Evening star., 1948-04-12
Pitching Also Weak
In Loss to PhiIs
By Burton Howkins
s,ur s.oif Correspondent

16EEN LILLE, .. ", ApIu LIZ
There's . suspicion the Mats are
settling into q deep rut excavated
by erratic fielding and weak hitting.
There were times during spring
training that Washington displayed
flashes OF power, but it has bumped
into . crop Of creditable pitching
lately and injuries have resulted.
No boost to the Mats spirit is the
fact that they're mustered only 10
hits In their last two games against
the Philadelphia Phillies, who are
favored to straggle into the base
ment in the National League. Blk
Donnelly and Dutch Leonard sud-
denly applied the brakes to Wash
ington's hitting, with Leonard ad-
ministering shit job yesterday at
Montgomery, Ala, as the Phillies
got a 9-1 decision.
The Mats apparently will follow
the pattern of last years seventh
place club. which generally received
polished pitching, but couldn't stiI
I'D any hitting. Wretched fielding
also is hampering the Mats, who
have committed "a errors in theiI
last eight games.
Shortstop Sorely Needed.
Washington is struggling along
with a shortstop. Johnny Sullivan
who remains a regular despite the
fact he has been charged with Il
errors-6 in the Mats last three
games-and he has played only II
full exhibitions.
Sullivan, though, isn't alone II
his blundering. In n games. the
Mats have fashioned A errors, which
haven't included several instances
of misjudged outfield flies and ON
cial scoring which has been liberal
due to rough fields.
The Mats outlook isn't bright
Center Fielder Leon Culbersor
hasn't contributed hit in his last
is attempts and when Culberson
doesn't hit the Mats are In sorry
shape. They can switch to Tom
Mcbride, who never has disturbed
rigrt-handed pitching, or Ear
Wooten, who isn't noted for damag-
ing any sort Of pitching. They're
gambling on Sherry Robertson tt
deliver In right field and on Gil
Coan to click in his third trial In
left field.
Washington's most pressing re-
ouirement at the moment, though
is . classy shortstop. The Mats
bosses have been kidding themselves
into believing Sullivan will develop
Is q sparkling sort Of fielder ans
adequate hitter, but that notion
hasn't been supported by Sullivan
conduct. If the Mats hadn't beer
desperate, Sullivan long since woult
have been dismissed as incompetent
Candini Has Wild Spell.
Against all types Of opposition
Sullivan's batting mark has hoveret
in the region of 300 this spring
but against major league hurting
it may be significant that Johnn!
is hitting .24o and fielding niser'
ably.
There are two superior shortstop'
sitting on the Mats bench, in a.
year-old Mark Christman ant
Rookie San Meeks, but Sullivan con-
tinues to get the nod. Both Christ
man and Meeks are steadier fielders
than Johnny, but Manager Jot
Kuhel hasn't abandoned hope fol
his current shortstop.
Johnny injured his knee severa
days ago." says Joe, land he throw.
OF that leg. I don't know that thai
is responsible for his bad throwing
but / want to give him chance tt
prove that he's all right when he!
fit physically / wouldn't want tx
give up on him while he's ailing."
Milo Candini suffered his frs
wild spell yesterday and the Phillie.
clipped him for two runs in the frs
inning when Richie Ashburn anl
Bert Haas walked, moved along a!
Dick Sisler grounded out and scoree
on Del Ennis single to left.
Candini walked Eddie Miller IL
start the Phil's fifth and they nailes
him for five runs as Andy Seminicl
tripled, Coan misjudged Leonard,
fly into q double, and Haas ant
Ennis singled, with Sullivan an,