Evening star., 1950-05-30
Griffs Will Meet As
In Double Bill Today;
Aim at First Division
By Burton howkins
Sscr SsufF Cosvaspendens

PHILADELPHIA. May so
There's qualified manpower being
wasted by Boston. whose love for
Ray Scarborough hasn't dimin-
iShed and so a deal between WASH
ington and the Red Sox is =
possibility. with the Mats in quest
of Second Baseman Bobby Doerr.
AS the Mats prepared TO meet
Philadelphia in a double header
here today there were increasing
signs that Washington and Boston
are prepared to transact business.
Clark Griffith. the Mats boss.
admits Washington weakest spot
lis second base, where Sherry
Robertson and Al Kozar are alter
mating after Manager Bucky Har-
rls abandoned an experiment in
lvolving the employment Of Merrill
Combs at ShortStop and Sam
IDente at second base.
q fifth envisions the Mats as n
flrst division possibility with the
acquisition of steady second
baSeman. TO be good a team
must have strong second base
combination" Griffith said today.
and we don't have it. Id like TO
get second baseman and another
pitcher"
Schanz Mentioned.
Scarborough. with a 3-5 record.
long has been admired by Boston
but If the Mats part with him
they'll be forced to land a pitcher
IN return. This portion of the
trade might be disposed of II the
Red Sox will part with Charley
Schanz, 3l-year-old righthander
who won % games with Seattle
last season.
Boston currently is In its best
bargaining position of the year.
Billy Goodman. former first base
man, has been ousted from that
position by Walt Dropo, the big
rookie who is batting .355 and
pressing Ted Williams for the
major league lead in home run
production.
The versatile Goodman, a
favorite of Manager Joe Mccarthy,
meanwhile has captured the
second base job from Doerr, a
,3O9 hitter last season who owns a
.287 lifetime average. The high
Salaried Doerr is riding the bench
with Lou Stringer. another second
baseman who batted .268 in IS
games with Boston last year.
| Gritflth's previous attempts to
obtain Stringer have failed. but
with Boston now equipped with
three second basemen, the Mats
ARE likely to seek Doerr as a first
choice and if he's unavailable.
then try to snare Stringer.
Better Protection Sought.
Robertson. hitting .240. and
Kozar, batting 1876, haven't
pleased Harris either at the plate
or in the field. He's searching for
more adequate protection and
would regard either Doerr or
Stringer as vast Improvements.
Boston needs another starting
pitcher and hasn't shielded it's de-
votion to Scarborough. who
blanked Boston on three hits early
in the year. Ray since has dropped
81 and 6-2 decisions to the Red
SoX, but possesses a l0-7 lifetime
record against Boston.
There has been no hesitancy to
deal between Washington and
Boston officials. In recent weeks
the Mats obtained Combs and
Outf1elder Tom O'Brien, since sent
to Louisville. for Outf1elder Clyde
Vollmer. Washington later landed
Frank Quinn, right-handed Pitch
er now undergoing treatment for
bursitiS before being sent to Chat
tanooga. Last year the Mats
picked up Mickey Harris and Sam
Mele for Walter Masterson.
Meanwhile the Mats were hoping
to regain first division status to-
day. Half a game behind the
fourth place Cleveland Indians.
Washington was to rely on Dick
Weik and Steve Macy against the
Athletics. who were to counter
with Bobby shantz and Bob
Hooper.