Evening star., 1944-04-06
Hitters Handicapped
As Cold Cuts Clubs
Outdoor Work
BY JOHN b. KELLER,
Star STAFF Correspondent.

Dy Jo1I< ID II,
Star STAFF Correspondent.
FORT MEADE, Md, April g.
When better batting practice is held
the Mats will get it in large guam
titles. Worrying Manager Os Bluege
more than the possible setback of
his pitchers by the unreasonable cold
weather is the lack of hitting drills
these days.
So whenever possible batting prac-
tice OF extra length will be held
before exhibition games on foreign
fields and special morning programs
are to be scheduled when the club
does its playing at the College Park
camp.
AS far as hitting practice is con-
cerned, the plight of the Mats is so
desperate that Bluege had considered
bringing his entire squad here early
today for an extended drill before
the game with the Baltimore club
of the International League. At the
last minute, however, he decided to
leave some of the outfit at camp for
a workout under the direction of
Coach Zeb Milan.
Bluege brought along his entire
outfleld. squad, however. Prospect
of getting along with only four vet
eran gardeners is none too pleasing
and the pilot wants to discover
quickly what player he may rely on
to back up George Case, Stan
Spence, Bob Ortiz and Jake Powell.
Quientis Arouses Interest.
Francisco Quientis, the young
Cuban, had impressed Bluege greatly
before the rookie dislocated his
shoulder in a gymnasium accident.
Since Quientis has had to work
lightly. The manager, though, plans
more intensive drilling for the
Cuban as he has an idea Quientis
might be the needed extra man.
But Johnny Bucek, Walter Niche
and Jose Zardon also are in the
race.
Cold weather, a high wind and
snow f1urries yesterday drove the
Mats indoors for the greater part
of their conditioning program, but
it didn't put off special class for
third basemen conducted by Bluege.
He had Luis Suarez, Cuban young
ster, and Hills Layne, husky North
Carolinian, on the inf1eld for half
an hour after all others had fin
ished practice.
Bluege had the pair learning how
to play slow rollers and drives to the
deep left particularly. The young
sters were given the finer points on
fielding the ball with the gloved
hand, then getting the left shoulder
out of the line of throw. Both took
to instruction we'll. A keen baseball
instinct helps Suarez overcome lin
guistic handicaps in learning the
inside of the game.
Minors After Mats Cubans.
First batch of rockies to be
sheared from the Nat squad prob
ably will head for Williamsport of
the Eastern League. A working
agreement between this club and
Washington has been announced,
and Joe Cambria is empowered to
take over surplus talent from the
Mats. He has his eyes on several of
the many Cubans at camp.
Another bidder for material the
Mats may want to transfer is the
Hagerstown club of the Interstate
League. Herb Brett, its manager, is
expected to drop in at College Park
this week end to look over the
talent.
Latin Americans of the Mats
squad-there are 16 of them-are
to be greeted by Vice President
Henry Wallace at the Capitol next
Wednesday, according to Manager
Bluege, who is to accompany them
and make the introductions. The
meeting will afford the Vice Presi-
dent good chance to work out
his Spanish.
In their first home exhibition,
that with the Phils at Griffith
Stadium Sunday, the Mats will trot
out the team that is expected to
start the championship season,
President Clark Griffith says.
Foot Trouble HaIts Gomez.
Pedro Gomez, flashy shortstop
candidate, has had to forego prac-
tice the last two days because of
foot trouble. Trainer Mike Martin
says he'll have Pedro in working
order before the end of the week.
Revision of the exhibition sched-
ule substitutes a game with the
Coast Guard at Curtis Bay for one
with Buffalo at Fort Meade on
Thursday, April 10.
Although their last game at Col
lege Park is scheduled for April IA,
the Mats will not break camp there
until the day before the title race
starts, on April 18.