Evening star., 1936-04-24
LOOK FOR RELIEF
AFTER HARD TRIP
Illnesses, Slab Weakness,
Wasted Attack Checking
Washington Club.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.

Stan Correspondent of The Star.
n IEW YORK, April 24.-With
little to indicate any imme-
" diate uplift in their fortunes
on the road, the Nationals
looked forward to their first lengthy
home stand of the season today as they
prepared to battle the Yankees in
the finale of an ill-starred jaunt.
1t is almost certain that return
to Griffith Stadium will help. In
fact, the only development that seems
impossible is for the Washington ball
club to get any worse. In the week
that has elapsed since this Eastern
trip started, the Nationals have been
plagued by everything in the base
ball books, with few maladies thrown
in extra.
Today, for instance, in addition to
Jimmy De Shong and Johnny Stone,
the grip epidemic has gripped vir-
tually every player on the squad.
Cliff Bolton, who spent yesterday in
bed, still was feverish and the sounds
coming from Earl Whitehill's throat
bore a marked resemblance to the
noise OF a model T climbing Thir-
teenth street hill. Jack Russell, Bud
dy Lewis, Buck Newsom, Buddy Myer
and ever Skipper Bucky Harris were
battling colds.
On the ball field has spread another
sort of Notwithstanding to do
with losing games. That was the
third tilt in row the Nationals lost
yesterday to the Yanks, to 10, and
1t hurt a lot because it seemed to
prove pretty definitely that Monte
Weaver isn't very far along the come
back trail, that Kendall Chase has
plenty of stuff, but it is far from be-
ing embarrassed and that Joe Bokina
and Henry Coppola have much to
learn about the art of pitching big
league ball.
Unless this bunch improves quick
", it appears as though Bucky Harris
will have to look elsewhere for his
important pitching, such as it might
be.
Home Stand Should Help.
RUT things are bound to pick up,
For one thing the Nationals
might get little warmer weather
back in Washington during the Is
game home stand they will inaugurate
tomorrow by entertaining Connie
Mack's Apathetics. Incidentally. the
Apathetics were not so apathetic yes
terday. Wonder how Tom YaWkey
felt when the nondescript Macks,
pitching a minor Lacquer like Harry
Kelley, held the Boston millionaires
to three hits and won, 9 to l?
The Philadelphias will stay in the
Capital for two days-Saturday and
Sunday. Then, in order, the invaders
will be Detroit, st. Louis, Cleveland
Chicago and Boston. BY that time
De Shong and Whitehill should be in
shape to bolster the pitching staff.
Stone ought to be back to lend the
power he packs in his big bat and the
club generally should have rid itself
of all the slipshod base ball it has
been putting out to the keen delight
Of the Red Sox and Yanks on this trip
There was something individually
tragic about yesterdays defeat, in
addition to the whole note of sadness.
It was the way poor old Monte Weaver
was kicked around in a game that
meant possibly his base ball future.
Whitehill's cold provided Monte the
break and Harris gave him the nod
for his first starting effort since he
was shipped off to Albany nearly a
year ago. Monte had said this Spring,
that II either make good in my come
back or I'm quitting base ball and
1t goes without saying that Weaver
was pulled for.