Evening star., 1947-02-26
Coan in Fine Shape Asserts He'll Be Nat ReguIa,
Fleet Gardener Given
Inside Track Over
Left Fielder Grace
By Burton Hawkins
Stor Staff CORRESPONDENT

ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 26.-Gil
Coan says the Mats left field job Is
his and he doesn't intent to relin-
quish the post. Informed that Man
ager Ossie Blugge intends to inject
him into Washington's lineup in q
sink or swim maneuver, Gil said,
that's good. It fits right in with
my plans, because I'm gonna be
playing left field all year.
I'm % pounds lighter than when
I reported here last year" Coan
continued. Il weigh ITS now and
I'm gonna stay at that weight.
Last spring I was too heavy and
never got in good shape. This year
it's different. I'm ready for work
and I'm gonna be a regular.
IT learned a few things last year,
said Coan, who batted .209 after
being stamped the most valuable
minor league player of 1945 as a
result of hitting .372 with Chatta-
nooga. IT learned the pitching in
the majors is quite bit sharper
than in the minors, but now I'm
ready for 'em.
Confident Of Good Year.
"I needed that season in the
majors badly. I've seen the pitch
ing In the American League now
and I'm accustomed to it. I'm con-
fident I can catch up with that
pitching and have a good year.
Yep, the left field job Is mine and
I'm not gonna let go Of it,"
Speed boy of the Mats, Coan
was off to slow start last spring
in training. His feet were blis-
tered, then became infected. The
remainder of the squad was in ex-
cellent condition when Gil's feet
still were bothering him, but he
doesn't anticipate any trouble along
that line this spring, despite a
recent appendectomy.
MY doctor told me to take 1t
little easy at the start" said Gil,
but I'm already In better shape
than I was last year, and after a
few days I should be ready for
anything. I'm gonna have a good
year. I just feel it,"
Such optimism Is refreshing, for
it indicates Coan still retains vital
confidence despite a disappointing
season. He has the temperament to
come off the canvas and fatten
foe. He may have been battered
a bit last season, but there's an
other round coming up.
Coan may be ready to fulfill the
glowing predictions made for him
last year by Joe Engel, who dis
patched such players as Joe Judge,
Bluege, Bucky Harris, Buddy Lewis,
Cecil Travis and Goose Goslin to
the Mats. He'll be better than any
of them," said Engel.
Speed, Power and Youth.
Gil easily could become the Mats
glamour boy. He has speed, power
and youth. He lacks an outstanding
arm, but there was no complaint
with his fielding last season. He's
out of the rookie realm now and
still is regarded as a player with
glittering future.
Despite his light hitting last sea-
son, Gil is being given the inside
track over Joe Grace, who had a
successful season with Washington
last year. He gets the edge because
boss Clark Griffith and Bluege feel
that If he gets going he'll make the
current Mats a tougher team and
will be an outfleld fixture for years.
There's pressure on Gil this year
and he welcomes it. He's out to
prove last year was a mistake. Coan
feels it was a mistake, anyway, and
that's the first step toward correct
ing it.
Coan reported here yesterday and
signed his contract, leaving only
Jerry Priddy and Buddy Lewis out
side the fold. Priddy is expected
here tomorrow and Lewis probably
will get in line in the next few days.
Pitcher Bobo Newsom missed yes
terday's practice session due to a
sore ankle, but was to work out to-
6ay