The Washington times., 1937-04-01

Owner Seeks
0utfieIder
In Shift
By FRANK "BUCK" O,NEILL

Of the effort Of the st. Louis
Browns to coax Cliff Bolton back
INTO major league baseball may
come a series of trades between
Clark c. Griffith and Rogers
Hornsby. It may be that Bolton
will go to st. Louis at the waiver
price, since those terms tentatively
have been agreed upon, and event
ually a right-handed!h Uniting out
fielder will come to Washington
in exchange for a pitcher.
Griffith admits that IT, the
Washington team Is to make a
serious fight for first division
ranking, he must acquire strong
right-handed hitter who combines
defensive .'oility with his Of
fensive power. He will pay plenty
for the right player, and prefers
to give cash rather than players
in exchange for the man he seeks.
Bell, VOsmik Sought
Half a dozen names fitted
through camp today as Griff
players discussed the possibilities
of a deal. One of the men promi-
nently mentioned is Ply Bell Of
the st. Louis Browns. Bell hit
.344 last year. He has a strong,
accurate arm. While not exactly
a gazelle on the defense, he is d
good journeyman fly chaser.
Joe Vosmik also came under
discussion, although as the writer
sees the situation, HornSby will.
not part with the Cleveland
Viking at this time. Vosmik, in
deed, was the man Hornsby
sought when he traded Lyn
Larry, Moose solters and Ivy
Andrews for Bill Knickerbocker,
Oral Hildebrand and Vosmik.
Ray Pepper was mentioned, but
it is not likely that Griff would
accept him.
Would Take Heinrich
Griffith probable will toss an
offer in for Tom Heinrich, the
outfielder Of the Cleveland In
dams, whose sale to the Mil
waukee Brewers will be investi-
gated by Commissioner Kenesaw
Mountain Lands in New Orleans
today. In the event that Lands
declares Heinrich q free agent
because Of "cover up" sale by
the Indians, Washington will be
among the clubs to bid for him.
The New York Giants, Boston
Red Sox and other teams will
make offers for his services,
As conditions exist on the
Griffs, the team has two major
league outfielders who possess
power, speed and arm. These
are the requirements Of all major
league outfielders. The players
so blessed are Ben Chapman and
Johnny Stone. Fred Sington has
hit well, but his fielding has
been below big time requirements.
Throwing Hurts Hill
Jesse Hill can't throw well
enough to win a regular berth on
the team. Jess might hit well
enough, and he has enough speed
to cover ground, but after he gets
the ball he can't do much with it.
Base runners just keep running
with Hill out there, and that is
the bitter truth.
Taft Wright. in the opinion Of
the writer, has greater POSSIBLE
tiles than either Sington or Hill.
He is not q polished defensive
player by couple Of jugs full,
but he has an arm, and he has
power at the bat. Moreover, he
is fast enough to cover ground in
acceptable fashion. Inexperience
is his greatest liability.
Might Demand Pitcher
Should Hornsby answer the
trade inquiries of Washington
with q demand for a pitcher,
Griffith might be greatly en-
barraSSed. Newsom is out, so far
as st. Louis is concerned. Horns
by did right well when he got 40
grand for the Huntsville thrower.
Griff and Harris count upon APP.
pleton, DeShong, CaScarella,
Weaver and Newsom in the right
handed division, with Cohen the
leading southpaw. Linke and
Lanahan are supports.
Unless Griffith were to get an
outstanding outfielder-he must
be a right hander-he might
think several times before giving
up on Of his ranking right
handed pitchers.
The Brownies, however, are not
the only team in line for trades.
During the past several days, it
developed, Griffith and Connie
Mack have been in communica.
ton. It is possible that a trade
may develop between the Griffs
and Athletics.