Evening star., 1950-04-15
$4,000 0utfieIder
Is Chief Attraction;
Haynes Faces Bucs
By Burton Hawkins

|
ldium. where Pittsburgh invaded
for the opener of a two-game ex-
Inhibition series.
| Not overhauled. but with several
Ireplacements Of dubious merit, the
Mats were hoping to exhibit pos
sible sparkplug in Irv Noren,
$4,000 outfielder who in the last
two years has been named the
most valuable player of two
leagues.
Noren was likely to see service
after a brief layoff necessitated by
a bruised hand. He was to be the
object of most fans eyes, but GER
tain to be scrutinized, too, were
such rockies as Catcher Mickey
GraSso. Pitcher Steve Macy and
George Genovese, q utility in
fielder.
If the Mats are to improve over
their cellar club of last season,
the help probably will come from
those sources, although Manager
Bucky Harris also likes to envision
assistance coming from other new
talent embodied in Pitchers Buzz
Dozier, Connie Marrero. Jim Pearce
and Earl Davis and Catcher Len
Okrie.
Mats Nurse Minor Ailments.
Against the Pirates today, Har-
ris planned to send Joe Haynes,
most effective of his pitchers in
spring games. It was possible that
Ray Scarborough would pitch
briefly, but Harris was undecided
whether to use him in the game or
merely have him warm up in
preparation for his expected start
against the Philadelphia Athletics
in the season opener Tuesday.
The Mats were dreaming of US
ing Pittsburgh, boasting the Ma
tional Leagues home run king in
Ralph Kiner, as a stepping stone
to a more respectable exhibition
game record. BY sweeping games
today and tomorrow, the Mats
could lift their mark against major
league opponents to 500 level.
They have won Z, lost 8 and tied !
thus far. Against minor league
teams the Mats have won 6, lost 2
and tied l. Cold weather can
celed last nights game at Balti-
more.
The Mats welcomed that layoff,
for nursing minor ailments are
First Baseman Eddie Robinson,
recovering from a virus infection;
Noren, struck on the right hand
by pitched ball: Pitcher Mickey
Harris, with a torn fingernail;
Second Baseman AL Kozar, with a
gashed mouth inflicted by a ground
ball, and Pitcher Lloyd Hittle,
struck on the ankle by a line drive.
Noren's Bat May Help.
Harris is looking to Noren for
additional batting strength and on
the basis of exhibition games he
may be peeking in the right direc-
ton. The sturdy blond CENTER
fielder, who frequently subbed at
first base for Robinson, has batted
1888 against minor league pitching
and .304 against major league
opposition.
Harris chief concern now is
Robinson, inactive for nearly two
weeks due to several vacant dates
in the Mats schedule, then illness.
At the time when Eddie was taken
sick he was a .433 hitter and
Harris is fearful the long layoff
might affect his timing.
Bucky's long range worry,
though. centers on his pitching
staff. He is equipped with IL
pitchers, four of whom hurled in
Glass B company last year. Four
others-Nagy. Harris, Haynes and
Sid Hudson-have arms with ten
der tendencies. Three others
Hittle, Dick Weik and Dick We'll
teroth-have limited major league
Experience and haven't fascinated
Harris with their chores in exhibi-
ton games.
That leaves Scarborough. and
Ray hasn't been reliable this
lspring. Part of his ineffectiveness
may be traced to experimenting
with a slow curve, but there were
times, too, when Ray. though bear
ing down, was belted freely.
Two Outfields Planned.
, Harris outfield will depend on
the opposition's pitching. Against
r left-handers, Harris will flank
Noren with Clyde Vollmer and
Sam Mele. With a right-hander
working against the Mats. Bucky
will employ Gil Coan, Noren and
Ed Stewart.
(, The Mats infield is set. with
: Robinson on first, Kozar on Sec
ond. Sam Dente on short and
Eddie Yost at third base. Grasso
/, and AL Evans will share the catch
{ ing, .+-
MATS NOTES - Pittsburgh Is
. inaugurating a home-and- home
series with the Mats. :. Next year
Washington will play the Pirates
, a two-game series at Pittsburgh
, before the season opens. Macy
. will face the Pirates here tomor-
row. The Mats will be idle
Monday, then start playing for
keeps on Tuesday.
Nagy's wife and two children
narrowly averted a disastrous
wreck en- route here from Orlan-
do. Mrs. Macy, a British war
bride, attempted to pass another
car, which speeded up, and when
a car threatened to hit her head
on She went of the road and
turned over. !. Miraculously,
Everybody escaped injury.
The Mats worked out briefly
yesterday -. and had o tough
time promoting beads of perspira-
! ton in the frigid atmosphere
aovane ia Tann;e Esnn1