Evening star., 1946-04-12
B|uege Has No Regular
Lineup Ready;Phi|s'
Lefty Curbs Griffs
By Burton Hawkins
Stor StoH Correspondent

RICHMOND, Va, April 12-The
Mats 1916 edition, allergic to left
handed pitching, but paradoxically
the most powerful Washington club
in a decade, will be chugged into
the Capitals Union Station to-
night still unsettled after two
months of spring training, but we'll
equipped to have an interesting
time of it in the impending Ameri-
can League race.
Gil Coan and Ray Goolsby, who
qualify as the most promising pair
of rookie outfielders ever to grace
the Mats roster in one season, are
among the brighter newcomers who
are strangers to Washington fans.
Six deep in outfielders, the Mats
will present another fascinating
figure in jeff Heath, who comes
to Washington after nine years at
Cleveland.
Carrying three first basemen, the
Mats may present the least known
of them in the seasons opener
against the Red Sox on Tuesday
if Manager Joe Cronin starts a
southpaw. In that event, right
handed hitting Jack Sanford, back
with Washington after SO months in
the armed forces, may get the nod
over Mickey Vernon and Joe Kuhel.
Only One Hurler Is Stranger.
Twelve pitchers decorate the Mats
squad and the only total stranger
in their midst is Maxis Wilson,
stubby southpaw who compiled an
amazing four-year record in the
Navy. Bill Kennedy, an Alexandria
(VaD lefthander, and Vernon Curtis,
slim highlander, served short
stretches with the Mats prior to
entering the service. Kennedy, in
cidentally, is slated to face the
Baltimore Orioles tomorrow at
Griffith Stadium in the Mats only
Washington appearance before
opening day.
Nowhere in the Mats 29-manI
squad, however, has Manager Ossie
Bluege been able to detect suitable
third baseman. Despite the i'm
proved play of Sherry Robertson,
the Mats bosses desperately are
searching for a third-sacker, but
until such time as replacement is
located Robertson and Gil Torres
will alternate at the post.
Washingtons opening-day lineup
will depend chiefly on Boston's
pitching selection. If Cronin elects
to start right -hander. Bluege is
prepared to throw seven left-handed
hitters into Washington batting
order, But if the Red Sox employ a
left-hander, the Mats probably will
operate with Sanford at first, Torres
at third, Goolsby in left and Al
Evans behind the plate, in an effort
to inject right-handed power.
Roger Wolff was to bid for the
opening-game assignment here to-
day, when he and Curtis face the
Phlllles in the eighth and final tilt
between the clubs this spring.
An impressive performance could
clinch the lob for Wolff, a 2O-game
winner last season. But anything
less may present the job to another
knuckle baller-Dutch Leonard
who has pitched three openers and
never walked off the mound a win
ner in any of them.
Southpaw Judd Stops Mats.
The Mats dropped their second
decision to the Phillies yesterday at
Charlotte, N. c., when Southpaw Os-
car Judd restricted them to five hits
en- route to 90 triumph as Phila-
delphia hammered Sid Hudson. Wal
ter Masterson and Oliverio Ortiz for
IA hits.
Washington's hitting was limited
to Stan Spence and Cecil Travis
who collected two singles apiece. and
Torres, who accounted for the other
blow. Torres was showed into the
llne-up after reporting from Ha-
yana. where he travelled to make ar
fangements for bringing his wife to
Washington.
The Phillies clipped Hudson for a
run in the third and added three
more in the fourth on a walk. two
singles and doubles by Andy Semi
nick and Judd. Masterson was
slammed for four runs in the sew
enth on four singles and another
Seminick double, while Ortiz yield
ed the final Philadelphia run in the
eighth when Ron Northey walked
and scored on Jim Tabor's double to
center.
1t marked the third time in their
last four games the Mats have been
held to five hits or less by southpaw
pitching. Judd was the sixth sue
cessive southpaw starter the Mats
have faced since teaming up with
the Phillies for their exhibition Sc
ries.
Clifton SofthnII Tenn