Evening star., 1951-04-23
Mats Treasury Hurt,
But Rain Gives Time
For HurIers 10 Heal
By Burton hdwkins


Baseball Clubs treasury hasn't
been getting all the best of it
from the weather man. But for
Manager Bucky Harris, whose pri-
mary concern is to win ball games,
rain and postponements are
Heaven-sent. Every idle day gives
his injury -riddled pitching staff a
chance to heal.
Being rained out Of a game with
the Yankees here yesterday came
as a cruel blow to the Mats box
office, but it was no crusher froM
Harris viewpoint. Bucky figures
any time the Mats can avoid meet
ing Vic RaSchi, 21-game winner
last season and Shutout conqueror
of the Red Sox in his only start
this year, he's getting break.
Slated to work against the Mats
Bob Kuzava yesterday, Raschi
probably will go against the Ath-
letics today at New York and then
will be ready to oppose the Red
Sox at Boston Friday. It adds to
a thing Of beauty for the Mats,
since Vic isn't calculated to pitch
here in a two-game series with
New York Saturday and Sunday.
Hudson Has Muscle Spasm.
Bucky is content to stall for
|time-the time when his top
pitcher. Sid Hudson, will be avail
able for duty. Idle since he in
ljured his back April /, Sid was
heartened over the week end when
X-rays disclosed nothing serious.
Sid's trouble has been diagnosed,
at long last. as a muscle SpaSm
and Trainer George Lentz expects
to have him ready for work in a
few days. Meanwhile. rain yes
terday, plus a previously rained
out game at Philadelphia and an
off day today, are helping Harris
struggle along toward the day
when all his pitchers will be fit.
Bucky has gotten by remark
ably with his depleted staff,
further riddled by Chico Marrero'S
leg injury. He has his Mats in
second place in the American
League, just behind Cleveland. de-
spite those ailments. He realizes,
however. he'll need healthier
pitchers if the Mats are to con-
|tinue their surprising conduct.
Kuzava will open a two-game
series with the Red Sox in Bos-
ton tomorrow and Harris choice
for Wednesdays game will depend
on Marrero's condition. If his
pulled muscle mends. Chico will
lget the assignment, but otherwise
Sandy ConSuegra will pitch.
Nat Spirit at Peak.
Harris is impressed nightly
with his clubs spirit and there
was an incident following Satur-
days 81 loss to the Yankees
which illustrates it. Rookie Gene
Verble. depressed about humping
Joe DiMaggio at second base
Joe was waved to third as the
result Of the obstruction and
later scored the tying run-was
Ia forlorn figure when he walked
over to Pitcher Mickey Harris in
the clubhouse and apologized.
Forget it, Gene" said Mickey.
"It was my fault. DiMaggio
shouldn't have been on base in
the first place. 1 gave him the
walk that put him there, so I'm
blaming myself"
Harris is tickled, too, about the
timeliness of the Mats hitting. No
starting pitcher has remained the
route against Washington and in
four of five games the Mats have
chased starters no later than the
sixth inning.
Manager Casey Stengel of the
Yankees was forced to use five
pitchers in the first game with
Washington and three in each of
the other two as the Mats banged
nine extra base blows, including
six triples.
Yesterdays game will be made
up August 16, scheduled of day
for both clubs. The August Is
game. originally slated for day.
time. has been switched to night
contest.