Evening star., 1949-03-21
Gil TopsWinningDr Drive
AS Pitchers Subdue
Red Sox S|uggers
BY Burton Hawkins
Stor Stoff Correspondent

WINTER GARDEN, Fla, Mar
21.-There's a sudden surge of in
fectious enthusiasm among the
Mats and creating that epidemic
of soaring spirit is Gil Coan. The
feet-footed outfielder finally is
resembling a youngster who is deS-
tined to tinkle in major league
surroundings.
Coan may not be solely respcn-
sible for the contagious feeling
among the Mats that they're not
as feeble as generally supposed,
but his 500 hitting in six exl1ibi-
ton games with major league foes
has supplied a definite spark.
The Mats have received encour-
aging pitching from Sid Hudson,
Dick Welteroth, Mickey Haefner
Ray Scarborough, Walter Master
son and even Milo Candini.
They're getting solid hitting from
Buddy Lewis, a tighter defense
with Shortstop Sam Dente and
improved hitting from Eddie Yost.
Up to 500 Win Rating.
Washington owns no worse than
3-3 record, following its 6-l
conquest of the Boston Rcd SoX at
Orlando yesterday, despite that
it's large lumber man. Eddie Rob-
inson. has contributed virtually
nothing to the attack. Robinson
will hit, feel the Mats to man,
but meanwhile it has perked them
up. to learn they can struggle
along with him in slump.
Chiefly instrumental for giving
hope to the downtrodden is the
trim Coan.~ Since the spring OF
1916, when he came to training
camp heralded as the prize prod
uct of the minor leagues. the
Mats have been waiting for Gil
to fulfill his promise. This is the
year he'll do it if exhibition
games serve as a criterion.
Gil has been dispatched to the
plate % times, and has responded
with hits on II occasions. After
going hitless in his first game, he
has socked safely in five straight
tussles, injecting four doubles. He
delivered two doubles and single
yesterday against Boston, while
on Saturday he supplied two sin
giles and double in the Mats
victory over the Phillies.
Batting Style Changed.
Coan feels his improvement is
traceable to several sources. He
believes he was hoisted out OF
the minors too soon. and that it
has taken him time to become
accustomed to superior major
league pitching. He's an expert
sort of bunter now and he's comes
up with an altered, effective bat
ting style.
Washington fans haven't seen
the new edition of Coan. He's a
twitchy sort of hitter now. swing
ing his bat in several circles be-
fore the pitcher delivers. He gets
ready before the pitcher is set,
but Gil says that preliminary
wand waving relaXes him.
Gil adopted that technique late
last season when the Mats were on
the road. He stuck with it. fin
ished the year with a flourish and
currently is the Mats undisputed
glamour boy. The Mats .232 hitter
of last year now appears worth
every penny of the 100000 that
the Chicago Cubs offered for him
three years ago.
Mats Give Kinder Lacing.
The Mats could have deterio-
rated in training with a distress
ing start. They have been labeled
nickle-and-dime club. classed
with the Chicago White Sox as
4O-1 shots for the pennant. and
generally dismissed as incompe-
tent. Now they're feeling formid-
able and it's a toughness which is
welcomed by Manager Joe Kuhel.
Washington treatment of Ellis
Kinder, regarded as a 20-game
winner this year for the Red 'Sox
by Manager Joe Mccarthy. was
a refreshing spectacle. The Mats
pounced on him for four runs in
the third inning as AL Evans dou-
bled. Hal Keller walked, Coan and
(See MATS, Page A-15D