Evening star., 1948-04-03
Griffmen Need Power
That Sherry Displays;
Farmhands Nipped
By Burton Howkins

ORLANDO, Fla, April 3.-The
strange spectacle Of generally un-
admired, frequently condemned
Sherry Robertson roaming center
field for the Mats today loomed as
a distinct possibility. with Manager
Joe Kuhel having launched an ex-
pertinent for which he isn't apollo
gizing.
Sherry has . strong arm and
hes fast" declares Kuhel, so !
want to see how he'll operate in
center field. I think center field Is
easier than left or right field be-
cause the angles are little less
sharper, so I might be doing him a
favor. II it doesn't work out, I'll
abandon this idea, but I want TO
see how Sherry can handle himself
In that spot"
Robertson is being tested in his
sixth position with the Mats. He
previously has played second base,
shortstop, third base, left and right
field. He has been no sensation at
any position and at times his f1eld-
ing deficiencies have been more
noticeable than his lack Of hitting,
but Kuhel is willing to string along
with him.
Kuhel Getting Line on Drake.
There is more behind KuheTs
decision than the fact that Robert
son Is the nephew Of Joe's boss,
Clark Griffith. The fact remains
that If Sherry had invaded the
Mats camp not hampered by repu-
tation, but as an unknown rookie
battling for job, he would be
stamped as a super-special swatter.
Robertson is the Mats leading
batter In spring training. He Is
humping a convincing .408. He has
injected three home runs into the
Mats attack-more than any other
Washington performer. Among his
20 hits in 10 attempts also have
been two doubles and triple. Kuhel
understandably has been impressed.
despite Robertson's poor back
ground.
There is another angle to Kuhel's
move, however. Joe is eager to ex-
anime the hitting of Larry Drake,
who has been inserted in right field,
and during the absence Of Lee Gull
berson due to an ailing foot and leg
Kuhel is capitalizing on the oppor-
tunity.
II don't know how 1t will work
out" confesses Kuhel, "but If 1t
should click We'll have more power
to throw against right-handed
pitching With the left-handed hit
ting Gil Coan, Robertson, Drake,
Mickey Vernon and Jake Early bat
ting against right-handers we might
be formidable. It's just an expert
ment, but it's worth trying"
Mats Barely Nip Lookouts.
The first phase of Kuhels test
was no huge success yesterday as
the Mats defeated Chattanooga, 4-3.
Robertson had putout and an as
sist, while Drake wasn't presented
with fielding opportunity. Neither
fashioned 4 hit. The Mats collected
only six.
Sid Hudson came up with another
of his sparkling pitching perform
ances, travelling six innings, giving
up no runs and rationing the Look
outs to hit an inning. 1t was
Chick Pieretti who yielded Chatta-
nooga all its runs, the Lookouts
scoring two runs in the eighth when
Muscle Shoals singled across Minor
Scott and Jim Clark. Chattanooga
fashioned another run in the ninth
on singles by Mike Garback, Sam
Meeks and Scott.
Meanwhile, the Mats had con-
structed a 40 lead. In the first in
ming Johnny Sullivan was credited
with single when George Myatt
dropped his pop fly in short right
field and Coan scored him with a
;,ouble which took weird hop over
First Baseman Shoals.
A walk to Hudson, Myatt's tumble
of Sullivan's grounder and Eddie
Lyons double produced two WASH
ington runs in the fifth and the
Mats picked up their final run in
the seventh when the Lookouts
manufactured three OF their five
errors.
Difani Due Outfield Test.
NAT NOTES-Grifith says Jay
Difini, who came to the Mats as a
third baseman, will be converted
into an outfielder Grifiith likes
his hitting, but doesn't relish his
slow 'ref1exes in the infield /. When
Arthur Godfrey broadcast from here
yesterday, Griffith was a guest and
summed up his team as mo hit, no
field, no pitch"
Baseball Commissioner Happy
Chandler is slated to peek at the
Nats-A's game here tomorrow, when
the 78-year-old Grifith and the "a
year-old Connie Mack are due to
stage race. :. ~. The alleged
sprint will be for the benefit Of
photographers Second Baseman
AL Kozar is out Of the Mats lineup
for a day or two A f1ngernail
was torn yesterday when he at
tempted to field . ball In the first
inning.
Early Wynn and Ray Scarborough
were to face the Philadelphia Ath-
letics here today, with Phil Mar
childon and Dick Fowler nominated
to pitch for the AS .. Among the
spectators yesterday was General
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