Evening star., 1940-03-13
Expensive Rook
.Unimpressiive
With Stick
Didn't Expect Second
Di Mag, Says Harris;
Tribe Next Foe
BY stat Correspondent Of The Star.

BY stan Correspondent Of The Star.
ORLANDO, Fla, March 13.-The
| widespread alarm felt in the Wash
ington training camp when Rookie
Shortstop Jimmy Pofahls throwing
arm first was unveiled has died
away and. in it's place. President
Clark Griffith and Manager Bucky
Harris-the parties most concerned
are enjoying feeling of peace
and satisfaction.
In the last two days, possibly due
to warm and improved weather con-
ditions, Pofahl has been exhibiting
a better throw from his post to
first base in infield workouts. Not
that Jimmy has good, strong arm.
He hasn't He can't begin to throw
with Cecil Travis and Jimmy Blood
worth but, for that matter, few in
fielders can.
Harris watched today's drill with
a satisfied air. In the last 10 days
Pofahl's wing gradually has i'm
proved 1t is getting stronger and
daily the young shortstop seems to
be getting more confidence and
swapping off his throws with the
wrist which he twice injured last
year at Minneapolis.
No Di Maggie Expected.
His arm will do Harris pro-
nounced today. He'll be able to
go to his right and still throw out
runners because he gets the ball
away faster than most shortstops.
He's particularly good on double
plays for the same reason. I look
for his throwing to get steadily bet
| ter"
No small relief is Jimmy's throw
ing to the Nat bosses. For few
days Pofahls wing was the chief
topic in camp, but now, if there is
any question in connection with the
yourgster for whom Griffith report
edly gave the equivalent of $4,000,
it is his hitting.
In batting drills and in two games
against the yannigans in an in
trasquad fray and against the
| Giants in a victorious grapefruit
league debut last Sunday-Pofahl
batting has not been impressive. In
drills he has hit sharply at times,
but in the games to date he has not
been ready for the pitchers.
This, though, does not worry Har-
ris much. Il didn't expect a Di
Maggie" Bucky explains. Il think
he'll be pretty good hitter in the
pinches because Jimmy is COM
petitor. I rather doubt if he'll hit
300, or even .29O, but we've got
enough potential power without
him. All I expect from him is
high grade of shortstopping.
Pitching May Determine Fate.
AS the Mats prepare for their Sec
ond exhibition encounter, however,
Pofahl remains center of atten-
ton. For Minneapolis he batted
1902 This is not an impressive fig
ure for a fellow who is stepping into
a regular job in the majors. He
doesn't figure to hit within 10 or IS
points of that mark in the American
League and Harris, in his state
ment, isn't telling all Pofahl doesn't t
have to hit as long as the rest of
the Mats are hitting and the Griff-
men get the pitching. But if the
hurting goes sour again the Mats
viii! need all of the punch they can
muster in an attempt to overwhelm
the enemy.
This may mean that Pofahl, if he
hits only around $50, may have to
sit out some games while Charley
Colbert plays shortstop. Or it may
mean that Travis will be placed
back at short, Buddy Lewis moved
back to third base, and either Sam
my West or Johnny Welaj moved in
the outfeld.
A further line on Pofahl is due
soon. Day after tomorrow the Mats
will 60 to Fort Myers to play the
Cleveland Indians. The following
day they will meet the Giants again
at Winter Haven. And after these
games the grapefruit juice will con-
tinue to fly thick and fast.
Torres Makes Slab Debut.
Harris changed his hurting plans
slightly for the coming game with
the Indians. Originally he had
planned to take look at both Bucky
Jacobs and Early Wynn against the
Tribe. Jacobs still will 60 but Wynn
will be held back, probably for the
Giants contest.
Sharing the mound duties with
Jacobs will be two Cubans, Rene
Monteagudo and Gilberto Torres. A
few days ago Harris disclosed that
he did not plan to give much atten-
ton to Monteagudo but something
apparently has come up to change
his mind Bucky is not very high
on the little lefthander, nor does
he hold Torres ability in high re-
gard. Still, he plans to take a look
at the pair in competition.
Gilberto Torres, who is no rela-
ton to the outf1elder, Jorge Torres,
in camp, is a tall, skinny right
handler whose daddy used to be a
reserve catcher for the Mats around
1919 He came up from and is due
to return to Charlotte, where he has
been distinguishing himself for the
last few seasons as an all-around
| PLAYER, His best SPOT, some say, is