Evening star., 1944-03-30
Hitting Power 10 Tell
As BIuege Selects
Inner Defense
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

|
BY JOHN B. KELLER.
Exhibition games, beginning Sat-
urday, when the Martin Bombers of
Baltimore invade College Park, are
to solve the one big problem still
bothering Manager Os Bluege of the
Nats-the makeup of his infield.
Little worried about his outffeld
and the pitching and catching de-
partments, Bluege still is mulling
over the Washington clubs inner
Gordon, although he has more talent
at his command than almost any
other American League manager.
Right now the only apparent fix
ture in the infield is Joe Kuhel, vet
eran first baseman picked up from
the Chicago White Sox during the
winter. But Kuhel is not without
opposition, for Eddie Butka, the big
boy who hit close to 800 for Spring
field in the Eastern League last sea-
son, is a real bidder for the post.
Even though he doesn't make it, he'll
be kept around for his hitting power
and his handiness at other positions
in the infield.
Second, Short Still Open.
While he is filling in at second
base with the regular lineup at
present, George Myatt is no cer-
tainty at that spot. Flashy at times
af1eld Myatt still is no howitzer at
bat and might find his place taken
over by Gilberto Torres, versatile
Cuban veteran, who has done every
thing in baseball except catch.
Johnny Sullivan appears to have
the edge at shortstop currently, but
Preston Gomez, the young Cuban
player, is not to be counted out of
the picture. Sullivan has the ad-
vantage in bigtime experience, but
he must maintain a hot fielding
stride to stay in there. He still must
prove himself a hitter. So must
Gomez, but the Cuban can do a lot
of fancy fielding and isn't lacking in
speed. This post still is wide open.
Bluege thinks much of the de-
fensive ability of Luis Suarez, Cuban
youngster now holding down third
base with the regular lineup. Luis
has more than played up to ad-
vance notices afield and recently has
given indication he may have some
ability as batter. But Hills Layne
remains a big threat. He, too, is
a good fielder and promises to be
an even better batter. But there's
that ailing leg to handicap Layne
It's likely to put him out of COM
mission at any time.
Hitting Power to Decide.
No matter which players are used,
the Mats likely will have a strong
defensive inf1eld. There could be
a deal of difference in offensive
power, however. So Bluege has
plenty to consider before lining upI
his inner Gordon for the American
League opener on April 10.
Pitchers who should be around
when the bell rings next month
Johnny Niggeling, Dutch Leonard,
Roger Wolff and Mickey Haefner,
knuckle-ballers all; Early Wynn, Al
Carrasquel and Milo Candini OIL
these only Haefner is a southpaw.
Battling for three open jobs are
Turkey Curtis, Bill Lefebvre, Bob
Albertson, Santiago Ullrich, the |
Venezuelan from Cuba; Juan
Hernandez and Olivrio Ortiz. This
doesn't include Torres, who because
of his versatility seems assured of a |
job with the Mats.
Maybe this Gene Moore-for Rick
Ferrell deal with the St. Louis |
Browns isn't complete after all. It'll
seems that Moore came back to |
baseball this year only because of
his friendship with Manager Bluege
and isn't of mind to join the
Browns. Should he persist in his
attitude the Mats would be in a stew
for catching for they probably would
have to return Ferrell to the st. |
Louis Club.
Cubans Like Their Sugar.
1t must be sugar that gives the
Cuban contingent at the Mats
camp SO much vim and vigor. They
add spoonfuls of it to their coffee
and even pour it into their glasses
of milk
Ready to go at top speed-for a
time anyways Jake Powell, out
fielding vet. The one-time pride of
the Takoma Park sandlots has
trained earnestly and is eager to
break into the exhibition games.
'Lightest eater-for two meals-on
the club is Pitcher Leonard. For
breakfast he has only cup of cof-
fee and toast. A grapefruit suffices
at lunch. But at the evening meal
Its different, much different.
Rainy day training yesterday
mainly was classwork in Ritchie
Coliseum for the pitchers. When
the remainder of the squad started
pepper drills, the gymnasium was
$50 thick with baseballs practice had
to be stopped to prevent accidents.
On Pilots AI|-Star Team