Evening star., 1940-05-23
Control Gained, ,
Ken Is Deemed
Smart Hur|er
He FuIfiIIs Promise,
While Joe, His Pal, ,
Loses Confidence
BY BURTON HAWKINS,

81. IOUlS, May Io.-1I IllS Is tne
story Of a shattered synonym or the
reason Ken Chase and Joe Krakaus-
kas, hitherto linked like ham and
eggs, no longer can be coupled con-
versationally if the chatter is des-
tined to remain consistent.
Within the past two weeks the
southpaw pitchers, upon whom
Washington hurting hopes have
dipped and scared like a New Eng
land dirt road in the past few
years, have travelled contrasting
routes. Chase, feel astute judges
of baseball flesh, has blossomed as
crack pitcher, finally fulfilling
the perennial promise he has dis
played since he joined the Mats in
the waning weeks of the 1887 sea-
son.
Krakauskas' case is more morbid.
Like Chase, he joined the Mats late
in the '37 season and created a mild
sensation with a sizzling fast ball.
He was wild, like Chase, and they
each won four games in frantic
flourish that fall. Together they
failed in 1888 and again last year
they disappointed, Krakky losing II
games and Chase 10.
Krakky's Confidence Gone.
Now there is a suspicion Krakky
is being tolerated merely until he
can be unloaded in a reasonable
deal. The change of scenery may
accomplish something for him.
With Washington his confidence
has been pulverized and he shows
it plainly. The most charitable of
his mates, those who have con-
tended he eventually would make the
grade, are maintaining a discreet
silence. Everybody's tossed in the
towel on Joe.
For Chase, though, the horizon
is rose-tinted. Hes arrived" says
Manager Bucky Harris, land from
now on he'll keep us in the ball
game" This may have a familiar
tone, of course, to followers of Wash
ington baseball fortune, but in his
last three starts Chase has done
nothing to disturb Harris confidence.
He checked the Browns, 90. on
seven hits and one earned run here
yesterday. He spanked Cleveland,
80, on seven hits before that and
on another occasion on the trip
which was to be completed here to-
day he dropped tough AZ decision
to the Athletics. With those three
cases of consistency behind him,
Chase suddenly has vaulted in the
esteem of his mates.
Il changed my style a little" said
Chase in explaining the improve
ment. "I was throwing too much
overland stuff before and I was too
tight. Now I'm loose and I'm keep
ing the ball low and staying ahead
of hitters. I'm all set now"
Mats Hitting at Fancy Clip.
Chase, who walked only two men
In the Cleveland game, walked five
yesterday. two of those successfully
in the ninth inning with the Mats
holding. a prohibitive 81 lead.
Those last two passes he attributes
to mild groin injury he suffered
a moment previously.
Providing Chase continues to be
effective. and there is reason to
believe he will, the Mats can rely
on creditable pitching from two
sources, Chase and Dutch Leonard.
Leonard, who has been bothered
with wrenched knee received while
shagging flies in the outfield, was to
start against st. Louis today if the
joint responds to treatment. Walter
Masterson was Harris alternate
choice.
Meanwhile the Mats continue their
prolific hitting. In the past four
days they have been amazing in
that respect, averaging 13 hits a
game, but more encouraging has
been their habit of swatting in
streaks.
Against the Browns yesterday in
the eighth inning, they connected
for five straight hits, including four
doubles, to produce five runs. Twice
against the White Sox they linked
hits, once obtaining five straight for
four runs and on another occasion
betting six straight safeties for three
runs.
Jimmy Bloodworth, the chesty sec
ond baseman who currently is hit
ing a modest 239, nevertheless has
figured prominently in Washington's
batting splurges as revealed by his
% runs batted in. He is second in
that respect only to the productive
Gerald Walker, who has batted in
only five more runs despite his lofty
1928 average.
Ferrell Sticking Among Elite.
Catcher Rick Ferreil, too, has been
blasting the ball convincingly.
(See HAWKINS, Page D-2)