Evening star., 1944-05-26
Plays for Two Weeks
With Broken Finger;
Mats Beat Harder
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


| CLEVELAND, Ohio, May $3.50
accustomed have the Mats become
to having regular players out of
commission at various times in the
early season that the temporary loss
of George Myatt, second baseman,
isn't disturbing them overmuch.
First Pitcher Dutch Leonard
couldn't get going because of a sore
shoulder. Then Outfielder George
Case. the leagues base stealing
champion, was benched by a sue
cession of injuries. Rick Ferrell,
their dependable catcher, had to
step out to permit ripped thumb
to heal. First Baseman Joe Kuhel
went out with a bruised side and
the club ran into some trouble.
But despite these handicaps, one
after another, the Mats have man
aged to keep in the thick of the
| fighting and they see no reason
to believe the absence of Myatt, en-
forced by a broken finger that may
have him inactive as long as three
weeks will send them staggering to
the bottom of the league.
Factor in Keen Showing.
1t is not that Myatt hasn't been
quite a factor in the keen showing
the Washington club has made thus
far. To the contrary. the infielder,
who inherited the spot vacated after
last season by Gerald Priddy be-
cause of call to the armed services,
provided pleasant surprise with his
fashy fielding and his unexpectedly
solid sockipg.
But now that Kuhel, recognized as
the key man of the infield, is back
on the job all hands are confident
the club can get along temporarily
with Gil Torres shifted from third
base to the post at second and
Hills Layne filling in at third. The
versatile Torres appeared to advan-
tage at the middle sack in exhibition
games during the training season.
Layne seems to know what to do
and is pretty capable. around third.
Myatt might have been ready for
regular toll now had he gone out
of the game when first hurt instead
of concealing from club officials the
severity of his injury. He was hurt
nearly two weeks ago in the first
game of double-header with the
Chicago White Sox when taking a
throw from Shortstop Johnny Sulli-
van in double-play.
Failed to Mention Pain.
George completed the play, but
neglected to let anyone know that
the little finger on his right hand
Immediately began paining him
greatly. In fact, he made no men
ton of it to Manager Os Bluege
and Trainer Mike Martin until late
yesterday. He had spent Sleep
less night because of the pain and
had to give up.
An X-ray revealed a compound
Fracture and a torn tendon and
Myatt was told by the Cleveland
Club surgeon, who made the exam
lination, that he might have to stay
out of action for three weeks. My
att insists he will be out of the game
only a few days, but he has been
warned to be cautious with the brok-
en- finger.
|. He will continue with the club on
the western trip, donning uniform
daily and doing some running to
maintain his condition. George al
so viii he available as a pinch
runner, a role in which he could
Ebe quite helpful as he has a deal
Of speed and has proved a sparkling
base runner this season.
Unable to Grip Bat.
While the injury did not seem
Ito affect Myatts fielding particu-
larly, it certainly did take away a
lot of his wallop at the plate. I'm
able to grip the bat properly, George
lost 80 points from his season bat
ting average after being hurt. Up
to the time of his injury, he was
hitting 1853. In the 10 games fol-
lowing it, he clouted at only .23S
pace.
With Myatt out nursing the all
ing finger, the club will have .315
hitter in Torres at second base and
$50 hitter in Layne at third and
the Mats feel they can struggle
along.
Al Evans, catcher, taken into the
Navy after the Mats finished their
1912 campaign, rejoined the club
Yesterday but he won't he avajla hle
for service for some time. The long
siege of illness which brought about
his discharge from the Navy tore
him down considerably. He looks
quite peaked and Trainer Martin
says the catcher's rebuilding pro-
gram can't be rushed.
Ninth Inning Poison.
| Ninth innings are plain poison to
Mel Harder when he's pitching
against the Mats. Last night was
Mel Harder night at Cleveland
Stadium in the first game of the
season under the lights here, but
| just as he was punished in that
recent tussle in Washington when
the Mats got to him in the ninth
! for a tie and eventually won so
was the veteran right handler given
AZ beating this time as he was
reached for three runs in the final
session.
He went into the last round with
(See MATS, Page A-l1.5