Evening star., 1943-04-08
Work Retarded,
Mats Lack Line
On Slab Staff
Opponents Weakness.
Cold Weather Make
Navy Tilt No Test

Northern spring training has pre-
sented Manager Ossie Bluege of the
Mats at least one disturbing item.
The launching of the American
League season is sneaking up on the
Mats and Bluege knows little more
about his pitching staff than when
it reported to him nearly a month
ago. Cold weather has blocked his
efforts to get line on the sort Of
pitching he may expect.
Customarily the Mats would bA
heading home from Orlando, fla,
about this time, pausing for exhibit
tions at Jacksonville. Augusta. etc.
with their pitching pattern fairly
we'll decided as the result of nu-
merous games. This year. though,
only one Washington pitcher has
ventured as far as five inines ami
none has hurled more than a total
of eight inings.
Bluege thus must devote particu-
lar attention to his pitching staff in
the Mats remaining 10 exhibition
games and hopes that wea ther will
permit him to test his pitchers more
thoroughly. He wants to examine
some of his rockies more closely. for
thus far they haven't done enough
work for him to gauge their ability.
All Need Much More Work.
Ossie naturally plans to employ
Dutch Leonard and Early Wynn as
starters. Wynn has toiled eight in
nings, while Leonard. Mickey Haef-
ner and Alex Carrasquel nave
pitched only six innings and none Of
the others has pitched more than
five.
Complicating matters is the fact
that Leonard now is at his Auburn,
ILL.,. home with his 2-year-old son.
Emil jr.. who may lose the sight OF
an eye as the result of an accident.
Dutch says he will not return to the
Mats until his son condition, still
serious. warrants his leaving
EWald Pyle. one of the more highly
regarded of the Mats rockies, has
labored only three innings. Milo
Candini has shown little in the four
innings he has worked, but Bluege
would prefer to inspect him in other
appearances. Jim Mertz, the rookie
up from Atlanta, also has pitched
only four innings ard Rookie Owen
Scheetz has travelled only five
innings.
Time is running out on the Mats
before they must play for pay. but
Rae Scarborough hasn't pitched an
inning. He has been forced to take
it easy due to a recent seige OF
pneumonia. but meanwhile the Mats
other eight pitchers who figure to
stick are taking it easy due to
weather.
Navy Game Is No Test.
Bluege can't condemn Carrasquel
for his unsatisfactory performance
Yesterday as the Mats walloped Navy,
1913. in an eignt-lnning game at
Annapolis. for instance, because the
veteran right-hanGer was hampered
considerably by the frigid weather.
He can't feel too enthuSed over the
efforts of Mertz. either, for the COM
petition wasn't keen.
Washington was presented that
victory in the first inning when the
Middies' John Williams issued bases
on balls to the first six batters he
faced. Jake Early's wind-bloWn
double and more legitimate double
by Ellis Clary. plus brace of errors,
gave the Mats an eight-run first in
ming and thereafter they weren't
inclined to be serious about the
game. They were serious only about
keeping warm, so Bluege employed
every player who took the trip.
Bob johnson didn't make the trip,
the burly outfielder remaining at
College Park to rest heel injury
suffered at Norfolk when he bumped
into the bleachers while attempting
to catch a foul. Manager Connie
Mack of the Athletics today cor
rected reports that Washington has
! squared the Johnson Bobby Esta-
leila deal with cash settlement. in
cidentally. Mack says he will claim
player on waivers at his first op-
portunity and Owner Clark Griffith
OF the Mats will pay the bill to atone
for the failure of Infielder Jimmy
Pofahl to report to the AS.