The Washington times., 1936-04-27

Ava SA4SAAA v ~ avn ~ SS~A@SS
Browns yesterday?
The crying need Of the Grit
club. Newsom was so sick y
finish his game against the Att
Jimmy Deshong is just out of a
hospital after a battle with the
FLU, and Earl Whitehill cannot
promise anything worthy of note
for another week. Just jam onto
this the fact that Jack Russell is
choked up with cold and grippe
and you have a pitching staff that
Is just about shot to ribbons.
Eddie Linke will open against
the Tigers tomorrow. Linke had
a sorry day against the Yankees,
but they all have those days. It
may be that Linke will come back
with one of his good games. For
the time being, however, the pitch
ing staff presents a real problem
beyond the capabilities of the
men. It is question of getting a
team on the field that is in condi'
ton to play ball.
Fifth Place Post
The Griffs are in fifth place to-
day, two games out of the lead
with only the Browns and Indians
in action for the day. The result
Of that game will matter little
locally, or anywhere else outside
Of Cleveland. The Indians want
to head East leading the league.
If defeats do not pile up too
frequently until the starting
pitchers return to health, the
situation will not be too bad. If
the invading clubs feast upon the
second string hurting that right
how is in prospect for them, the
riddle of the Griffs may be read
almost before they've begun to
fight.
There is a lot of power on the
club; there is enough speed, and
while it is not the most alert
organization in the world, it is
not the slowest between the ears.
If you are a player of long shots
and are willing to follow the in
dicationS of Springtime form in
an established hitter, tag along
with Cecil Travis as the batter
most likely to lead the American
League in hitting this year. The
drawlin' Georgian got three more
blows yesterday to strengthen his
position He is as free as a breeze
at that dish, hitting all pitching
with power and authority. Travis
hit Lefty Grove in Boston the
other day when it was so dark that
time was called almost as soon
as the ball hit the outfield turf.
Lewis on Upgrade
And here's another little indica-
ton. Buddy Lewis is definitely on
the upgrade as a third baseman.
Lewis threw out Hayes yesterday
after fumbling a hard hit ball for
a moment. It wasn't just the play,
but the way Buddy made it that
was great. He was as cold as ice
and as certain as time in reaching
after the ball and whipping it to
Kuhel. A month ago Lewis would
have thrown that ball into three
counties.
Jack Powell was on his toes
with his head up in the sixth in
ming when he scored from second
base on Bottoms prodigiouS hoist
to Wallie Moses. It has been a
long time since a washington
player did that stunt. Sam Rice
raced home from second on a fly
that This Speaker caught back
in the home run corner. That
rare feat once regarded as the ex-
elusive right of Ty Cobb, was
chronicled back in 1920, or there
aboutS.
The fences at Griffith Stadium,
impregible until yesterday were
twice conquered in two innings.
In the second Bolton hit over the
score board, and in the fourth
Count Puccinelli hit into the left
field stands. Powell hit into the
home run corner in right center
for the Circuit. No one was on
base when any of these homers
rang off the bats.
Strangely enough, none of the
Griff home runs was hit with any
one on bases. Joe Kuhel cracked
one into the right field stands at
Yankee Stadium with the bases
empty, Carl Reynolds did the
same thing against the Athletics
on Saturday, and then came the
two circuit clouts yesterday.