Evening star., 1944-03-25
Clever Fielding Cuban
lmpresses BIuege
In First Workout
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

Cuban baseball talent is spread all
over the Mats training field at Col
lege Park these days and much of it
looks pretty good, but there's one
boy who particularly catches Man
ager Os Bluege's eye Every move
Luis Suarez makes around third base
is watched closely by the pilot for he
is the one who may round out bet
ter than fair infield for the Wash
ington club.
In his initial practice in which he
participated five hours after his ar
rival at camp following 2O-hour
train ride, Suarez certainly per-
formed up to advance notices. He
looked far more than a green hand
around the far corner in a half
hour drill directed by Coach Clyde
Milan.
The coach batted. grounder after
grounder in the general direction OF
third base and Suarez covered plenty
of ground both to his right and left
to scoop up the ball deftly. He made
many stops of the difficult variety,
snagged torrid liners ana skidding
drives like a veteran And there
seemed nothing to worry about in his
throwing. He got the ball away fast
and We accurate with his heaves.
Fielding Pleases BIuege.
In his turns in the batting cage
Suarez wasn't SO sparkling. He had
a good, level swing, but didn't appear
able to generate any power. How
ever, this didn't bother Bluege or
his coaching aides. All felt that
Suarez might have been too tired
after his long train ride to show his
best at the plate. They expect more
from him later as reports from Cuba
rated him fair hitter.
But Bluege is well satisfied with
Suarez's fielding. "He certainly
should do till something better comes
along and these days there seems to
be nothing better around" was the
managers comment after the Gu
bans first practice.
Suarez was one of five islanders
who checked in yesterday at camp.
With him were Gilberto Torres, a
veteran pitcher; Fermir Guerra, the
long-awaited catcher; Fernando
Fuertes, another backstopper, and
jose Zardon, formerly listed as
Sanchez, an outfielder.
Torres Is Versatile.
Torres, who last year won 10 games
for a not SO good Montgomery club
in the Southern Association, was
with the Mats for brief term about
seven years ago He has been around
minor clubs in the United States for
nine years. Gil does some pitching
in Cuba in the winter. He also plays
infield and outfield.
Guerra looks rather small for
catcher, but he handles himself well
behind the bat. He played with the
Almendares team in Cuba and was
with Chattanooga. Suarez was with
the Marianao nine in Cuba, Zardon
played for Iona Tennis Club and
Fuertes belonged to Atletico de Cuba.
Suarez, zardon and Fuertes are
youngsters not yet 81.
Preston Gomez, another Cuban,
went through his first drill yester-
day, sharing work at shortstop with
Johnny Sullivan. Gomez showed
plenty of speed around the position.
f1elded smartly and threw with much
on the ball.
Pitchers Bear Down.
1t was tough day for the batters
with the pitchers really bearing
down in practice. Johnny Nigel
ing, Roger Wolff and the left
handed Mickey Haefner with their
KNOCKERS had the boys at the plate
dizzy, but some hefty hits were
made.
Fort Myers military police nine is
looking for an exhibition game
with the Mats and may be accomo-
dated. Bluege would like to fill in
some of the open dates on his clubs
schedule.
Everybody excepting Francisco
Quientis who still is carrying his
left arm in sling, will be out for
practice tomorrow. Maybe the
Ortiz brothers, Pitcher Olivrio and
Outf1elder Bob, will be on hand for
the workout