Evening star., 1948-04-09
Griffith Seeking
Deal With bosox
To Help Infie|d
Meeks, Class B Rook;;
Slow Christmon Only
Subs Now Available
By Burton Howkins
Sfor Stof Correspondent

|
Johnny Sullivan to microscopic
scrutiny during spring exhibition
games, hoping to detect some sign
of improvement in his fielding, but
with 10 days remaining before
Washington embarks on its Ameri-
fcan League cruise only Sullivan's
closest relatives will insist he's an
adequate infielder.
Washington's most pressing re-
quirement at the moment is an out
standing shortstop to bolster an
otherwise acceptable inf1eld. The
Mats outfield represents no sprin-
king of stars and it's catching could
be classier, but Washington's gap
at shortstop looms larger than the
Grand Canyon.
Sullivan has been staked to a
thorough trial and, to be polite, he
hasn't measured to major league
standards. Forty-one errors have
been charged against the Mats in
exhibition games and Johnny owns
the dubious distinction of contribut-
ing II, though he has played only
nine full games.
Only sporadically has Sullivan
shown flashes of ability, but he also
owes vote Of thanks to First Base
man Mickey Vernon, who is getting
additional exercise stretching for
the scattered throws off jittery
Johnny.
Meeks Is Big Risk.
The Mats are confronted with an
acute problem in replacing Sullivan.
They can insert Mark Christman,
34-year-old steady fielder, but weak
hitter Or they can trust the job
to little Sam Meeks, who performed
nicely last year with the class B
Charlotte club in the Tri-State
League.
Injecting q graduate Of class B
baseball into major league lineup
is a step born of desperation, but
the Mats may be forced to take it
if for no other reason than that
Meeks so far has outclassed Sui
Ivan. A 1886 hitter with Charlotte,
Meeks displays amazing power for
his 158 pounds, shows strategic savvy
and as a fielder he's many notches
above Sullivan.
Meeks is clever sort of shortstop,
despite his abbreviated stature, and
with Sullivan'S collapse virtually
di3ating switch Sam could get
the Job. At %, he fits in with Clark
Gnfiths avowed plan to string along
with youth-a pattern in which the
veteran Christnan doesn't blend.
Sullivan inserted four Of the Mats
six errors yesterday as they made
an unimpressive final appearance
here while whipping Chattanooga,
lilo. Sherry Robertson belted a
single to score the winning run with
the bases loaded and none out in
the ninth.
Wynn Hit Over Route.
Sullivan's wretched performance
may prompt the Mats bosses to deal
for shortstop-a matter which has
been broached to the Boston Red
Sox-but with opening day sneaking
up on them the situation demands
hasty action.
Early Wynn became the first
Washington pitcher to travel nine
innings, but he achieved no distinc-
tion In the process. He was cuffed
for IA hits and allowed four walks.
with Chattanooga locking the score
at 10-10 with . 4-run outburst in
the ninth.
Wynn opened the Mats ninth with
a single to left, though, and Larry
Drake ran for him. Drake stole
second and continued to third when
Catcher Del Friar threw wild into
center field. That prompted Man
ager George Myatt to order Meeks
and AL Kozar purposely passed. In
that situation, Robertson shot a
single to center scoring Drake with
the winning run.
NAT NOTES.-The Mats sliced
their roster to 28 players TODAY with
the release Of Outfielder Drake to
Chattanooga. -. Drake was set to
stick until Jay Difani was converted
from third baseman into an out
fielder, where he has impressed
Manager Joe Kuhel. The Mats
have until May 10 to trim to rs
players with pitcher, an outfielder
and an infielder slated to go.
Griffith has signed a flve-year
pact to return to Orlando for spring
training. The Mats completed
their Florida schedule against minor
league clubs with six victories, two
defeats and tie. d.. Against major
league opposition they've won six,
lost nine.
Washington was to wind up its
Orlando stay today with a brief
workout, then entrain for Waycross,
Ga, at tomorrow morning.
They'll take a bus from Waycross
to Valdosta, Ga, So miles away, to
meet the Phillies tomorrow in the
first of seven exhibition games with
them en- route North. (. The Mats
will head for Washington with 10
pitchers, 3 catchers, 6 outfielders
dncluding DifanD and 7 infielders.