Evening star., 1938-03-16
REAL lob CHANCE
N0WDUEK0HLMAN
Rated as Contender With
Appleton, Phebus for Only
Box Vacancy.
BY FRANCIS e. STAN,
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.


Stan Correspondent Of The Star.
ORLANDO, Fla, March ls.-Those
portside pitching twins, Joe Kra-
kauskas and Ken Chase, will go to ths
firing line tomorrow when the Mats
make their first invasion Of the year
and play Minneapolis at Dayonta
Beach.
This Is more than q routine an
nouncement. It is significant. Didn't
they pitch in Sundays intrasquad
game2
Yes" answers Manager Bucky Har-
ris, they pitched. can't help it but
If those boys are going to be any good
I'll have to work them every third
day. 1t means fellows like Pete Apple
ton and Ray Phebus and Wesley Fer
rell aren't going to be seen often.
Besides" he adds, Il know what
they can do. All I know about Chase
and Krakauskas Is what I was shown
last fall Griff and think they ought
to make starting pitchers. There Is
only one way to polish of the rough
spots and that's by work"
1t develops, after further question:
ing. that Harris intends to pursue that
policy right down to the opening of
the American League season. This is
especially true In the case Of Kra-
kauskas, the Hamilton humdineer. He
Is the greener of the two and also the
sturdier. He can stand the work.
Griff Approves Of idea.
Owner Clark Grif11th mods gravely
in approval of Harris plans. The
other fellows really don't need 50 much
work. The main idea in these exhibi-
tion games is to acquire experience.
Appleton has plenty. So have Ferrell
and De Shong and those other fellows.
Even Phebus, while listed as a rookie
has been around for quite a while.
'Krakauskas needs work more than
Chase. He looked pretty good In last
Sundays game for two innings and
then he didn't do so we'll. He forgot
to keep following through with his arm.
He was letting it go too high and be-
came too wild"
A>uSh VA So14tlO1 cCCulS LlES COIIls
mon fault Of the Nationals left
handlers. In one respect Chase's wild
ness is even more costly When Ken
gets behind a hitter he comes In"
with one, to use the parlance Of ball
players. In other words. he throws up
the fat pitch. Usually it Is well plas-
tered
Krakauskas doesn't do this often.
chiefly because It is almost impos-
sible, for the bandy-legged Lithuanian
from Canada cannot throw an easy
ball. When Joe pitches, he really cuts
loose, even in warming UP. and his
ball does tricks. When he is wild the
chances are that he is going to stay
wild for that day.
Kohlman's Cap Now In Ring.
Harris has announced for all to
hear, including Minor League Presi-
dents Joe Cambria and Calvin Griffith.
that young Joe Kohlmsn. the diminu-
tive right-hander. Is going to stick
around with the Washington fitm for
some time.
I'm fact" adds Harris, "he might
be carried into the season as one OF
our nine pitchers. Umpiring that game
on Sunday. stood behind the pitchers
box, 1t was new position for me.
and maybe 1t did not give me a fair
idea of what the pitchers were throw
ing. mean. I'm not used to It any
place except from the dugout. But I
thought that Kohlman locked very
good"
With Kohlman now listed as
serious contender. It looks tough for
somebody who had counted on stick
ing. THE somebody would be Phebus
and Appleton" says Bucky. There
will be two Jobs open and the fight
will be among the two Of them and
Kohlman. One will be cut loose"
The naming Of Appleton on the
doubtful list may come as . surprise
to some, who recall his valiant showing
in 1886. But last year Pete won only
eight games and lost IS. He Is an
in-and-outer," describes Harris. He
usually Is great or he Is very bad.
Still, he is good man to have among
IllIlc pltCHerS.
Kohlman Has Fine Curve,
Phebus is the smallest of the pitch
ers, in point Of height, but he has a
good fast ball and is plodder with
plenty Of heart. He did not hurt his
chances last fall when he hurled a
two-hit shutout against the Red sox.
A fine but losing showing against the
Yankees also did him no harm
Next to Appleton, young Kohlman
has the best curve ball on the squad.
It was good enough to win IS straight
games for him last year in the Eastern
Shore League. He also pitched two
no-hit no-run games for Salisbury, the
pennant winner
Today with De Shong starting, Elon
Hogsett following and Monte Weaver
finishing, the Mats were to make their
Grapefruit League bow against the St.
Louis Cardinals here. Harris will start
the same team which represented the
regulars in last Sundays game against
the yannigans.