The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-26
Rookie Prefers
Activity To
Bench
NEEDS SEASONING
Poor Defense, as Well
As Weak Hitting,
ShaCkIeS Mats
BY FRANK BUCK" O,NEnL

Jimmy WaSdell begins his self
imposed tour Of duty in the Ameri-
can Association today, playing the
outfield for the Indianapolis
Indians. WaSdell requested Pres
ident Griffith to send him to some
good minor league where he would
have an opportunity to acquire
polish as an outfielder.
Ray Schalk, manager Of In
dianapolis, has been negotiating
with the Washington club for
some Of its extra talent, and Pres
ident Griffith Immediately called
Schalk on the telephone to COM
plete the deal.
WANTS TO PLAY
Wasdell first asked for his re.
lease while the Nationals were in
Charlotte, N. C. He called Pres.
ident Griffith aside for a con-
ference and told him that he pre-
ferred playing every day to sitting
on the Washington bench. At
the time Griffith told him that he
definitely would be carried all
year.
Momentarily appeased, Wasdell
renewed his efforts to crash into
the lineup, but without success. 1t
was certain that he could not GUST
Bonura from first base, and he
lacked the stye and polish to crack
the lineup as an outfielder. Hav-
ing carefully appraised the Situap
ton, Wasdell waited upon Griffith
yesterday before game time and re-
newed his request for transfer.
"I'l never be a ball player sit
ting on the BENCH" WaSdell said
before leaving for Indianapolis.
Ever since the team got Bonura
realized that had little chance
to play regularly. It was too
much to ask that I learn all
there is about major league out
fielding in a few weeks. Harris
told me in Orlando to start
playing the outfield, and now
I'll be out there every day.
HE'LL BE BACK
"I'll be back with Washington
before the season is over" Was
dell said confidently. II want
to play in the capital, and I'm
sure I'll make the grade in an
other trial"
Fritz Ostermueller baffled the
Nationals in no uncertain manner
as he extended his streak of con-
secutive scoreless innings to Is. He
allowed the local warriors four
paltry singles, and Ossie Bluege
alone reached third base. OSter-
mueller pitched six innings against
the Yankees, allowing two hits
just a few days ago.
Dutch Leonard worked for the
Nationals and pitched a fairly good
game. He was handicapped by
atrociouS support in the seventh
inning when the Red Sox scored
two runs on three hits after two
were out. Those runs never should
have been scored.
TRAVIS MIXED UP
Cramer, the third man up in
the inning, singled to center field,
and then came Vosmik. Joe hit
sharply toward shortstop, and
Travis, moving toward third base
for some unknown reason, had to
stop, reverse his direction and try
for the ball. He got all tangled
up with himself and gave fine
imitation of a pretzel while the
| IoT r~,a~AA fpa@4 ooloHan SioIl
FoxX then hit a towering fly
toward the bleachers, which Case
completely misjudged, and it
dropped for a two-bagger, scoring
Cramer and Vosmik.
When you have made excuses
for Leonard in the seventh inning,
you've said it all. He was nicked
for five hits and three runs in
the first four innings. Cronin
doubled, Higgins singled and
Chapman hit a two-bagger. This
came in the second inning. In the
fourth and eighth innings the
Red Sox also scored on Leonard.
Ben Chapman played brilliantly
for Boston. The erstwhile Yankee
and National made two doubles
and a single for a total of five
bases. He drove in two runs for
the Sox. Foxx drove in two runs,
but he was just plain lucky.
Lee Rogers will pitch for the
Red Sox this afternoon, and Pete
Appleton will work for the Ma
tionals. Appleton is uniformly
successful against Boston, and he
may be able to win today.