Evening star., 1940-05-25
benc1ed Pofah|
Agrees Bucky
Was Logical
Outlook Dark, Keeps
Chin Up; Wholesale
Shifts Due Today
BY BURTON HAWKINS.


One of the least disturbed indi-
viduals over the wholesale shifting
of Mats, who were to present a
radically revised lineup today at
Griffith Stadium in contrast to the
accepted starters of two weeks ago
is Rookie Jimmy Pofahl, the spry
shortstop who was the victim OF
the severe switching.
The outstanding item of Washing
tons recent road trip, lowering over
the consistently robust hitting and
repeatedly rancid pitching, was the
shake-up which benched the ex-
pensive recruit, sent Buddy Lewis
from the outfield back to third
base, returned Cecil Travis to Short
stop from third base, inserted
Johnny Welaj in center field and
moved George Case to right field.
There were accusations at the
time that Manager Bucky Harris
was pointing the finger of guilt at
Pofahl, who cost the Mats a re-
ported $4,000 in cash and incon-
sequential players, in an effort to
divert the public's attention from
a more acute source of worry, pitch
ing. Pofahl, though, isn't inclined
to view it that way.
"Bucky had to do something" ad-
mits Pofahl, land the move he made
was logical. wasn't hitting, and
anyway, that's baseball. You have
to learn to accept those things. The
club, with any breaks, should have
won four more games on the road
It'll get going, though"
POfahl Pulling for Mates.
That is expressing considerable
team spirit, for the better the club
clicks as currently constituted the
less opportunity Mr.. Pofahl will
have to regain his status as a
regular.
Jimmy leaves no doubt, however
that in his heart he is yearning to
move back to that relished short
stop job. Recovered from the first
pangs of chagrin which absorbed
him when the shake-up was an
nounced, Pofahl has braced and
exudes quiet confidence that next
time the occasion arrives he'll be
more likely to succeed.
In the meantime he is one of the
most expensive dugout decorations
in baseball, with future as un-
certain as tomorrow's headlines
Unless Lewis or Travis is branded
a bust Jimmy has little hope of
serving the Mats even in small
capacity.
His anemic average of .234 when
yanked from the lineup argues
against his employment as a pinch
hitter unless the swatting supply
has reached the point of exhaus-
ton. Unless some sort of mild dis
aster strikes the Mats Jimmy is
destined to collect splinters for
awhile.
Harris Was Sold on Rookie.
The feeling in some quarters that
Harris tossed in the towel on Po-
fahl too rapidly doesn't stand ex-
animation, for it was Harris who
issued the spring training statement
OF "Pofahl will be the best fielding
shortstop Washington has had since
Peckinpaugh." 1t was Harris who
stuck by him in that period when
Jimmy's peculiar throwing style
was being analyzed critically.
Center Fielder Welaj has done
nothing to condemn Harris man.
agerial maneuvering. He is thump-
ing at a convincing 1926 clip and
in general conducting himself as
though he'll handle that territory
Tor an indefinite period.
There has been a loss of defensive
finesse at third base where Lewis
on occasions has given the impress
sion OF wearing rubber gloves, but
as a whole the move has been sue
cessful, adding power and speed to
offset the possible weakening of
defense.
Chubby Dean, the Philadelphia
southpaw, who created something
OF sensation by twice spanking the
Yankees early this season, was to
pitch for the Athletics today In the
first OF two-game series at Griffith
Stadium, with Dutch Leonard or
Joe Haynes nominated to hurl for
the Mats.
Leonard, hampered by an ailine
knee. was to be withheld for the
series at New York starting Mon
day II unable to start today, with
Willis Hudlin, recently obtained by
the Mats when released by Cleve-
land, the probable starter against
the AS tomorrov