Evening star., 1938-09-10
FERRELL BENCHED
WITH HURT FINGER
Griff Catcher Out for 10
Days-West Apparently
Tagged for Market.
Bv BURTON HAWKINS.


Rick Ferrell, who has provided most
Of the juice in Washington batteries
this season, today launched = sentence
Of 10 days on the bench due to in
jury. And while the Nationals have
q capable reinforcement in Angelo
Giuliani, little mild-mannered Rick,
who has performed his catching chores
50 fawlessly and gracefully he has be-
come the forgotten man Of the club,
will be missed.
Ferrell, whose nail on his right
thumb was split yesterday by a foul tip
from the bat Of Joe Di Maggie as the
Mats dropped 20 decision to the
Yankees, joins the distinguished COM
pany of Buddy Myer and George Case
in decorating the dugout. Myer will
not see action until the team opens its
swing around the circuit Tuesday at
Chicago, while Case doubtless will be
out at least another week.
When Case, whose leg injury has
not responded to treatment, returns to
the lineup 1t likely will be as . CEN
ter fielder, with Taft Wright remaining
lll llSAS 41Clo o1loulo uC SOAGAAuC w
click. Sammy West thus will be
wedged out of the outfleld and that
situation may become permanent.
Wright Bids for Regular Berth.
West. on the downgrade As . top
flight player after IL years of COM
mendable major league campaigning.
hardly blends with the rebuilding
scheme fostered by Manager Bucky
Harris, so Case will be given a thor
ough trial in centerfield. And Wright,
unless he toboggans suddenly, appar-
emily is all right in right.
When Sammy was procured early in
the season in a trade for Melo AL
mada, Washington officials indicated
they were gambling on grabbing
pennant this season rather than await
Almada's development in future years.
They gave prospect for recognized
star, lost their gamble on the pennant
by a rather convincing margin and, as
a result. West probably will be placed
on the block this winter.
Ferrells injury, while regrettable.
will give Harris an opportunity to
explore Giuliani's possibilities. The
Italian youngster has handled him.
self well in relieving the veteran Fer
reu this season and with more time
ly swatting may figure prominently
in the accent on youth program.
Rick. however, has shown no signs
or relinquishing his regular post.
Never a prolific hitter. the slightly
bald receiver nevertheless has been
timely with his blows this season and
was eager to nudge into the 800
circle Now batting .2s2, Rick hardly
will reach his goal but he has been
valuable asset to the Mats not
withstanding his modest average. He
still IS one Of the games cagiest
catchers.
Bluege Filling In Nicely.
Myer, suspended three days for
his fracas Thursday with Philadel-
phia's Bill Werber, has yielded second
base affairs to the veteran Ossie
Bluege. who still Is cheating the guy
with the scythe with q rather spry
brand Of fielding.
Rene Monteagudo, the youthful
Cuban southpaw who famed nine
Red Sox IN capturing his major
league debut here Tuesday, was
slated to toll for the Mats today
against the Yankees. The Nationals
will hit the road after tomorrow's
game, returning here October l to
end the season in a two-game series
with the Athletics
Dutch Leonard unraveled one Of
his finest hunks OF hurting yester-
day, but the Yankees capitalized on
three walks, two outfield flies and .
scratch hit to score their two runs
in the eighth inning. Dutch limited
New York to fve hits, but the Ma
tionals meanwhile we're being hand
cuffed by Bump Hadley, who yielded
only eight safeties
Lou Gehrig, New York's first base
robot, played his 2,100th consecutive
game and celebrated the occasion
by whacking four OF the five singles
smashed off Leonard.