Evening star., 1936-01-12
Pery Cri Scramble Be1hs Sports Aces Among Bo
-FOUR JOBS OFFER
CHANCE. TO SCRAP
Backstop, Shortstop, Third
Base and Right Field
Beckon HustIers.
nv FRANCIS T.. STAN.

scramble for jobs In the modern
history of the Washington ball
u club is Clark Griff1th's pre-
dicted feature of the 1896 training
camp season.
Griffith, whose enthusiasm over
herding squads of Nationals and en-
bryonic Nationals Southwark remains
undimmed despite two dozen similar
performances in the past, did his
prophesying yesterday as he began
preparations for his own trip to Or
lando as official vanguard of the club.
AS Griffith sees it, while at the same
time maintaining that his viewpoint
merely is one of looker-on and not
a Judge in making decisions, four of
the eight regular posts, in addition to
an indefinite number of pitching jobs.
will be open in wholesale battle royals
that may make the forthcoming train
ing season one of the most interesting
In years.
The posts which both Griff and
Manager Bucky Harris have stated
more or less openly will be open are
catching. shortstop, third base and
rightfield.
Hollbrook Believed Pliable.
THE increasingly evident doubt on
- the part of the Nationals front
ONCE" as to Cliff Bottoms adaptness
behind the bat comes, perhaps, as the
only surprise. There w0 no official
intimation Of dissatisfaction with Boil
tons work during the 1885 American
League campaign but the hushed-up
efforts to trade Bolton to Cleveland
for frankie Pytlak bespoke the minds
of Griffith and Harris
Admittedly there is little hope OF
swinging trade of catchers and it
will occasion no surprise if Harris
makes it plain to Bolton and Sammy
Holbrook, his leading understudy, that
the Nationals No. catching berth is
open and go to it.
Holbrook's lack of experience is
against him but despite this and his
mediocre showing in utility roles last
year it is felt that Sammy is more
plable material than Bolton Cliff
can hit and his work behind the bal
If far from ragged but Bolton lacked
the spark and spirit that was wanted.
At least four hats will be in the ring
in the fight for shortstop. Red KreSs
will be the favorite as result of his
work in the last half of the 1885 cam
paign, but Kress' apparent slowness of
foot has caused Harris to look around
for an improvement, preferably a
youngster who fits in with rebuilding
plans.
Both Cecil Travis and Buddy Lewis
will be looked over at shortstop, while
Ossie Bluege, still first class inflelder
for half season. will be on hand to
make his bid. Whether Alan Strange
will be asked to report to training
camp is doubtful. He probably will be
optioned to Albany.
johnson Regarded as Regular.
IF EITHER Travis or Lewis makes
the grade at shortstop, the other
probably will be installed on third base
without further ado, although Travis
Is listed on the club roster, officially, as
an outflelder. In the event that Kress
or Bluege open at shortstop. Travis
and Lewis likely are to hook up in a
little Skirmish of their own for third
base although, regardless of the out
come of any and all job hunts. Cecil
Is certain to play somewhere.
No less than four outfielders will be
IN the race for the rightfield post,
held last year regularly by Johnny
Stone. Only one can win, of course
and only two others likely are to be
retained. Stone undoubtedly will rank
as the favorite in this four-cornered
scrap, but Carl Reynolds and Fred
Schultz have the advantage of batting
right-handed, while Dee Miles has the
speed, youth and potentialities that
dovetail with plans to build a young
club.
The other two infield posts, as well
as the two remaining outfield jobs,
pretty certain are to be taken care of
by the men who figure. in the Winter
book, to play. Now that rumors of
trade involving Roy johnson have
quieted, 1t is likely that Roy will be
placed in leftf1eld at the outset, for,
despite the plentitude of gardeners,
the ability Of the former Red Sox fly
chaser to bat in runs has captured
Harris fancy.
Jake Powell, f1rst-year standout, is
certain to patrol center field, while
only renewed and extravagant bidding
by the Yankees seems to stand in the
way Of Capt. Buddy Myer playing sec
ond base. At first base, despite his of
year, Joe Kuhel appears to have pretty
much of a lock. as Griff and Harris
unanimously are willing to gamble on
kuhel's return to form.