Evening star., 1940-03-01
0|dti1lers Look
In Good Trim
For Tuss|e
Club Needs Seasoned
ToIent, Despite Its
Accent on Youth
BY . stan Correspondent Of The star.

BY staff Correspondent Of The star.
ORLANDO, Fla, March 1.-The
pastoral peace of this windswept
citrus center and the Glass B haze
which has been hanging heavily over
the Mats training lot was shat
tered today.
The regulars, near-regulars and
others who know how to play ball
are here-that Is, most Of them
and overnight the camp has assumed
twofold atmosphere. In the morn
ings now the regulars work out and
Tinker Field is a major league con-
ditioning plant. Showed into the
background and working out In the
afternoon are the rockies who are
ticketed for Charlotte, Greenville,
Shelby and other way stations in
the Washington clubs farm system.
Twin centers Of interest today
were Buddy Myer, veteran second
baseman, and Outf1elder Sammy
West. A couple of old gents who
were scheduled to arrive by Wheel
chair, they blew in town, along with
Johnny Welaj, Rick Ferrell, Joe
Mellendeck and Joe Frank, and
created a stir.
Buddy Wants Two Weeks.
Myer, simmer and trimmer than
he has been in years, accepted the
challenge Of Rockies Eddie Leip
and Jimmy Bloodworth in the three
way battle for second base, a posi-
ton which Myer has guarded for
the Mats for almost IA years.
"Give me two weeks" Myer an
nounced, land I'll be able to tell you
whether I can win the job. 1t may
not be so easy, because I haven't
played any ball since last July, when
I got hurt, and that's long time
to lay off,"
.Myer will be SO years old this
month and West will be 36 next
October, but they reported looking
like couple of colts and with chips
on their shoulders. Am I going
to play center fleld?' West repeated.
II hope so. I feel better than I've
felt since 1887, which isn't so sur
prising in view of the fact that I
was playing for the Browns"
The Mats, of course, are supposed
to be rebuilding on youth and,
theoretically, Myer and West have
no places in the regular lineup.
But If the primary idea Is to win
ball games they aren't out Of the
running, because Myer, gray hairs
and all, still is quite second base
man and West still can give lessons
to almost any centerflelder In the
business.
Myer Grim, West Hopeful.
Before their arrival in camp, the
blueprint of the 1910 Washington
club was accepted. generally. It
called for Case to play center, weak
arm and everything, and either
Bloodworth or Leip to play second
These two posts, together with first
base, right field, shortstop and pitch
ing. are about the only uncertain
spots in the makeup of the Mats.
But Myer, lean and hard and grim
after winter Of tramping about
Mississippi with a gun under his
arm and after reading of his auto
matte demotion to the rank of SUBJ
stitute, seems to be serious about
getting. back into the form which
won for him the American League
batting title in 1885 and a 1886
average two years ago. He knows
all of the answers and, in a way,
would be preferable to Ieip or
Bloodworth because, If Rookie
Shortstop Jimmy Pofahl shows up
and makes the grade, he may be
able to profit by an old hand.
West also has his recommenda-
tions. Sammy's arm has lost some
of its snap, but it still Is a better
throwing arm than Cases and he
knows how to play center field. Nor
is he the worst hitter in the world,
particularly in the spring.
That Man, Pofahl, Again.
As the regulars began to pour into
town, only one issue was worrying
President Clark Griffth and that
was the failure of the Pofahl to
communicate with him. The Old
Fox was hoping today to see his
$4,000 shortstop from Minneapolis
walk into the hotel and introduce
himself. but he wouldn't bet a
plugged nickel on the possibility,
because he hasn't heard from Po-
fahl in over a month.
Not until yesterday did Griffith
even know that Pofahl was married
month ago. The news, however,
served to produce a logical theory
as to why Jimmy hasn't acknowl-
edged his latest contract. II reckon
he's away on his honeymoon, said
the old gent. II wish," he added,
he'd decide to spend some of it with
us, so we could get an idea of what
kind of a ball player he is"
Cecil Travis was the batting star
of yesterdays workout, Immediately
giving rise to widespread specula-
ton as to his chances Of coming up
with q great year. Heavier and
stronger than ever, Cece picked up
q bat for the first time and began
to pound batting practice pitches to
all parts Of the field.
After the drill the regulars began
to check In the hotel. already
crowded, and unable to give them
more than sample rooms and cots
in assembly halls. An unexpected
rookie was Joe Frank, one Of George
towns great grid tackles. Joe ac-
companied Mellendeck to camp and
will try out as q catcher.