Evening star., 1937-12-27
MORE DOUGH SEEN
FORLEW|S, TRAVIS
Simmons Likely to Get Big
Cut-FerreII Brothers
Look Troublesome.
By FRANCIS f. STAN.

I~CW Cul CdAhS w biiC boSh
who work for the Washington baseball
arm. 1t is, you see. time for the
annual contract lousts via the postal
service. It is an eventful period of
the year for the Sl,50O-a-year clerk,
who sits up nights worrying over a
club owners threat to cut Outf1elder
Joe Klutzs salary from $4,000 to
$4,000.
Here and there along the list Of
Nationals will he checked, of boost
In stipend. Buddy Lewis is due a
raise In his second year in the
majors the kid third baseman did a
great Job. hitting 3l4 for 1856 games
and finishing as the only Washington
player making 200 or more hits. His
total of 2lO is something better than
commendahle for 21-year-old boy
battling the pitfalls of the dreaded
sophomore season.
Cecil Travis. the pink-cheeked vet
teran. is another Nat who will not
have to worry about skimping next
year. Cecil reached the point last
season where he became a fair-to-
middling shortstop. Not that anybody
regards them seriously, but the field
ing averages placed Cecil we'll up and,
In addition. the Georgia boy came up
with his biggest year at bat. He was
the f1fth-ranking hitter in the
American League with .344 average.
Almada Was Big Surprise
THE consistent Johnny Stone ought
to do all right. For the first time
since Griffith acquired him in trade
for Goose Goslin in the Winter nf
1894. Stone was played steadily
against left handed pitchers. Johnny
always claimed he could hit south
paws and resented his benching
against them in favor of such as Dave
Harris. Jesse Hill and other right
handed utility outfelders
Last season Stone was granted his
wish. He was used every day. regard
less ri who was hurting. and Rocky
finished with 800 average and drove
across more runs than anybody on
the club.
Melo Alnada the 23-year-old Mexi-
can lad who was tossed into that
Boston washington trade last June.
II due for a boost. His is a strong
claim. The Griffmen expected not too
much of him and received genuine
surprise. With the Red Sox Almada
hatted only 236 for 30 games Early
in the season he was hit on the head
BY q pitched ball and the tip was out
that he was gun-shy.
But Melo came down to Washington
with the Ferrell brothers, unheralded
and unsung, and was a revelation. He
ran Hill out of the center field lob and
then right off the ball club. He batted
300 for 100 games. hitting in the tough
lesd-off spot, and he finished with
.295 for the entire season.
Simmons. KuheI Due Cuts
THE big ouch among the Nationals
proba bly, will be received by one
Aloysius Simmons out Milwaukee way.
Al came to the Griffs last Spring from
the Tigers. He was bought at the
waiver price of $500 and his con-
tract called for exactly twice his cost.
Al did not do bad Job in 1887. but
he did not produce $4,000 worth of
baseball. In the opinion of Griffith.
The old gentleman insists that he
has no plans for the disposition of
Simmons. 1t is believed that AL will
be welcomed next year as utility
player And that would mean a util-
itv player's salary.
Joe Kuhel. If he is not traded. may
be handed a contract calling for
figure somewhat below that which he
received a year ago. joey had a tough
year. He played 1876 games. but he
batted only .283 and generally dis
appointed Griffith and Manager Bucky
Harris.
Jimmy De Shong is another who
disappointed. although on less ap-
palling scale. Jimmy. who won 1s
games in 1895, slipped and won only
"a as against Is defeats. He probably
will not be difficult to get into line,
however.
Ferrells May Be Tough.
THE New Year card" of Pitcher
Pete Appleton may not be good
news Pete was another 1886 star who
fell down last season. After winning
IA and losing games. Appleton last
summer finished with only victories
and is defeats.
Along with Simmons. the toughest
gents with whom Griff will have to
deal probably will be the Ferrell
brothers, Rick and Yves. The catcher.
Rick was the only man in the Red
sox deal. which involved five players
who failed to do better with his new
team. With the Mats the slim receiver
halted only .229. as against the .30S
mark he compiled at Boston. He can
not argue strongly against this record.
although he was injured frequently,
but Rick is used to collecting fair
sized check and may balk when
Grimth starts dealing with him.
Wesley's case is stronger than Rick's.
The handsome pitcher ran into a lot
OF tough luck after coming to Wash
tngton. In addition. he Is a gifted
hitter and may remind the Washing
ton club that he frequently is sent up
to pinch hit. In addition. he was a
busy worker He led the league in
most innings pitched. with 28l, and
In most batters faced. with l.l26.
On the other hand. Yves won only
IL games and lost 13 for Washington.
Too. he gave up more hits than any,
body in the league. more runs. and