Evening star., 1938-02-28
PREXY PINS HOPES
ON YOUNG LEFT|ES
Chase, Krakauskas Praised
as Class of Is Opens
Washington Camp.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN,

ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 2s-Uncle
Clark Griffith broke out today In his
annual rash Of optimism and unblush-
ingly went on record as saying the
Washington ball club of 1888 has the
best pitching staff it's had in years"
Braving the frowns Of the Chamber
OF Commerce, the old gentleman bum
died in a topcoat and muffler and
committed the speech from the side
lines of Tinker Field. On and around
the ball field Is assorted Nationals
officially opened spring training.
TITS better staff" insisted Grit
fifth, because. for one thing, We have
better No. l pitcher than we've had
in a long time. Wes Ferrell Is q real
good pitcher, and he'll win a lot of
games for us. A year ago We had
Buck Newsom. Why Ferreil u two
to one better than Newsom
Jimmy De Shong can't help but
have q better year than last year.
Monte Weaver may even improve on
his l2-and-9 record, and then we have
those left-handers. Chase and Kra-
kauskas and Leonard, and fellows
like Phebus and Appleton"
Lefties Alone Make Difference.
You don't have to be psychic to zee
the twin apples Of Mr.. G's eve.
Ken Chase and Joe Krakauskas are
the young men who appeal to him
They alone give us a better staff
than we had in 1887. Shucks, We
didn't have one left-hander at all
last year except sgd Cohen. AND
he wouldn't do. Now we've got two
kids who might be great pitchers, BY
sin. and another lefty In Elon Hog
sett."
The southpaws, slim, gangling Chase
and stocky, heavily-muscled Krakaus-
kas, attracted most attention this
morning as Manager Bucky Harris
herded his first squad, plus . few
volunteers, to the ball field. Little
was done by the squad in the wav of
baseball. Some bats were brought
out and the boys huddled in little
pepper games" A game of vollev
ball sprung UP and with a few laps
around the field the gang was given
the rest of the day off for golf, fish,
ing or plain lobby-sitting.
Prominently missing this morning
were Pitchers Ferrell and Hogsett, the
veteran acquired during December
In trade for Eddie Linke. 1t Is ex-
pected that Ferrell will arrive later
In the week, first to discuss salary
terms and then to jump into uniform.
Hogsett lives in nearby Daytona
Beach and was expected to arrive
in time for the last portion of prac-
tice.
Jinx Still Trails Coppola.
Henry Coppola. the perennial rookie.
was the only other missing pitcher.
Coppola. the fard-luck champion for
the last three years. was set to report
with the rest of the battery men yes
terday, but he was captured by
hospital recently and robbed Of his
appendix. He will turn up later, ac-
cording to Griffith.
Thus 1t was that only 10 hurlers
were on hand this morning. They
were headed by Veterans De Shong,
Weaver and Appleton. The ex-Dodger,
Emil (Dutch Leonard attracted his
share of attention, as did Rockies
Joe Haynes. Joe Kohlman and Early
Wynn. Rounding out the group were
Krakauskas, Chase and Ray Phebus.
The catchers on hand are Rockies
Jake Early, Mickey Livingston and
Bill Beard. The others are First Base-
men Joe Kuhel and Jimmy wasdell
and Outfielders Al Simmons and
George Case.
Interesting 1t is to note that Messrs.
Kuhel, Wasdell, Simmons and Case
were not listed to report with the
first squad. But of the eight reeu-
lar jobs. those held by Kuhel and
Simmons are deemed the only ones
open. So Joe and Al apparently ar.
on hand to protect their interests
and Wasdell and Case are here to
see if they can't oust them more
easily by getting an early start.