Evening star., 1936-03-25
FACE MAJ0RFOES
. IN ALL Of GAMES
Harris, Seeking True Line
on Team, Asks Charges
to Bear Down.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,


= AKELAND, Fla. March 25.-Far
truer as a measuring gauge
than all manner of prophesy
IL and speculation, major league
competition with an element Of grudge
is likely to foretell the story Of the
Washington ball club in the next 10
days.
For the first time since the Nationals
opened their grapefruit league season
against the Red Sox and world cham
pien Tigers, Manager Bucky Harris
took the verbal check-rein off his
charges today and told them to 'Cut
loose" Games with minor league out
, fits, even losing tilts, are not taken
seriously by the skipper of the Griffs.
but, starting today, they are to bear
down.
I'm not going to start worrying
about this club until 1t takes few
beatings from big league teams" stated
Bucky today, in the wake of 5-to-4
licking inflicted by Minneapolis. 1t
was the third defeat for the Nationals
In the last five games.
II haven't urged the gang to put
out too much against these minor
league teams" he continued, but from
now on I'm going to have 'em giving
everything they've got. If there're any
serious flaws in our club, want to
know it right away"
Severe Tests Ahead.
SCHEDULED to oppose Detroit here
today in a return game, the Griffs
undoubtedly will be put to every test.
The Tigers still are smarting from the
6to-5 going over they received in
Orlando a week ago and Manager
Mickey Cochrane is determined to gain
revenge.
Tomorrow at Sarasota, training site
OF the Red Sox, the flame of Spring
training rivalry will burn even brighter.
for there is an open-and- shut case of
feudism between Harris and Joe
Cronin and Eddie Collins of Boston.
Then, too, Boston did not take kindly
to the 6-to-3 beating it got from
Washington 10 days ago today.
1. Nor will the Griffmen receive respite
q from the heat of battle after these two
games. On Friday the Cardinals will
be met at Bradenton in another game
that may mean bit of pressure on
Harris club, which will return to
Orlando Saturday and Sunday to en-
tertain the Browns. One more tilt
next week, Cincinnati furnishing the
opposition on Tuesday, will mark the
end Of the training season in Florida.
fr Will Use Best Hurlers.
COME idea as to the seriousness with
which Harris is regarding the
forthcoming tests this week was ap-
parent when Bucky announced that
only his standout pitchers will see
action. The duo of Jimmy Deshong
and Monte Weaver were to face the
Tigers today, with Jack Russell and
Eddie Linke opposing the Red Sox !
On Friday he will give the Cardinals
a peek at Buck Newsom and Earl
Whitehill. These twirlers, along with
Pete Appleton, Dick Lanahan and
Henry Coppola, will be the only slab
men to get much work from now on.
So far, despite only victories over
Montreal and Chattanooga to Offset
lickings by Minneapolis. Cincinnati
and Baltimore in the last five games,
Harris has found no real cause TO
VERY about his team. But if the Ma
tiOnals' record in the next six games
Is no better, he will be disappointed |
The Griffs will be putting out, and
hot l,oi,- hac
good enough, even against such high
cahber opposition, it will be time
to view the showing of the outfit with |
alarm.
In the process of watching his |
charges bite the dust yesterday in De-
land. Harris had some cause for re-
Joicing in the performance of young
Lanahan. who southpawed the last |
three innings and, incidentally, was
charged with the defeat.
Lanahan's Mistake Fatal. i
I ANAHAN made one mistake, and |
i that was fatal With two strikes |
on Spencer Harris he whipped over a |
fast ball inside and Harris socked it |
out OF the park for the run that broke
q A tie.
Harris hit was one of the five
homers blasted in the bandbox Min
neapolis park, Dee Miles, socking the
first pitch of the game. and Jake
Powell, also doing it in the, first in
ming, raped homers for Washington.
Buzz Arlett and Pinch Hitter Alb
Luther were the other circuit hitters.
Outside of that one miscue, though.
Lanahan performed impressively, es-
pecially in view of the pounding the
Millers gave Pete Appleton. who |
opened on the mound for the Griffts. |
Belve Bean, the ex-Nat, was greeted
warmly by his old mates, but Ray
Prlm, S'l! another Washington cast
off, stopped the Harrismen pretty cold |
to gain credit for the victory.