Evening star., 1944-08-03
Georges 5 1913 Pace
Would Have Saved
Club, Says Pilot
Nv JOHN b. KELLER,
Star Staff CORRESPONDENT.

GsN ftOO = ~ 0O0x ON, Auk. D.
Beyond announcing that Johnny
Niggeling and the much battered
Early Wynn will pitch for the Mats
tomorrow In Boston as the red-hot
pennant-pursuing Bosox are en-
countered In double header and
that George Case may return to the
outfield. Manager O. Very Blue)
Bluege has no other immediate plans
for his woe-begone outfit. y
While his club rolled on to Bos-
ton, where 1t is due to arrive late
this afternoon, the disappointed
pilot mulled over some of the trou-
bles that have beset the Mats this
year to drop them from pennant-
contending rating In preseason cal
culations to q last-place gang with
less than two months to go to the
end OF the campaign.
Here are the chief flaws, as Bluege
sees them, that have sunk the Mats:
"a The utter failure OF Case to
hit effectively.
(2) Pitching form reversals by
Roger Wolff, Milo Candini and
Wynn.
t3) A feeble infield.
a. The decline of Harlond Cliff,
third baseman, as ball player.
Cases Flop Main Setback.
Cases skid at bat has been the
most serious setback experienced by
the club. Last year .294 hitter--the
Mats best-in 141 games. Case has
been nothing like that kind of q
batter at any time this year. Three
times benched by injuries, he has
been out of many engagements and
his average at the plate has dropped
to .2l8. Clouting only 208 during the
recent Western trip, the l943 pace
maker finally was dropped from the
lineup.
Had Case hit anywhere near his
1943 speed, Bluege feels his club
could have made race of it all the
way, despite its other handicaps. Not
getting on to carry over the size
able amount Of runs he did last year
-l04-Case upset the effectiveness
OF the upper part Of the batting Or
der in big way.
The greatest pitching disappoint-
ment has been Wynn. Last year, the
Mats biggest winner with l8 victor
les against II defeats, Bluege had
banked heavily on this fast balIer to
carry a great part of the clubs
mound burden. But after q flashy
start. Wynn wavered and now shows
only SIX wins against fifteen defeats.
That has hurt plenty.
Candini Can't Blame Mates.
Candini with his III record in
l943 promised to be an able hand
this time. But his record now reads
only 6-7 and it is not because of
inadequate support at bat by his
mates. Much was expected of the
Knuckleballing Wolff. too, and at
the outset of the campaign he gave
promise of making the deal for him
that sent Bobo Newsom and dough
to Philadelphia's Athletics last win
ter seem sound. But he went from
bad to worse and until last Monday
night when he was nosed out by the
st. Louis Browns he had not turned
In satisfactory performance in two
| months.
With the veteran Joe Kuhel at
first. Gil Torres at third and Johnny
Sullivan and George Myatt thanking
second, the Mats in the first month
of the campaign appeared to have a
fast, clever and sound infield. But
the pair guarding the middle of the
line suddenly fell of in defense.
Error after error was made by Sui
livan and Myatt and. unfortunately.
their errors always seemed to come
in clutches.
These two have been directly re-
sponsible for many of the Mats
losses, and their inability to make
themselves a good double play team
frequently has told against the Mats
In close games.
Gift Complete Disappointment.
Cliff, reporting nearly three
months after the season opened. was
in no condition to play, and 1t WASH t
long after the veteran third base
man got into action that it looked rs
though the parade had gone by him.
Gift has lost the speed that made
him such q fine fielder with the
Browns for years, his arm has lost
its throwing strength and his power
at the plate has disappeared. All
that Bluege counted on to make
Cliff valuable adjunct to the Mats
Is missing.
The clubs hitting has been poor
but before the season began nothing
exceptional was expected of the Mats
at the plate. Other than Case and
Stan Spence, they didn't look strong
in ofiense. Their pitching appeared
keen enough to get them places,
though, and the defense was rated
we'll above average.
Bluege nor anybody else could
foresee this midseason collapse.
.aANeR IN MA q Nl1aHVW