Evening star., 1938-03-04
OLD W|ND-UP KICK
IMPROVES MONTE.
Harris Hurting Tip Likely to
Help Veteran Regain
Former Speed.
BY FRANCIS f. STAN,
Star Correspondent OF The Star.

Star Correspondent OF The Star.
ORLANDO. Fla, March 4--Monte
Morton Weaver 10 pounds heavier
than year ago and stronger than at
any time since 1882. when he broke
into the American League, was warm
ing up slowly. Pitch after pitch he
tossed with the slowest, most placid
windup on the Washington hurting
staff.
Manager Bucky Harris, standing
nearby. watched Weaver carefully.
For three years Harris has been trying
to remedy fault in Montes slab style.
Weaver, you know. cannot beat the
Detroit Tigers because their coaches
can detect what he is throwing before
the ball leaves his hand. The Yankees
also give Weaver trouble, partly
because of this reason.
Then it was. yesterday, that two
minds, Harris and Weaver's, had a
single thought Almost simultaneously
the plan was born. Five minutes
later Monte was winding up, la
Fred Marberry. and kicking his left
leg high into the air. From the plate
it looked as If Weaver would step
on a hitter, if there had been one
at the time. He snapped of fast
ball that fairly sung and Harris
cautioned him against risking his
arm.
Griffith Okays the Plan.
The incident went almost unnoticed
by the rest of the Nationals. but it
served to please Harris, who was so
elated that he looked up Owner Clark
Griffith and explained the plan.
When he takes a real windup and
kicks up that leg, something like
Marberry used to do, I don't see
how they can call his pitches" said
Bucky. Besides, anythings better
than his old fancv-Dan style. 1t was
so darned slow that Monte couldn't
put any snap behind his pitches"
Grif fell in with the plan. With
most pitchers Monte's age, I'd have
to say no." said Griff, but Weaver
always had pretty good control"
Weaver admits it is worth trial,
although Monte has no apologies to
make for his 1887 pitching record.
With 12 victories as against 9 defeats,
Weaver topped the Nat hurlers in
percentage. But against Detroit and
New York Monte lost five of six
games. They hurt. If he had broken
even with the Tigers and Yankees,
he would have finished with IA wins
and only seven defeats. And rec
ord like that means money in the
bank.
It's Really His Old Way.
II used to pitch with faster wind
up, using only one hand until I was
ready to pivot" disclosed Monte. Il
worked that way when I was with
Baltimore the year before I came to
Washington. In my first season in the
American League-the year I won %
out of 80 games-I pitched this way
1t really isn't new. Only now, after
all these years, I'm beginning to Won
der why 1 ever changed
Harris wonders, too When Weaver
still was in the International League,
Bucky recalled. Detroit looked him
over. II saw him work one day in
Montreal" said Harris, who managed
the Tigers at the time. He looked
great. He was fast and deceptive as
all get out
"Griff got him and the next time
I saw Weaver he had changed little.
Then, when I came to Washington
again in 1885 he had changed still
more in style
Monte Is Big Slab Figure.
Monte, who weighs close to ITO
pounds now. stripped, cuts big figure
in the Washington pitching plans.
Last year he won three games and
dropped none to the Red SoX. He was
the only pitcher with the club who
won more games than he lost against
the White Sox, grabbing two out of
three Against the Browns and In
dians the slim right-hander compiled
similar records and against the AS
he won two out of two starts.
So far only Veterans Yves Ferrell
and Jimmy De Shong and Rookie Ken
Chase are assured of starting assign
ments in the box. Pete Appleton,
Weaver, Joe Krakauskas, Elon Hog
sett and Dutch Leonard are listed to
battle for the fourth starting job, with
Harris and Griff preferring Weaver
and Krakauskas. They want Leonard,
Hogsett and Appleton for relief duty.
First infield practice of the year was
held after the daily batting drill. It
was Ossie Blueges idea. The young"
inflelder, who is starting his 18th year
with the Mats, wanted to play some
second base. So Harris put Jimmy
Wasdell on first, a kid named Stover
on third and Outfielder George Case
at shortstop Bluege and Wasdell, the
inflelders, were the only ones who
looked the part.