Evening star., 1948-06-04
kuheI Returning
Veteran 10 Post:
To Balance Club
Will Stoy at Position
Unless Swop Is Made;
FeIIer Foe Tonight
By Burton Howkins

Manager Joe Kuhel's extensive
shopping for steady shortstop has
ceased. The Mats boss has decided
to wear the old model another sea
son, abandoning the styles Of
Johnny Sullivan and Sammy Meeks
for the tried, worn, but still fash
ionable lines of 34-year-old Mark
Christman.
When the Mats tangle with the
Cleveland Indians and Bob Feller
tonight at Griffith Stadium, Christ
man will remain at shortStop and
unless the club makes a deal before
the trading deadline of June IS, the
wiry frame of Christman probably
will become a fixture there.
Kuhel has given both Sullivan and
Meeks adequate opportunity to oust
the light hitting. but smooth-f field
ing Christman. Neither has demon
strated superior fielding finesse and
in the matter Of hitting-what little
the Mats have received from their
assorted observation-disclosures has
the edge.
1t has been no easy decision for
Kuhel, who was Sullivan's room
mate in 1914. Sullivan was handed
the job in spring training on Clark
Grifith's conviction that he would
develop rapidly and blend neatly
with a young club, but it hasn't
worked that way.
Youngsters Fail at Bat.
When Griffith saw Meeks sparkle
in games with the Mats Chatta-
nooga farm, he felt the little blond
would be a suitable replacement in
event Sullivan failed. With Sulli-
van batting a meager .173 ano
Meeks hitting .056, Christman moves
in as a regular with his .203 mark.
Christman was aware of Grit
fth's plans to test Sullivan eXten-
sively when he reported for spring
training and was in sympathy with
the program of developing young
sters. Mark, who has played every
infield position in his major league
career was to be Kuhel's infielc
trouble-shooter.
1t was Christman, though, who
opened the season at shortstop
When his hitting tapered off anc
the Mats slumped into a five-gamt
losing streak, he was yanked on tht
theory that Sullivan might injec
more punch in Washington's batting
order. Sullivan didn't and Kuhe
switched to Meeks, hoping he'd rem
edy the situation.
Now the wheel has made a com.
plete revolution and Kuhel is back
where he started, content thai
Christman is his best bet. Mark vii
remain at the job barring a com.
plete collapse.
Christman Balances Team.
christmas is a steady sort O.
fellow to have between Eddie Yos
and AL Kozar," says Kuhel. "He'
experienced, knows the leagues hit
ters and what the opposition is like
ly to attempt. After all, of course
before he was pulled out of the line
up we were playing 500 ball. That
of course, is no condemnation O.
sullivan or Meeks, because our pitch
ing went bad, but with Christma1
in there we're better balanced"
Against Mickey Haefner tonight
the Indians may throw a batting
order of eight right-handed hitters
Manager Lou Boudreau last nigh
was contemplating shifting Johnny
Berardino to first base with the re-
turn Of Joe Gordon to second anc
benching Eddie Robinson, left
handed hitter.
Boudreau may present an outfiele
comprised Of Allie Clark, Bob Ken
nedy and Dale Mitchell, with tht
latter the only southpaw swinger II
the Indians lineup.
Rained out last night, to the dis.
appointment of 10000 fans, the Nats
will be shooting for their seventh
victory in nine games tonight. Chi.
cago will invade for a single game
tomorrow, double header Sunday
and night game Monday.