The Washington times., 1937-04-02
Griffith Keeps
UpSedr(hFor
0utfie|der
By FRANK BUCK ONEILL.


2. - Bob Teller showed mo
stuff such as never have seen
in my life before"
Bill KLEIN. sage Of the Ma.
tional Leagues staff Of umpires,
is quoted as making that state
ment after umpiring a game
which Bobby Teller pitched
against the New York Giants.
Probably if KLEIN had time to sit
down and think that over, he
might modify his words. Maybe
he meant exactly what he said.
If he did, Bob Teller must 90
accepted as the greatest pitcher
Of modern times.
For remember that Bill KLEIN
worked behind the plate when
Christy Mathewson, Mordecai
Brown, Rube Marquard, Eppa
Rixey, Grover Alexander and
others were in their prime. He
watched and judged darling de-
liverieS of Chief Bender and
John Wesley Combs. He saw. j
Nap Rucker climb The hill to
fame.
Klem's judgment on Teller au.
tomatically established the Cleve.
land Indians as q pennant threat
in the American League. The
tribeSmen finished fifth last
year, but with Feller to take his
regular turn in the box this sea.
son, or in any event, to accept
such assignments as Steve O'Neill
may order, they are logical
choices for first division rank.
ing.
Fifteen for WhitehilI
Johnny Allen, with fair break
in the luck of baseball, will turn
in somewhere between Is and 20
victories. He won 20 games last
year, and was not over his head.
Earl Whitehill may deliver IS
games. despite the fact that he Is
well along in years as we view
baseball men.
The other pitchers, with Lynn
Lary'S speed at shortstop; the hit
ting and fielding of Moose Sol.
tiers, and other elements Of Cleve-
lands baseball strength raise the
rating Of the tribe.
Cleveland, on Klem's appraisal
Of Teller, replaces Detroit as the
outstanding threat to the hold Of
the Yankees on the stop brackets
in the American League. Detroit
has better ball club than Cleve.
land except for the pitching staff.
Cochrane has not been able to
develop a good young pitcher here
In Florida. They all have been as
wild as the March breezeS; as
temperamental as an April day.
Release Terrell
Washington maintains its
rating as a threat to the pen.
nant contenders. The Griffs, by
releasing Beverly Terrell, are
now down to the player limit Of
% men. President Griffith
cunningly refuses to admit that
he has any trades on with any.
one. He shouts to the house
tops that he, is through even
thinking Of Cliff Bolton, but the
fact remains that Joe Engel, the
washington Scout, is reported
on his way to visit Bolton while
on a business trip to the Wash.
ington Farm Club at Charlotte
N. c..
This reported visit Of Engel
to Bolton is significant to say
the least. Trade rumors have
whipped up with st. Louis
Browns as the customer clun.
Something may develop before
the opening of the season. But
what that something will be
none can even conjecture.
It Is certain that Washington
is after an outflelder. Both
Griffith and Harris agree that
Fred Sington is far the beau ideal
of a defensive major league
gardener. Griffith thinks Sington
will be q great hitter some day.
Harris is hopeful rather than con.
fident. In the meantime, Sington
has yet to display any real ability
in pulling the ball to left field.
Harris is going the limit with
Sington, playing him in every
game, letting him win or lose his
} own case on the field.
The GriffS watched Mcfarland
center fielder Of the LookoutS in
action yesterday.
Clyde Milan had many kind
words for Roberto Estalella, the
Cuban youth who once tried his
hand at third base, for Washing.
ton. Bobby now is playing left
field for the Lookouts. His CHIEF
trouble is understanding the COM
mandS of the coaches.
Bobby, however is quite certain
that he gets the whole picture.
"Sure, I onnerStand where to
threw dee ball. When one out
and men first and second; throw
here. Otherwise, maybe throw
!. Somplace else. Okay."
Eddie AinSmith, former catcher
r of the Griffs, called them right
] and wrong behind the home plate.
/ Ainsmith held reunion with Nick
Altrock, Clark Griffith and Zeb
t Milan. The last named is man
ager Of Chattanooga.
01O@ WARRRWSS