Evening star., 1939-03-03
Hitters Not Sure
Fie|ders, and
Vice Versa
Uncertainty Of Old
Pitchers Offers
Youths Hope
Ry STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

Ry Staff Correspondent of The Star
ORLANDO, Fla, March "a
month to the day after officially
opening spring training, President
Clark Griffith and Manager Bucky
Harris found themselves engulfed by
question marks and Orlando dis
covered Its population increased by
no trif1ing figure.
All except a few infielders and
Outfielders George Case and Sam
my West were in camp today and
for the first time, Messrs, Griffith
and Harris saw, placed before them
on the largest squad in the Mats
history, the men and boys who hold
the answer to Washington's baseball
hopes this year.
TWo-thirds of what is supposed to
be the Nationals regular outfield-
Leftfielder Bobby Estalella and
Rightfielder Taft Wright-were on
the ball field. Both of them swing
potent bats but the question re-
mains: Can they field we'll enough?
Jimmy Wasdell has been on hand
for some days now He is known to
be a fancy fielder. But can he hit
big-league pitching? With the ar
rival of Rick Ferrell the Mats catch
ing staff of Rick, Tony Giuliani and
Jake Early now is complete. Fer
rell can hit but his throwing arm
showed signs of wear and tear last
year. Giuliani can catch but he
hasn't been much of a hitter. Early
can throw with the best in the busi-
ness but can he catch and hit?
How About Anderson, Jacobs
All of Griffith's pitchers are in
camp now. following the reporting
OF Monte Weaver, Jimmy De Shong,
Harry Kelley, Pete Appleton and
Dutch Leonard. Here are more Ques-
ton marks. Will De Shong find his
fast ball? Will Weaver hold up or
will he again wilt in midsummer?
Can Kelley regain the form and
condition which made him one of
the sensations of the American
League in 1896?
Or, will it be wiser to string along
with Arnold Anderson, inexperienced
but rapidly improving. instead Of,
say, DeShong? Will the fast-ball-
ing Roberto Ortiz make a better re-
lief pitcher than curve-balling
Appleton? Will the cunning rookie,
Bucky Jacobs, be more valuable than
the shrewd veteran, Weaver?
All of these questions. and more,
must be answered by Griffith and
Harris during the next four or five
weeks. For months. or ever since
the close of the 1888 season. they
have pondered and weighed the
issues in an Office. Now their pawns
are placed before them on a ball
field.
Esty Faces Bad Sun Field.
The prospective Washington out
field of Estalella, Case and Wright
may lack balance. None has ever
won any medals for defensive play.
Estalella, only recently converted
into an outfelder, is faced with the
task of playing the most difficult
sun field in the majors-left field
in Griffith Stadium. Case never
lao pa Cu SCllGCA ONCI
period in his life. One of the few
tries he made was last year and
Washington fans booed him out of
the lineup. Wright is a hitter, but
no great fielder.
Not until this trio is tested under
fire, however, can Griffith and
Harris be certain. If Estalella can
not play the sun field the aging but
expert West will take over. If Case
cannot repeat his sensational rookie
year and master the center field
post, West may be moved there.
But, before things such as these
happen. Estalella and Case are due
thorough trials.
Should Wasdell fail as first base
man any number of possibilities can
arise. If not needed in the outfield
West could be shifted to first. Or
Cecil Travis, since the Mats bought
Shortstop Charley Colbert. Or it
may be that Griffith will be forced
into making a trade.
Batting Holds Early's Fate.
The fight for the catching job is
likely to be declared wide-open,
although Ferrell rates the nod. At
(See MATS, Page CD