Evening star., 1944-03-26
InfieId Worries
Seen Eased by
Cuban Rocks
HurIers Look Sturdy
As Regulars ToppIe
Yunniguns, 3 to 0
by JOHN B. KELLER.

Os Bluege isn't going far out on q
limb with predictions about his Mats
latter their two weeks of training
lat the University of Maryland, but
the Washington manager isn't con-
cealing the fact that he is mighty
well pleased over the progress made
by his. ball club. He believes il
farther advanced than any other
outfit he has been with at similar
Istage of the conditioning campaign
land is confident it will get down to
the opening of the American League
championship race fit for a keen
run.
He rates his pitching staff the
best equipped in the circuit, his
catching promises to be far better
than expected, there is a deal OF
outfield strength and where only q
week ago there were many infield
woes he now has few worries along
this line.
Luis Suarez at third base and
Preston Gomez at shortstop have
helped the inner Gordon situation
considerably. The Cubans are fast
and capable infielders and have
lstrong arms. While they have yet
to show real hitting ability their de-
fensive play could be a strong asset
to the club.
Suarez Likely Third Sacker.
1t begins to look as though Suarez
will get the call at third base. al
though Bluege intends to expert
ment with others at that post dur
ing the series of exhibition games
Johnny Sullivan, because of his
major league experience, perhaps
will draw the shortstop assignment
again, but Gomez looks ready to
Igive him hot scrap tor the post
The Cuban at least could be the
extra inf1elder the Mats have needed
so long.
Although number of the lads at
College Park have had little expert
ence in organized baseball, there
are enough veterans at hand to
make an impressive looking club.
Bluege considers the Mats outlook
far from drab. Another two weeks
OF training and they'll be ready for
corking start, he believes.
The pitchers right now are far
ahead of the batters, so Bluege has
planned several more intrasquad
games like the one yesterday when
the so-called Regulars scored a so
win over the Yannigans through a
six-inning stretch. Another en-
gagement is on the slate for this
afternoon with action beginning
about 1890.
Carrasquel Strong on Slab.
These games with pitchers cut
ting loose give the batters valuable
practice and it shouldn't be long
before the men on the mound find
those at the plate right tough to
handle.
Bluege will make post-time pitch
ing selections today, but it wouldn' t
be surprising to see Milo Candini,
Bob Albertson and Early Wynn
among those getting turns.
Santiago Ullrich, the Cuban, and
Juan Hernandez, the Venezuelan,
shared the hurting for the Regulars
yesterday. Opposing them were the
veteran Al Carrasquel and Vernon
Curtis, the $4,000 purchase from
Atlanta last year. Each had a
three-inning term.
Carrasquel looked best of the lot,
although the right-handed Ullrich
was impressive in his session. He
gave up two hits, one scratchy, but
he had speed and revealed a mean
curve on occasions. Hernandez
plainly showed lack of experience
with his broad assortment of pitches.
Curtis yielded five hits and all the
runs, but was better than that.
He's really fast and should prove
helpful.
Bob Ortiz's Eye Keen.
Bob Ortiz, outfielder bought last
year from Montreal, and his younger
brother, Olivrio, pitcher, reached
camp yesterday. The husky Roberto
was hustled into the Regulars line
up in right field. He got the best
OF his sides five safeties, a scorcher
through the pitchers box to center
Bob said he played in SO games in a
Cuban league during the winter and
batted .337 to lead the circuit.
Fermin Guerra got a three inning
catching term for the Regulars after
Rick Ferrell called it a day. The
Cuban is small, but he knows how
to play ball behind the bat. Rogelio
Valdes went the route as catcher
for the Yannigans He got single
and his throw had Sullivan caught
stealing had Gil Torres held the ball
Gomez and Joe Kuhel made the
banner fielding plays. In the sixth,
the Cuban came up with Eddie But
ka's skidder and tagged his man
Kuhel in the third shared Gomez S
foul with one hand after long,
hard run.
Next Sundays exhibition game
between the Mats and Luke Ap-
pings Camp Lee team will be a
Red Cross benefit. There will be
no admission charge, but the Red
Cross committee will be on hand to
accept donations. Mrs. Bill Werber
wife of the former big Lacquer, is
directing the drive in the College
porly o,,l ,,,;n