Evening star., 1953-02-19
Harris Centers
Talent Search
On Three Gaps
BuIlpen, Outfield Job
And Second Base to
Get Most Attention
By Burton Hawkins
Star Staff cerresnondanf

Stot QUIT correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla, Feb. 49,
Bucky Harris search for talent
calculated to lift the Mats out
Of the second division for the
first time in seven years will be
inaugurated officially here to-
morrow when pitchers and
catchers launch spring training.
Harris, managing the Mats for
the 18th season in a three time
capital career, will concentrate
on second base, leftfield and the
bullpen.
There's an outfield job open,
we need help at second base and
there's plenty of room for relief
pitchers" said Harris, who re-
CARDS as adequate his starting
staff of Bob Porterfield. Frank
Shea, Walter Masterson. Chuck
StobbS and Chico Marrero.
''The way we stack up now,
I'll leave Jackie Jensen in right
field If we come up with an
outf1elder who can play right,
I'd like to shift Jensen to left.
where that strong arm Of his
could choke off some runs. Jim
Busby is a fixture in center. but
the other outfleld job goes to the
fellow who can win ii"
Set at Four Other Positions.
Bucky is set at first base with
Mickey Vernon, at shortstop with
Pete Runnels and at third base
with Eddie Yost, the most stub
born Of seven unsigned Mats.
Barring surprise showings by Les
Peden, drafted from Los Angeles,
or Bob Oldis. up from Chat
tanooga, Mickey Grasso again
will handle the bulk of the
catching.
Masterson and Grasso are
among those who have rejected
contracts but both are on the
scene. Grasso says he expects
no difficulty reaching q salary
agreement with Vice President
Calvin Griffith. Masterson has
been working out with a hand
ful Of other Mats for several
days. takes daily fishing trips
with Harris and is expected to-
sign today.
The other baking players are
Yost. seeking a $4,000 raise
despite his 1888 hitting last sea-
son; Outfielder Gil Coan, In
f1elders Mel Hoderlein and Floyd
Baker and Pitcher Raul Sanchez.
Yost isn't due here for another
week. when inflelders and out
fielders are scheduled to report,
but has threatened to remain
home unless the Mats boost his
pay.
But Harris won't get panicky
unless Yost'S salary squabble
drags on for weeks. Eddie keeps
himself in wonderful condition, :"
Bucky said. when he does show
up he'll be ready to play"
Jensen Reports Overweight.
Harris already Is enthusiastic
about the condition of the Mats
who have arrived here. although
Jensen gave him a slight jolt by
reporting overweight. Busby has
picked up needed weight, Shea
has dropped Is pounds of blub-
Der. Peden isn't as puffy as
Harris anticipated and Porter
field and Stobbs are At.
The left-handed Stobbs, who
won 40 games and lost "a in his
last four seasons with the Red
Sox and White Sox. Is being
handed q starting job with no
misgivings by Harris. "Stobbs
has chance to be quite a pitch
er." said Bucky, who has expert
enced considerable success in re-
treading ex-Yankees Porterheld
and Shea.
Washington finished fifth last
season but was only two games
out of third place. Harris sees
Stobbs as one reason why the
Mats could sneak into the first
division this year. "I'll like it
better when I have q lefthantler
available against the Yankees
and Indians" Harris said.
Harris will give Rookie Roy
Dietzel every opportunity to
make the grade at second base.
Dietzel played only parts of the
last two seasons at Chattanooga
because Of q twice. broken left
leg. but Bucky views him as the
top prospect for the position.
Dietzel's competition will come
from Wayne Terwilliger, a .312
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