as his best
bets.
The boss of the Washingtons par
ticularly is sweet on DiggS. Joe
Cambria sent him to Griffith last
Summer. as raw as a shot of 85-cent
rye While the ball club was away,
Grif had Diggs throwing to sandlot
catcher and what pointers Reese
picked up came straight from Uncle
Clark. So much did Reese impress
Grif that he was sent on the final
Western swing. Luke Sewell and Cliff
Bolton were unanimous in the opinion,
following the trip, that Diggs had
more stuff" when he cut loose, than
any righthander on the squad.
Control and confidence are all the
kid needs" vouches Griffith. Hes a
natural pitcher, if I ever saw one.
Course, he could use some experience,
but green kids have jumped from the
sandlots to the big leagues before with
little or no minor league experience
George Uhle did it. So did Eddie
Plank, Chief Bender and Walter John
son. Diggs'll get a chance, anyway"
Armbrust Too Heavy.
RIF'FI1H likes ArmbruSt'S Pitch
N ing, but not his avoirdupois
The fat boy showed good fast
ball, a nice curve and almost perfect
control when he whipped the Yanks
here in the 1884 finale, and in two
short stretches against the Indians
and AS, but the Nationals prexy laid
down the law when the club disbanded
for the season.
Either lose some weight or else"
was Griff's ultimatum, and Armbrust
promptly elected to lose weight. Ac-
.cording to recent missiles from the
chubby one, something like 10 pounds
have been dropped this Winter.
Cohen was knocked out of the box
by the Indians and slaughtered by the
Red SoX, but he whipped the Yanks
impressively In his third and only
other appearance last season, and his
stock was boosted further when young
Sam Holbrook, recent visitor here,
who is being counted upon to
down reserve catching berth, ad-
vised MeSsrs. Griffith and Harris that
Cohen had more "stuff" than any of
the boys he caught at Chattanooga,
and those included were Armbrust,
Leon Petit (another 1885 recruit)
and Linke, who spent part of 1888 in
the Southern Association.
Griffith, 1t seems, is going after 'em
young. If the batch of youngsters
who'll bid for those nine hurting jobs
measure up to Griff's expectations in
ability, then perhaps there will be a
surprise or two in store, for few base
ball men are better qualified to impart
slab knowledge than Uncle Clark, who
was some shakes of a pitcher himself
s'back in the good old days."
VOLLEY BALLERS TOILING.
Twelfth Street Y. M. G. A. volley
ballers are practicing in preparation
for a tough schedule, which includes
games with New York, Baltimore and
81 -~xI A~%v