Evening star., 1936-02-27
PILOT ENTHUSED
OVER PROSPECTS
Seven Slab Rocks Regarded
Exceptional by Harris
in Early Survey.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,

~ RLANDo. Fla, February IL
4 Stanley Raymond Harris, who.
probably shares with Connie
~ Mack the dubious distinction
OF being the least-envied manager in
the American League, is beginning to
see definite hope for the rebuilding of
. formidable and youthful Washington
pitching staff.
In manner which served to warn
all listeners that any and all immedi-
ate sympathy would be so much wasted
effort, Bucky said SO today as he Or
dered the Nationals first batting prac-
tice of the year.
Like most managers who have
knocked around a WHILE" declared
Bucky, SID like to go on record as say
ing that you don't know ball player
until he's been with you at least full
season. But at the same time I'm
willing to say that I'm looking oyer
the best group of kid prospects I've
ever seen in single training camp"
Not hurler on the squad has cut
loose with his Sunday pitch. but Har-
ris, tackling his appallingly huge task
Of rebuilding with all the vigor in his
makeup, believes he already has a
good line on what they will do under
fire.
Flock of Fine Rockies.
LIE NAMED II rookie players, of
them pitchers, as prospects who
either were certain to be retained or
sure to be "farmed out" for further
seasoning. They were Pitchers Frank
Peticolas, Kendall Chase. Dick Lana
han, Henry Coppola, Reds Hutchinson,
Joe Bokina and Harry Oates; Catchers
Floyd Perryman. Infielders Buddy
Lewis and Roberto Estalella and Out
fielder Dee Miles.
Not single one of those men,
toned will be cut loose until Wash
3ngton's big exhibition game sched-
ule is well under way, Harris de-
clared. Lanahan and Coppola of the
pitchers, are almost sure shots to
open the season in Capital mon
key suit" while Chase and Bokina
are conceded better than even
chances.
Perryman has so impressed Bucky
to date that he is not so certain but
that the tough Kentucky youngster
may do better for himself than win
the third-string catching job. Lewis,
Miles and Estalella, of course, have
been much-talked-of rockies who fig
ured to stick with the team.
Pitching Lot Surprises.
7 EWIS, in Harris early planning,
will hold down third base If he
comes anywhere near matching Os-
sic Bluege's all-around value during
the Spring. Estalella, who arrived
in camp yesterday and will be told to
shag flies today, likely will be retained
strictly as pinch hitter, according
to Harris. AS for Miles, it looks as
though he stands as good a chance
as anybody to be Washington's reg
ular right fielder.
1t is the pitching crop, however,
that is furnishing the surprises, for
mostly the rockies in camp were to-
tally unknown to Harris when they
arrived. But already he has watch
ed each of the favored few throw in
15-minute workouts from the box and
already he has pretty good idea
of how they will swing into action
when the grapefruit league" season
is inaugurated the middle of next
month.
In fact, Peticolas, the 210-pound
French Italian boy from Chicago, was
tentatively nominated today by Bucky
to start against the Red Sox in the
exhibition opener on March IA. Chase,
. wild left-hander with plenty of
stuff" and Bokina, recruit from
Albany, each will pitch three innings
along with Peticolas in that game.
Have Something on Pitches.
II EFT me tell you," enthused Bucky.
that if those kids can get that
ball over the plate they'll make it
plenty tough for any club in the
Spring. And we want to make it
tough for the Red Sox," he grinned.
THAT Peticolas will make a pitcher
some day. It's just a question of
when. Chase can win if he gets the
ball over. Lanahan is going to get
better all the time and I think Cop
pola showed enough last year when
his arm was okay to warrant a job.
Hutchinson and Oates are a little
green, but they're prospects, mind
va. Really, I've never seen a more
promising bunch of 'unknowns' in my
life at one Spring training camp"
1t will be a great relief to most
Of the recruits down here to know
that Harris plans no real cutting of
the squad for some days. A few kids
who are only cluttering up the field
now will be given pat on the back
and led to the gate. but those who
seem to have any chance at all will
remain at least until the exhibition
game stage.