The Washington times., 1936-03-20

Highly of
Spencer
By FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL


ORLANDO, Fla, March 20.-AS
the Griffs hit the trail this
morning on a jaunt that carries
them to Winter Haven today for
a joust with the Phillies; to
Tampa tomorrow to battle the
Reds of Cincinnati, and to Day.
tona on Sunday for a session
with the Chattanooga Lookouts,
President Clark c. Griffith is
hunting high and low for a
catcher. He said cold turkey this
morning that with the exception
of the receiving department, the
team was pretty well fortified
for the season.
Griffith telephoned to Joe Nc
Carthy in st. Petersburg last
night to discuss the matter OF
Arndt Jorgens, upon whom the
Yanks have asked waivers. While
he was talking over the tele-
phone, some of the veterans OF
the Griffs spoke in glowing terms
of Roy Spencer, who caught for
Baltimore yesterday. Spencer a
few years ago was with the
Griffs, and is rated as a fine
receiver, albeit light hitter.
Griff will see Mccarthy in Tampa
today, but it is entirely possible
that he will switch to Spencer
and recall the veteran.
A play developed in yesterdays
game with the Orioles that cAus'
ed all this chatter about catchers.
In the fifth inning with a runner
on base, Jeffries put down a
bunt. To be exact, he put up o
bunt, but the ball landed in front
of the plate.
Failed to Call Play
Now Bolton should have caught
the ball in air. Failing in that,
he should have charged out in
front and called for the play. He
did neither, or if he did, no one
heard him. Frank PeticolaS, the
young right handler rushed in in
time to meet Bolton rushing out.
The boys blocked each other out
in approved Notre Dame style.
Christy Flanagan or your Aunt
Kate could have run yards off
tackle behind less effective block
ing.
Finally Peticolas picked up the
ball and hurled it into right field.
It was a new outdoor American
record for wild throwing. free
style with or without a run. Berry,
the pitcher who was on base when
JeffrieS bunted, got to third
where he hurt his ankle. Jeffries
pulled up at second.
Now this writer contends that
one play doesn't make or unmake
catcher, unless the same play
repeats ad infinitum. We know
that blunders behind the plate and
in directing the strategy Of the
Washington club have repeated.
Griffith Burns Blue
Clark Griffith burned with a
bright blue flame after yesterdays
game. Not that a shut-out defeat
by a minor league team is going
to affect the standing of the Griffs
in the championship race. But
plays of the nature that caused
the defeat car affect the standing
of the club very materially.
"PlayS like the one Bolton
made ruin games and beat
clubs" Griffith said. 81 have
nothing to say about PetieOlaS'
error. That was the result Of a
bad play. Bolton should have
called for the ball."
While the prexy is booking
here and there, not to say around
and about for receives the playA
ers launched q debate on the relas
tive merits of Arndt JorgenS and
Spencer. There were just as many
of the boys who were sure that
Spencer would be as valuable to
the team as Jorgens could be, az
the other way round.
Travis Makes Good Showing
Out of a mess of wild pitching
and wild throwing which led to
Yesterdays 80 defeat at the hands
of the Baltimore Orioles, Cecil
Travis stood out as a Shortstop.
The drawlin' Georgian handled
himself like a veteran and fairly
ate up the bad hops that came his
way.
Travis was especially brilliant
in disposing of Jeffries and FloN
ence on grounders that leaped
wildly, almost clearing his head,
Travis moved easily, charging the
ball, and his perfect throwing
was a delight.
One of the outstanding plays
of the game was a double play
in which Red KreSs Tipped a
back-hand toss to Travis who
CONTINUED on Page A, Col. 81