Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-06
Rock Threatens
To Grab Berth
From Colbert
Might Be Given Trial
At Third if Lewis
Goes to Garden
Nv staff Correspondent of The Star.

BY a staff Correspondent Oh Inc olal'
ORLANDO, Fla, April 6-There
was a strong suspicion around this
Washington training camp today
that an Unfolding bet has been
overlooked. Young Jimmy Blood
worth. q stocky second baseman
with potent war club which never
has failed to compile high aver
age, is beginning to put in spirited
dying bid for utility job.
Jimmy, a gent who says that he
only 20 years old but who has been
playing minor league ball for at
least four seasons. has been paid
little attention in the Mats camp.
President Clark Griffith and Man
ager Buckv Harris had seen the
boy from Apalachicola. Fla, in the
past and knew him to be strong
hitter and competent fielder. But
they knew him to be sloW-footed,
too, and when Rookie Morris
Aderholt turned up they forgot all
about Jimmy.
After Aderholt was shipped to
Charlotte it was Buddy Myer who
die the second basing Only N
the late innings did Bloodworth
get his chances and they were, at
best, fleeing ones. The infield.
with Wasdel!, Myer. Travis ami
Lewis, was set, at least for the start
Of the season. For the two utility
posts Charley Colbert and Ossie
Bluege were taken for granted.
Stars as Orioles Lose.
Bloodworth, who batted 1916 for
Charlotte last year. was due to
have been sent to the Springfield
farm week ago but he was
given stay of execution for some
unannounced reason. And, as
result, Griffith today will think
twice before shipping him off.
Jimmy got his chance to play
full game of ball yesterday in Day.
tona Beach, where the Mats out
fumbled the Baltimore Orioles in a
1413 fiasco. 1t was no bad job he
turned in He collected a double
and two singles, scored a run and
drove across a pair
But it was in the field that JIMMY
slone. Maybe it was because the
defensive work yesterday was so
magnificently mediocre. except for
Bloodworth and Johnny Welaj. who
saved the game in the last of the
ninth with a leaping catch of
potential inside-the-park home run
off Dick Vests bat with two on
base.
May Threaten Gelbert's Job.
Bloodworth did all that could be
expected of high-class second
baseman. He roamed all over the
infield to turn hits into putouts.
And. when it was over. he gave
rise to couple of unofficial theories.
There is feeling that Blood.
worth has fighting chance now OF
replacing Colbert. The veteran
shortstop-thir baseman has been
slow of foot and no power at bat
so far. 1t may be that Charley's
bad foot. which he nearly shot off IN
hunting accident seven years ago
pains him down here where the
diamonds are as hard as concrete
one day and regular sandpile the
next. But, at any rate. Charley
hasn't been hitting and he hasn't
been covering much ground.
Not that anybody has quit on
Colbert vet. They are pulling for
Charley to make good and willing
to wait until he plays on big league
lnfields before making any de.
cisions. But, at the same time
Bloodworth has gained a position
OF new Importance.
Might Make Third Baseman.
Walter johnson suggested to Grit
nth the other day that Buddy Lewis
be placed in the outfield. He isn't
real good fielding third baseman,"
said johnson. He hasn't got an
lnfielder's arm. Why don't you try
to dig up a young third baseman
and move Lewis?"
Griffith agreed with johnson that
Buddy would make quite an out
fielder. There he let the matter
drop. But there are some around
here who believe the germ of the
idea is busy at work and that Blood
worth might figure in the picture
-. as the third baseman.
Jimmy has specialized at second
base since he has been playing pro-
fessional ball but he has the hands
and the arm of third baseman,
as we'll. With Aderholt promising
to move up in another year or two
as a second sacker, Bloodworth
might we'll be converted.
The shift of Lewis might work, if
it were tried. Buddy is good enough
all-around ball player to take over
any position. At bat he seems to
be getting better. They still are
betting in camp that Buddy will hit