Evening star., 1948-04-07
|Yost, With Pace!
Half Dozen Hiners
lin 800 Circle
By Burton Howkins
sfor sioff corrsspondsns

Sfor Sfoff Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla, April THE
time has come to speak respectfully
Of the Mats batting attack, which
was supposed to be woefully weak.
It could be misleading, OF course
but the Mats are hitting as II they
hadn't heard reports Of their de-
ficiencies along that line.
Exhibition games aren't true
gauges Of ability, for too frequently
wild rookie pitchers are employed,
but what pitching the Mats have
viewed in test games they've rel
ished. Six Of the Mats regulars
are batting in the select 800 circle
Leading the punch parade is Ed
die Yost, who is humping an en-
couraging .373. Sherry Robertson
is batting .355: Mickey Vernon,
1923; Leon Culberson, 1888; Gil Coan
800, and Johnny Sullivan .317.
Any suspicion that Yost. Rob-
ertson and Sullivan will continue
that sort OF swatting Is likely to
be greeted derisively, but those fig
ures have heartening aspects in
view Of the fact that the Mats
soon are slated to enter the Amer
ican League war generally regarded
as an outfit moving against 16-inch
guns with peashooters.
Vernon Ahead Of Schedule.
Giving a lift to Manager Joe
,Kuhel is Vernon, who never has
been noted for his spring hitting.
The energetic Mr.. Yost is showing
signs of developing as a batter
despite his .238 average last season
in his first major league trial. Rob-
ertson has tapered off terrifically
after a spectacular start, failing to
hit in, his last 10 efforts, but Sherry
nevertheless has been one of the
bright lights Of the Mats spring
training.
AL pitching the Mats have viewed
hasn't been mediocre. They've faced
Phil Marchildon, Warren SPAIN,
Hal Newhouser twice, Mickey Harris
and the Phillies' rookie sensation,
Curt Simmons. All have been
treated rudely by Washington.
Despite Sullivan's average he
isn't assured Of the shortstop job.
Pressing him is Sam Meeks, who
contributed q home run yesterday
as Washington walloped Newark,
1873, in a wild game cluttered by II
bases on balls and five errors-four
by the Mats. =
AL Kozar at the moment is a .271
hitter, but Kuhel can disregard that
If for no other reason than the
silent second baseman has been
handicapped by an ailing leg and
a damaged finger.
1t is when the Mats dip into the
catching department that their bat
ting falls off sharply, for Jake Early
has fashioned only three hits in II
attempts and AL Evans has been a
$50 batter. Neither has been voted
in the past for disturbing American
League pitching and their conduct
here would indicate their reputa-
tions will remain intact.
Mcbride Weak at Plate.
Disappointing, too, has been Tom
Mcbride, who has injected only one
hit in his last 18 trips to the plate
Tom is hitting a modest .233. :.
Newark poured five runs across
the plate at Chick Pieretti's expense
in the second inning yesterday on
three singles. two walks and three
errors, but the Mats bounced back
with four runs in their portion OF
the inning and clustered four more
runs In the fourth through the
medium Of three walks, Pieretti's
bunt and Vernon's double.
The Bears whitfield Washingtons
margin to 8-6 with q run off Forrest
Thompson in the sixth, but the Mats
came back with a run in this half
Of the inning. then sprayed three
more across in the seventh when
Len Okrie and Thompson doubled
and Meeks blasted his homer
Thompson's batting was more effec-
tive than his hurting for the Bears
battered him for three runs in the
eighth.
NAT NOTES-Clark Griffith Is
attempting to obtain another major
league club to train here, play at
least nine-game series with that
team and eliminate all minor league
competition. Sid Hudson was to
face Chattanooga here today, with
Early Wynn slated to pitch against
the Lookouts tomorrow in the Mats
farewell Orlando game.
Pieretti braced nicely after being
blasted for five runs in the second
inning, allowing no hits the next
three innings. He has been told
by Kuhel to forget his tempera-
mental outbursts when on the
mound and Chicks behavior after
being battered was exemplary.
Best bet as the Mats shortstop by
June 1-MeekS.