Evening star., 1937-07-17
DECLINE Of BUDDY
IS BLOW TO GR|FFS
Former Ace Is Slow Afoot,
Weak With FIai| and
L.ackadaisicaI.
RY FRANCIS F.. STAN.

~ ETROIT, July l7--Parrlng
another of Bucky Harris typ
ical changes of mind, the new
49, regular second baseman of
the Nationals, if anybody still cares,
y Johnny Mihalic.
The dark skinned graduate Of Cleve-
knos sandlots. who led the Washing
ton Club in batting in Spring training
and thus threw his hat into the ring
with Buddy Myers, today was handed
the post, according to Harris.
Obviously dissatisfied with Myers
work. Bucky said: "Mihalic is on sec
ond to stay now. think that he will
help us more The recruit started
yesterdays game against the Indians
and conducted himself we'll. getting
two singles and a double off Mel Har-
der. The Griffs, however, lost their
third straight to the Tribe, IL to s.
Myers decline this season was the
blow OF blows to the Mats and their
hopes of going places in the Ameri-
can League derby 1t was conceded
last year that Illness kept him from
starring but he recovered from his
stomach ailnent in the Winter. This
wear has found Buddy slow afoot,
weak at bat and generally lackadaisi-
cal.
Mihalic Stars In Defeat.
THE popular infielder, who only two
years ago was winning the Amer
tran League batting championship
has been pitiful figure at bat during
the last month or so. Mihalic, while
not quite Harris idea of a ma jor
league second baseman, is given a
chance of helping the Mats at that
post. His debut did nothing to alter
the odds in his favor
From the start of the 1897 season
n Nas evident that Myer had lost his
spark Once one of the most peppery
PLAYERS ever to wear a Washington
uniform, Buddy lost his fire and it
was suspected that he had thoughts
other than base ball foremost in his
mind, When his playing days are
over Meyer, it is said, will divert full
time to promoting an air-cooling en-
terprise in New Orleans. He owns
an interest in the business
For all Of Mihalic's herculean hit
ting. the Mats never we're in the game
that Cleveland won in handy fashion.
In the first inning the Griffs took a
10 lead in an apologize sort of
fashion but they quickly lost 1t and
the Tribe banged its way to victory.
Tribe Sweeps Series.
THE defeat saw Wesley Ferrell fail
again. The handsome hurler was
pretty pitiful out in the box They
took an 8-to-2 lead off him in the
first four innings and thereafter it
was a breeze for Harder. The slim
Sicht-hander of the Indians granted
u hits but when a club gets IL runs
for = guy he is a sure shot to go
the route and that is what Harder
did for his seventh victory of the sea-
son.
After tieing the score at IL in their
half Of the first ining the Indians
made four doubles in the second |
frame and scored three runs In the
&
box and before Ed Linke could retire |
the side had showed across four more !
runs
In the end it developed that Bucky
Jacobs. the rookie with hay seeds in
his hair, was the best pitcher used by
the Mats. Jacobs pitched the last two
innings and retired six men in row.
Stones Illness Is Hurting.
Opening three-game series here
today, the Mats honestly can see
no signs OF an about-face One of |
the developments that is hurting the
Griffith A. c. is Johnny Stones i'll |
ness. The hard-hittng outfielder |
was on the shelf again yesterday with |
his cold, and Harris had to use Fred !
Sington, who again went notably hit |
less and in addition. hit into his ninth |
doubleplay in the last l8 games he |
has played
Stone is doubtful starter today. |
He still vas weak when the Mats ar
rived in Detroit last night and 1t is
NOT likely he will return until tomor- |
row, At the earliest, Meanwhile. with |
Tommy Bridges scheduled to face them |
today, the Mats are expecting the |
worst.
Jimmy De Shong was to seek his
ninth win Of the year today. Tomorrow
Harris plans to Use Monte Weaver. |
although, As he terms it, pitching
Weaver is something like suicide. |
They lthe Tigers call every pitch on |
him"
Monte, IT seems. never has learned |
how to completely disguise his fast
ball and curve from the alert eyes of
Del Baker, acting manager Of the
Rengals.
COASTAL PLAINS.
Avden < Snow Hill =