Evening star., 1949-04-03
Mats Rained0ut,
Have Date With
.A'sA Again Today
Scarborough Is Slab
Choice; Griff Seeks
An Extra InfieIder
By Burton Hawkins
Sfcr Stoff Correspondent

ORLANDO: Fla, April AT a
time when the citrus industry and
the crippled Mats were needing it,
rain descended heavily here today
and washed out Washington S
scheduled game with the Phila-
delphia Athletics. 1t marked the
first time in nine years of spring
training here that the Mats were
forced to cancel contest due
to weather.
The deluge precipitated q re-
arrangement OF Manager Joe Ku-
hel's pitching plans. Slated to
start today was Mickey Haefner,
but he'll be shunted aside tomor-
row in order to permit Ray Scar
borough to tangle with the AS.
Scarborough. who will be the
Mats opening day pitcher thus
will get preliminary test against
his April 18 foes.
Washington, handicapped by
various ailments, welcomed the
day of rest. Games with Chatta-
nooga on Monday and Newark on
Thursday have been Cancelled,
leaving the Mats with only two
games here before they break
camp. They'll battle Chattanooga
on Tuesday and Kansas City on
Wednesday, then get a 2-day
break before tangling with the
Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday
at Chattanooga in their first
pause en- route to Griffith Stadium.
Regulars to Get More Work.
Once the Mats head home, Ku-
hel plans to play his regulars
every day in order to bring them
up to opening day in condition.
Tomorrow's tusSle, in which the
AS Carl Scheib or Lou Brissie
will face the Mats, will be high
lighted by ceremonies honoring
Clark Griffith, 79-year- old presi-
dent of the Washington Club, and
Connie Mack, 86-year- boss of
the Athletics. Baseball Commas
sioner Happy Chandler will be
present for the second successive
year to pay tribute to the veteran
baseball leaders.
Meanwhile Griffith spiked a re-
port he Is considering deal which
would send First Baseman Eddie
Robinson 3 to the New York
Yankees. I'm satisfied with our
regulars. We need another in
fielder badly and I'm trying to get
ONT but I'm going to stick with
my regulars" said Griffith.
The Mats boss doesn't consider
Guillermo Miranda, a flashy field
ing but weak-hitting shortstop. as
the answer to Washington's short
age of infield replacements. Mi
randa, Cuban who played with
Sherman-Denison of the Big State
League last year, will remain with
Chattanooga. subject to 24-hour
recall.
InfielderS Scarce, Griff Says.
I've tried to grab infielders on
waivers" said Griffith, but every
time I put in a claim they with
draw. I talked with Mr.. Mack
today, but hes short on infielders.
too, and isn't willing to part with
anybody"
Washington's only spare infleld-
ers at the moment are Mark
Christman,. who would prefer to
cling to his third-base coaching
job, and Jay Difani. who has
shown little aptitude for handling
third base. Difani Is converted
outfielder.
Christman would be pressed to
action In event Of injury to any
Washington infielder. but Griffith
and Kuhel are aware that two
injuries among the Mats infield
would wreck club which both
regard as possible first-division
timber.
The Mats, who own a CT record
against major league opposition,
will attempt to hoist themselves
to the 500 mark against the AS,
with whom they split a two-game
series at West Palm Beach last
month.