Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-06
KRESS UNCERTAIN
AS REGULAR IN Sc
Lack of Speed Offsets His
Fine Fielding, Hitting in
Recent Comeback.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.

BY FRANCIS E. STAN.
- EPTEMBER, a division
team and a veteran with a
thinning pate usually are a
- mixture as unexciting to a
ball club. owner as it is to fans, whose
dollars and optics are all for potential,
new stars. That is why Ralph Red)
Kress occupies a singular position
now as the Nationals patiently wait
for the rain to stop so they can play
out their schedule.
Red is a veteran, having broken
into the majors nine years ago. His
hair is thinning the Griffs are very
much a second division club and this
is September. But Red is interesting
and will continue to be so down to
the final day, in all probability.
The facts of the Kress case are too
well known to bear much summarize
ton. Briefly, Red was flop as
utility man and finally was released"
late in July to Chattanooga. AS he
was packing his bags the Nationals
were stricken with sudden inf1eld
famine and Red was called back. He
rushed into the second game of a
double header, made four hits in four
tries and has been in the lineup ever
since
In fact, he has been more than a
regular. Except for one thing he has
been the best shortstop in the Ameri-
can League since July "a.
Shortstop Berth 1886 Problem.
THE sole fly in the ointment, how
= ever, is serious. 1t seems that
Red can't run any more, or at least
he can't run as f1rst-rate inflelder
should. so Uncle Clark Griffith and
Bucky Harris are stroking their chins
and wondering about 1886 and who'll
play shortStop.
This is one of the biggest of all
problems in the heralded rebuilding
program. Griff is about resigned to
withdrawing hopes of getting a good
major league shortstop in Winter
trade simply because there isn't such
a person to be had, unless he gives
away half a ball club that otherwise
will 60 for new pitchers and out
fielders.
Griff and Bucky are thinking of
converting Third Baseman Cecil
Travis but this is no cinch because
(a) Travis is no sure-f1re bet to make
good as a shortstop and (b) Buddy
Lewis or Bob Estellella may not be
ready to play third base in the big
show.
Of course, Ossie Bluege still will
be around, but Oss definitely is half
season regular now, while Alan
Strange, a symphony In fielding, is
regarded as too weak a batter.
ION Trial" With Rockies.
As A result Uncle Clark has reached
the stage where the question is,
"where can we do better?" and in
view of the current supply and de-
mand in the shortstop market, the
query is unanswered So 1t wouldn't
be surprising if Kress takes place
alongside of Lewis, Estellella, Marion,
Lanahan, Coppola and Starr and goes
under the glass in the searching Sep
TENDER test which will furnish a pre-
view of 1886.
It has been almost month and a
half now since Red has been playing
shortstop regularly and for all of his
slowness, he has done a satisfactory
Job. But a month and a half is not
very long, after all.
When Kress' record is presented
the Californian's case is quite remark
able. 1t was plain at the time of his
release" that he was of little use in
a utility role. He was batting .14o
at the time and when Griff asked
waivers he got 'em from all IS major
league clubs.
Bats .341 Since Return
WHEN in his dramatic return" he
w made four straight hits, Harris
got bunch and Red got his regular
job, and, except for three games when
he was nursing an ankle injury, Red
has been in the lineup ever since
He's played in SO games and his |
batting average for that stretch is
P.341. From a lao batter he has
jumped to .295 and is good bet to
finish the season above the 800 mark. |
In mis- 36-game stretch as a regular,
Kress had made IS hits in 1872 trips
to the plate and batted in Is runs
Only in six of the games has he failed
to hit safely.
From a stick average turn to the
guys fielding record for another
shock. He's handled 202 chances
"a putouts and 1i8 assists-and IS
charged with only five errors, for a
percentage Of .976. BY way of en-
phasizing the merits of this figure,
Lyn Larry led the American League
shortstops last year with 1865.
Bill Rogell and Bill Knickerbocker
each had 1862; Joe Cronin and Eric
McNair had .951 and Luke Appling
and Frank Crosetti had .945.
Shines on Double Plays.
COMPARABLE to the runs-batted-
In column of q batting record Is
q shortstop or second baseman's par
ticipation in double plays, and in this
department Kress also IS well up with
the leaders. Since his installation at
shortstop, Red has been in IS double
plays in SO games. He's had q hand
in 20 of the twin killings made by the
Griffs in the last II games.
In the face of the figures. 1t doesn't
seem to make sense, this business of
looking for q new shortstop, but speed
after all Is essential But If fella
can make comeback like Kress did,
maybe he can locate that missing
stride to first base between now and
next Spring.
II he does, Red won't make any
body mad.