The Washington times., 1938-05-03
FerrelI F aces
MiInar, Of
Tribe
CRUCIAL SERIES
Nationals H ope to
Overhaul League
Leaders
CRUCIAL SERIES
BY FRANK BUCK" O'NE1LL

/ ~ = ASAAANAA A8ONAA " 4NAIAALA
Contrary to earlier announce.
ment, Bob Feller. the young right
handler of the Cleveland Indians,
will not pitch against the Griffs
today as the Indians open their
first Eastern invasion. AL Milnar
will face Wesley Ferrell and Feller
will pitch tomorrow.
Oscar Witt, Cleveland manager
corrected a statement sent in ad.
vance of the Indians. He is hold
ing out the Schoolboy marvel in
order to have him face the Yam
KEGS in New York.
The game today brings to.
gether two teams representing
cities in which there has been a
Renaissance of baseball spirit.
Since 1920 when the Tribesmen
won the American League pennant
and carried on to defeat the
Brooklyn Dodgers in the world
series, Cleveland has waited fo1
the coming of "the" season when
the flag would fly from the mast
head in centerfield in League
Park.
WITT BIG MAN
Every year a dozen things hap
pened, but so far under the direc.
tion of Oscar Witt, former Tiger
and Red Sox third baSeman, the
Tribe is winging along. Witt is q
bigger man on the lake front to
day than the governor Of the
State of Ohio.
Washington fans too, are ablaze
with enthusiasm over the success
Of the team thus far. A capacity
crowd is in prospect today.
Feller and Johnny Allen are moi
out Of the game with injuries this
year. That is a big help. The
whispering on the bench has beer
silenced. Ken Keltner, at thirc
base, has plugged gap in the in
field, and the outer patrols are
Iplaying the game. The madcar
antics Of Rollie Hemsley make the
players forget some things that
perchance are better forgotten
The Tribe is fairly happy family
ACID TEST
The series with the Western
club will give us a pretty fair line
on the capabilities of the Ma
tionals. The team slaughtered
the Athletics, which was par base
ball. It did all right with the
Boston Red Sox, but not too well
with the New York Yankees. -Four
of Washington's eight victories
were won over the Philadelphia
Athletics.
The writer repeats q statement
made many times, that as the
Washington pitchers go, so the
team will go. If our moundsmer
can hold down the enemy bats
there is enough power behind
them to win a majority Of games
FUTILE POWER
That power, it must be sd
mitted, was rather futile yester
day against the Yankees, wher
the Mats lost a nerve tinglins
battle. From the sixth inning
until Bonura bounced an easy
grounder to Johnny Murphy, tht
Washington club had chances tt
win. No fewer than II local play
erS were left on bases.
The power of the Nationals
reached a new low in the eighth
inning when they filled the bases
with none out but failed to score
After Bonura walked, Pearson
passed Stone and Travis. Johnny
Murphy relieved Pearson anc
walked Myer.
Now the grandstand critics got
busy. What did Harris mean bS
not playing for one run to tie the
score in the eighth inning? Why
not have Rick Ferrell bunt the
ball or make sure to hit it on the
ground? The Yankees were play
ing deep for a double play. Rick
Ferrell popped to Crosetti and
then Harris knocked the critics
bow-legged.
He sent George Case, the
rookie, to bat.
Why did he do that? Why not
GoSlin? Why not Yves Ferrell?
POSSIBLE REASONS
Well, here are a few possible
reasons. Goslin has a strained
back. He couldn't swing a bat
and he couldn't run. Yves Fer
rell is a good hitter, but not in.
fallible at the bat. He Is slow
of foot, and Harris had to have
speed.
Case is the fastest man on the
club. He is a good curve-ball hit
ter. If a Yank bobbled, Case
would beat any play. Johnny
Murphy is a good curve-ball
pitcher: one Of the best. Cases
Continued on Page 27, Col. 81
ST. Albans Defeats