Evening star., 1946-04-05
Masterson Is Only One
Lacking an Excuse;
Hudson Coasting
By Burton Howkins

ORLANDO, Fla, April 5.-One of
the items which fails to disturb
Manager Ossie Bluege of the Mats
is that his pitching staff has been
having an embarrassing time of it.
Washington's pitchers have been
getting terrific hammerings, but
most of those wallopings may be
dismissed lightly.
Sid Hudson, for instance, con-
fesses he hasn't resembled the pre-
war Hudson, but the 6-foot 4-inch
right-hander isn't fretting about it.
II haven't been looking good and
I know it. but the truth Is haven't
been throwing hard" says Sid.
Frankly, I've been afraid to cut
loose with my fast one," continues
Sid, because my arm hasn't felt
just right. It's not sore, but I didn't
do much pitching in the Army and
I think the muscles tightened up
on me bit.
Because Of that I've been taking
it easy, pitching two Or three in
nings and then getting out of the
game. I've been concentrating on
loosening those muscles and it's
working out just the way I planned.
I'm feeling better every time r
pitch and it won't be long before
I'll be ready, but meanwhile I be-
lieve the only smart thing for me
to do is work myself into shape
slowly. I don't want to damage
those arm muscles by asking too
much of them"
Hudson's Explanation Heartening.
Since Sid never has presented an
alibi for losing. such statement is
heartening to the Mats. Hudson says
he merely has been going through
the motions of pitching to Timber
his arm, but that he'll be ready
when the season starts. I'm feeling
100 per cent better about my arm
than was two weeks ago." says Sid.
Hudson definitely will not hurl
the opening game for Washington
against Boston on April 16. The
choice will come from Walter Mas
terson, Roger Wolff, Dutch Leonard
or Mickey Haefner, says Bluege,
who is in accord with Sids slow
conditioning campaign.
Wolff was no sensation against
the Dodgers second squad on
Wednesday, but the ball employed
in that struggle was needed bush
league sphere and the mound at
Sanford Park was akin to pitching
off Pixies Peak. Every pitcher in
that game suffered, as evidenced by
A hits collected by both clubs.
Haefner yielded eight hits yester-
day as the Mats thumped Orlando's
Glass D Florida State League entry,
8-3. in a seven-inning tiff. That
seemingly wouldn't reflect credit on
Mickey, but Haefner was throwing
fast balls exclusively.
Haefner Polishes Fast One.
Mickey Stunned knucklers and
curve palls because he felt it an op-
perfume time to polish his fast ball
control. 1t was fair job of polish
ing, for he walked only two. Two
doubles and two singles cost Haef-
ner three runs in the third, but
three of Orlando's hits were con-
tributed by Joe Kuhel and George
Binks, who were loaned to the local
team for the occasion.
Masterson hasn't been brilliant
and his failure to round into form
has been perturbing the Mats
bosses, but Leonard and Johnny
Niggeling are ready. -.
Some of my pitchers, such as
Vernon Curtis and Ray Scarbor-
ough, may suffer for lack of work in
the next few days simply because I
must start our regulars says
Bluege. II regard both Curtis and
Scarborough as very promising
starting pitchers, but to get ready
for the start of the season I'll have
to work Hudson, Leonard, Wolff
Haefner and Masterson steadily
from here on out"
George Myatt's home run pre-
sented the Mats 10 lead over Or
lando in the first inning yesterday,
while doubles by Mickey Vernon
and Haefner, plus singles by Evans
and Myatt, fetched the Mats four
runs in the fourth. The Mats picked
up another in the sixth without
benefit Of hit, then got two in the
seventh as Vernon homered, JEFF
Heath walked and Ray Goolsby
tripled.
Idle today, the Mats will tangle
with the Phillies tomorrow in the
first Of a seven-game series which
will carry the Mats to Washington.