Evening star., 1940-04-11
PiIotWou|dHo|d
Back Lefties
For yanks
Believes Joe Might
Get Along, Despite
Early Showing
By FRANCIS E. STAN.

NhlNN1O . nlNs
Our Mr.. Stanley Raymond Harris,
manager of the Nationals, had two
problems on his mind today and
the biggest one was the question
of who to pitch against the Red Sox
IN the second game of the American
League campaign.
The other was comparatively sim
pie. It was a question of keeping
hot his Washington club, now win
ner of seven straight exhibition
games, following yesterdays 4-to-3
decision over the Boston Bees.
Dutch Leonard, as was known last
September, will pitch the American
League opener next Tuesday barring
rain, injury or something equally
unscheduled. But for weeks Bucky
has been trying to make up his mind
about the second game and today,
five days before the curtain is due
to be raised, he is undecided as ever.
Joe Is Due Second Shot.
Two weeks or more ago Harris
mind was made up on some points.
Leonard In the first game and Sid
Hudson, the Florida State League
rookie, in the third. This much
Bucky knew. But he was undecided
as to which of his two southpaws,
| Joe Krakauskas or Ken Chase, would
work the second game next Wednes-
day at Griffith Stadium.
Today Bucky intimated that Joe
Haynes, no star performer this
spring, might get the assignment.
"Joe's looked pretty bad" Harris
admitted, "but I haven't given up
on him by long shot, I may shoot
Leonard, Haynes and Hudson against
the Red Sox, in order"
Haynes Pitches Were Called.
Bucky, of course, is looking ahead
on the schedule. No easy task was
assigned the Mats this year. They
must open with three games here
against the Red Sox and move to
New York for three more games with
the Yankees. The Sox are q team
of right-handed hitters and, playing
the percentages, Harris must use
right-handed pitchers. The world
champions, on the other hand, have
been known to lose to such as Chase
and Krakauskas.
At first the Mats slab slate called
for Leonard, either Chase or Krakky
and Hudson to face the Red eox.
But Bucky's' plans are up in the air
now. Haynes has been belted freely
this spring but, by the same token,
Bucky has taken a lenient view
point The story behind Haynes is
an old one.
Countless youngsters have come
to the majors with enough natural
ability to win games but without
the necessary subterfuge to hide
their pitches. Haynes last year was
one of them. Enemy coaches were
calling" his curve ball and beating
him.
Bucky Wants Right Handlers.
Harris attempted to change him.
He tried to change his curve ball
grip so that it would conform with
that of his fast ball. Joe succeeded
in disgusting the pitch pretty well
but the effort robbed him of the
break on his curve. Bucky called
signals of and suggested that Joe
retain his curve-ball grip and
change that of his fast ball
That's what's held him back,
Harris explained today. Joe will
get it all Strengthened out in a day
or so and, when he does, I look for
him to win"
Bucky has his four regular start
ers all picked out. They are Leonard
and Hudson, right handlers, and the
southpawing Chase and Krakauskas
But the Mats first week in American
League is unusual The Sox, if sus-
ceptible to anything, are prey for
right-handers. On the other hand
the Yankees, with Rolfe, Dickey,
Keller and Selkirk batting from the
left hand side, appear to he in line
for the Mats two prize southpaws.
Walkers Single Wins 1t.
Krakauskas went six innings yes
terday against the Bees and while
he did not distinguish himself he
wasn't a bum. He gave seven hits
and three runs and all of the scores
came in the second round, when Joe
became wild. But pitching against
the Boston Bees, with their Max
West and Buddy Hassett batting
left-handed, and facing the Red Sox
is different. Harris, according to in
dications, would prefer to save
Krakky for the Yankees.
The Bees took 80 lead with an
uprising in the second inning but
the Mats came back against Bill
Posedel In the sixth to tie the score
and in the seventh they won the
game when Posedel, who walked
nine hitters, put Jim Wasdell on
base with free ticket and pitched
successive singles to Buddy Lewis