The Washington times., 1936-03-28

Question
Mark
BY FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL

ORLANDO, Fla, March 20.
The time has come, to quote from
the Walrus, to talk of many
things, such as pitchers, short
stops and outfielders. 1t is time
to appraise the GriffS as they
prepare to break camp after a
month in Orlando and hit the
trail for the North.
What kind of ball club has
Bucky Harris put together down
here where orange blossoms make
the night air heavy with fra
grance?
Where will it finish?
Where. if any place, is it
stronger than the outfit that
struggled through the season Of
1885?
The Griffs of 1885 will be an
interesting club in some depart
ments, team that on certain days
will make trouble for any oppoSi-
ton. It has power, all kinds Of
power, but it's power that does not
always achieve the results it
should. The reason? Very simple.
It's strength on attack has been
more than offset by defensive
weakness. In witness Of this, in
three games the team scored %
runs and yet lost. Thcy won on
eight runs yesterday.
Yankees May CrumbIe
Where will the team finish?
Scanning the American League,
it is difficult to see the GriffS
edging into the first division, al
though if the Yankees crumble at
second base, fnythin- may happen
-adhering to conservation that
perhaps borders pessimism, we
would say that fifth place might
be the peak of the Griffs' posi-
bilities. If they rise higher it will
be delightful surprise. If they
fall below that notch it will not
be disappointing.
The club is stronger in the out
field than it was in '35, and Buddy
Lewis, although just a kid, and
a scatter arm thrower, is develop
ing nicely at third base. Travis
has fallen away slightly in his
form as shortStop. He has de-
veloped habit of trying to field
balls in a squattering position. It
| just can't be done, and the re-
suits of several games show
| definitely that third base and
shortstop are the weak spots in
the lineup.
Weak, but by large, better
than they were last year. And
just SO far as they may improve
there is cause for a certain
optimism.
So far the Griffs have one
pitcher. He is Buck Newsom, the
one man broadcasting system.
NewSom has blasted his fast one
past the opposing batters. He
doesn't try to think his way
through games, and perhaps that
is all for the best. He has, over.
powering stuff. He made toys
Of the Cardinal bats down in
Bradenton yesterday in six in
nings.
We don't know how good Earl
Whitehill will be when the season
opens. So far he has gotten q few
men out-among them Earl White
hill. He has gotten himself out
in three or four innings. But
enemy spikes stabbed the plate
while he was in, and enemy hits
searched the outfield.
DeShong, Linke, weaver, Russell
and Lanahan have pitched and
they probably will improve before
the season opens. It is to be hoped
that they will.
Lewis Socks Apple
Your reporter finds it difficult
to prevent this appraisal Of the
team from assuming some Of the
aspects Of q diatribe. But it is in
fairness to Washington fans, and
the players Of the club itself that
truth be set forth.
We have already stated that
Lewis was developing nicely at
third base. There were times
when he was sensational. There
were times when he looked like
raw busher. Averaging his
performances, I would say that
Lewis is going to win popularity
in Griffith Stadium this season,
Lewis looked best at Sarasota.
But at Bradenton on a torrid
smash by Terry Moore he looked
like a SUPER Collins. He leaped
high. grabbed a bid for a double,
and instinctively turned and
threw to Myer for the most
breath-taking double play of the
training trip. His batting has
been terrific. Four triples and
a home run in two days indicate
this. At Sarasota they tried him
on an outside ball and he cracked
it to left center for a triple. They
switched to inside pitching and
the kid hit triples to right and
right center. He hit a fast
outside ball to left center yes
terday against the Cardinals.
Miles is improving greatly and
will be carried this season. Miles
established himself with Harris
against the Red Sox in Sarasota
with is ability to charge ball
and throw it quickly. -
Interesting are these GriffS Of
'36, with run-producing power
that would be crushing if coupled