Evening star., 1941-04-12
Jimmy Gets Call
Over Vet Myer
AT Second
Rookie Deemed Best
First Socker; Chase
Star as Phils Bow

Jimmy Bloodworth, who refused
in training camp to pose tugging at
second base with Buddy Myer be-
cause he was superstitious, has won
the job. The bag which has not
properly been guarded with any
consistency since Myers illness in
1896, is the young Floridian's TO
keep if he can.
Manager Bucky Harris cleared up
all reports that he may switch TO
Myer on opening day because Of the
veterans experience. Regardless
of whether the Yanks use right
handler or a left-hander, Harris
said, "Bloodworth will start Mon
day against the Yankees"
Myer was unusually impressive
in Florida. He flelded well and hit
consistently, but BloodWorth played
most of the time because he showed
promise of finally developing into
hard-driving major Lacquer Dur
ing the off-season he sincerely at
tempted TO learn how to run on his
toes and 1t generally is agreed that
he is faster and more agile than in
the past. At bat he has been harder
to fool with curve ball
First Base Is Archie'S.
When the Nationals take the field
on Monday against the New York
Yankees at Griffith Stadium, they
will line up and bat in this order:
George Case, right field Roger Cra-
mer, center; Ben Chapman. left;
Buddy Lewis. third base; Cecil Ira
Wis, shortstop; Bloodworth, second
base; George Archie. first base; Rick
Ferrell, catcher, and Dutch Leonard,
pitcher.
This is a lineup which Harris
hopes he never will have to change.
But for all of his hopes Bucky may
have to do some rearranging. Uncle
Sam still threatens to take Lewis
into his growing Army. If Blood
worth falls into a bad slump, Myer
is almost certain TO see action
against right-handed pitching and.
as for Archie, it's his job at first
base until he shows that he can't
hold it.
Harris originally believed that he
would alternate Archie and Mickey
Vernon. The former is right-handed,
the latter a southpaw swinger. But
I see where it won't be satisfactory"
Bucky explained. Archie never will
be any good to us except as a reg
ular"
Only Giants Won Edge.
Victorious in Is of % engagements
In Florida, the Carolinas and Vir-
ginia, the Nationals came home to-
day to make one local preseason
appearance. They were to play the
Baltimore Orioles here today. travel
to Baltimore tomorrow and wait
for the major league opener on
Monday at Griffith Stadium.
BY way OF winding up their Dixie
activities, the Mats knocked of the
Phillies yesterday in Martinsville,
Va, to l. This evened their four
| game series with the Phillies and
gave Washington highly creditable
record.
The only team to best the Mats
in series this spring was the New
York Giants, who won three out OF
four engagements. This, however,
means little or absolutely nothing
The Giants had been in training for
some time longer than the Mats,
whom they defeated in Washing
tons second and third exhibition
| games
Against National competition,
which was provided by the Giants,
st. Louis Cardinals, the world cham
pion Cincinnati Reds and the Phil
lies, the record shows five wins as
| against seven defeats. On the other
hand the Griffmen romped over
| three American Association teams in
as many games and waloped the
Detroit Tigers seven straight times.
feat never accomplished in the
past by any Washington club.
Throwing this record out OF the
window for the worthless guide it
could be, the Mats are jubilant
over-their pitching. This cannot be
taken away from them. Leonard,
Sid Hudson, Walter MaSterson, Ken
Chase and Danny MacFayden have
been consistently good all spring.
The top four give Harris about as
nifty a set of starting pitchers as
any club in the American League,
not barring the Cleveland Indians.
1t was Chase who earned the
honor Of becoming the first Nat to
pitch the full nine-inning route.
Ken did 1t yesterday. At this time
Of the year he never was better.
Mats Go on Spree.
President Clark Grif1th has been
after Chase for some time now TO
bear down In the spring. Calling
1t poppycock, Griffith lambasts the
theory that some pitchers can't win
in the early weeks. Il blasted that
notion out of Earl Whitehill."
Griffith said In Orlando, land he
won the 1888 pennant for US. I'll
blast it out of Chase, too"
Ken yesterday pitched a six-hitter
against the Phillies. The only run
was scored when Outfielder Danny
Litwhiler drove over the left field
fence. Meanwhile, the Mats were
doing nothing in behalf Of Chase
until the seventh inning when they
jumped all over Ike Pearson and
scored all their runs.
Held to two hits by the young
Philly righthander, they swung into
action like this: Chapman singled,
Lewis singled, Travis doubled, Blood
worth was safe on the catcher's
error, Archie got on by q fielder's
choice, Ferrell walked and, after
Chase had famed, Case singled.
Chase didn't have much early in
the game but toward the end he was
good. He famed five batters, four
| in the last three innings, F. E. S.