Evening star., 1940-02-28
Recurring Wing
Trouble Sends
Joe 10 Bed
Dutch, If Dissatisfied
May Be Ineffective,
Is Harris Worry

By Staff Correspondent Of The Star.
ORLANDO. Fla, Feb. 28.-Bucky
Harris knew he was going to have
pitching worries in connection with
his job as manager of the Nationals,
but not until now did he realize the
possible extent of these tribulations.
His four starters were going to
be Dutch Leonard, Joe Krakauskas,
Ken Chase and Joe Haynes. When
training started he knew Chase, a
19-game loser last year, had faults
to overcome. and Krakauskas, who
dropped II decisions, had even more
flaws to cover.
But he hadn't counted on Cd the
possibility that Haynes recurring
arm ailment might seriously retard
at least his training and (2) the
drawn-out salary war between
Leonard and President Clark Grif-
fifth.
They'll Come Like Horses.
Haynes was in Orange General
Hospital today for a minor operation
on his left, and non-throwing, arm.
It's an old ailment. Joe had a
running wound for years, its source
at the bone attached to the shoulder
An operation apparently healed it
two years ago. but now a new chan
mel, only a few inches away, has
appeared.
AS for the Leonard case, Griffith
today said that Dutch and himself
aren't even close on the salary
question. but he'll come around pre-
dicted the old gentleman. "Edd
Rousch is the only ballplayer I
can think of offhand who actually
was so dissatisfied with terms that
he stayed out Of baseball. They all
come around. like horses to the feed
box when they are hungry. But
right now we're around IS 900 apart"
This is not healthy, harmonious
sign. Leonard will sign, eventually,
because baseball is Dutch's liveli-
hood. The question is, will he be
satisfied? The impression is that
Griffith is also wondering about this
item.
Leonard Speculation Renewed.
Leonard is the accepted bell-cow
of the Washington pitching stat.
His record of 20 victories as against
only eight defeats last year was
almost remarkable In view of the
sixth-place club for which he was
pitching. Without a contented
Leonard the Mats would, indeed. be
in bad shape. Particularly with
Haynes on the doubtful list and
Chase and Krakauskas requiring
much additional polish.
Grifhth's confession that he Is
around 5000 away" in his offer to
Leonard stirs a new speculation as
to what the portly knuckle-baller is
asking for his services in 1910. It
was believed, in the beginning, that
Leonard was asking $4,000. Yet
Griffith figures to have offered him
$4,000 and, in view of this. the
consensus here is that Dutch upped
his price during the winter.
As for Cecil Travis, Tony Giuliani
and Jimmy Pofahl, his other hold
outs, Griffith outwardly is uncon-
cerned. He knows that Travis is
coming here March / to talk salary.
He processes to be disinterested in
whether Giuliani signs. Pofahl,
however, Is q mystery to him. He
sent the Minneapolis recruit a new
contract over a month ago and has
received no word of acknowledge
ment
Sense Of Humor Intact.
Griffith thinks that Leonard's es-
timation of his value is out of pro-
portion.
II say a fellow isn't real major
Lacquer until he has proved it three
years." Griffith said today. Leon
ard had a fine season last year but
he wasn't so hot the year before,
when he first came to our club. So,
to my way of thinking, he's got two
more years ahead to prove how good
a pitcher he is. A fellow has got
to repeat to be big money-maker."
Haynes is optimistic about his
arm, although he cannot work out
strenuously for some days. While
Joe doesn't throw with his left, it
is necessary to employ the arm as
a balancing medium and now it is
too sore for that. Joe insists that
he'll be all right in couple of days
but Griffith and Harris are jittery.
Bucky, though, retains his sense OF
humor. He said today in the club
house:
1--WE won't miss him a bit. Look
at all the pitchers we've got"
what kind of talk is that?"
somebody asked.
WELL" answered Harris, I'm the
one who's gonna suffer this year, so
I might as well kid myself"