Evening star., 1938-04-01
FARMING PROBLEM
|RKS GR|FF, HARRIS.
Charlotte Not Held Fast
Enough for Top Trio of
Extras to Go.
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.
Sta6 dent Of The Ct a I

otdA SOEIcSpOHUenl Oh ne StAT.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla, April l.
AS they swing into their final week
OF conditioning under Floridas blaz-
ing sun, the Nationals makeup is
such that Manager Bucky Harris can
be ready, at moments notice, to prune
his squad to the 23-player limit if
necessary.
Bucky definitely has decided on
every position on the Washington
Ball Club with one exception. He
wants to see more of Goose Goslin
before he decides whether to carry
the Old Gander as a pinch hitter or
to string along with Rookie Taft
Wright.
But while Harris is able to cut his
squad six weeks ahead of the dead
line. the idea Is beginning to worry
both Stanley Raymond and his boss,
Owner Clark Griffith. The only ex-
tras with the club who offer no prob
lens are Pitcher Joe Haynes and
Catcher Bill Beard. They not only
are not ready for the majors but they
are not qualified to play fast minor
league ball. The Charlotte farm" in
the Piedmont League is their logical
next stop. What worries Griffith is
what to do with more promising and
experienced recruits such as Mickey
Livingston and Jake Early, catchers,
and Joe Kohnnan, the young right
handed pitcher
Mats Lack Ranking Farm.
These young men. according to Har-
ris' schedule, definitely are not to be
retained when the 23-player limit
deadline falls or May Is They are
too good to be cat loose and they are
too fast for the Glass B Charlotte
club.
1t all reverts back to the lack of
high-ranking farm team. Chatta-
nooga, while not in a Glass A minor
league, enjoyed the synthetic Al
ranking and was a Southern Associa-
ton entry. :. But Griffith disposed of
his Chattanooga holdings last sum-
mer and the Lookouts no longer be-
long to him, whole or in part.
Il may be that Livingston or Early
or kohiman, or all three, will be
turned over to Chattanooga because of
Grlftith's friendship with Joe Engel
who bought the club. This, however.
Is unlikely. In the first place, Kohl
man would be the only player who
might be helpful to Engel When he
grabbed Walter Miles last winter and
named him manager of the Lookouts
Engel also took care of his catching.
Griffith might well find an Interna-
tlonal League or American Association
club that would take Livingston. Early
and Kohlman as loans" and subject
to quick recall, But the next question
is whether Mickey, Jake and Joe are
fast enough for regular play in either
OF those leagues. It is to be doubted.
They probably would sit on the bench
and, when and if recalled, they prob
ably would be no better than when
they were shipped away
Case Is Certain to Stick.
Harris announced today that Pete
Appleton and Ray Phebus. beyond any
doubt. were preferred over Kohlman
in the selection of the pitching staff.
We've got to keep seven infielders."
said Bucky, land. of course, five out
f1elders is the minimum. That makes
a total of II. Two catchers will make
1t IA anc that will leave pitchers"
The pitchers will be six right
handlers and three left-handers. Yves
Ferrel, Monte Weaver, Jimmy De
Shong, Dutch Leonard, Phebus and
Appleton are the right-handers and
the southpaws, of course, are Elon
Hogsett, Joe Krakauskas and Ken
Chase. The catchers will be Rick
Ferrell and Angelo Giuliani.
Seven infielders usually are more than
the average major league club carries,
but the Mats will retain seven because
Griffith has promised not to send First
Baseman Jimmy Wasdell back to the
minors. Few teams carry two first
basemen on the roster There is
bare chance, however, that Wasdell
may double as utility first baseman
and substitute outfielder. This will be
only in the event the Griffs pick up
another pitcher.
In addition to the regular infield of
zeke Bonura. Buddy Myer Cecil Travis
and Buddy Lewis, the Mats will have
Wasdell, Ossie Bluege and Johnny
Mihalic
OF the outfielders, Al Simmons,
Johnny Stone and Melo Almada are
certain to be in uniform when the
season opens on April 10. George
Case is another hy-chaser who seems
certain of his job. This leaves Goslin
and Wright to battle for the fifth
job. Upsung, this may be the best
Job fight of the year.
While a hot sun beat down merci-
lessly, Harris sent the Mats through
long batting drill yesterday. They
need batting, but of late several of
(Sae STAN pooo ny