Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-15
THE BASEBALL
BEAT
Qualification Needed
~ BURToN HAWKINS

(IQTiTfC0IIOn NGe0Gu
CAL GRIFFITH HAS PUBLIcIzED his contention that
the Senators the rise There's ervent hope that
this viii prove true but Of his statements need cari-
fcation and Others require correction
II believe the Senators have opportunity to gain big
ground in the American League pennant race Cal said
land I'm doing best to take advantage Of It. This has
to be done calmly and with clear purpose, not heter
sketer"
Calls best thus farhis calm. clearpurpose approach
has Melted the Senators player since last season.
ond Baseman Bob Malkmus who drafted. This can't
be called heller It might be called do-nothng
BY some critics
The man said seldom has there been such a thin diff
ference between the rstdvison teams and those at the
bottom Of the second division. where The athn
difference between Washington and fourhplace Detroit
was % games
I'VE REPEATEDLY GAVE the opposition four and five
outs an inning by failure to cover ground inability TO
come up with that extra special play Cal said with the
help they'll get in the field this year. young yet expe
renced corps Of strong pitchers is going win new
respect and lot more games in 1858"
Apparently inheders 20 feet high would help for
Washington pitchers up lao home last season,
second only to the i5S yielded by Kansas Cys sta No
second baseman has the ability to help that kind Of
pitching
The Senators pitchers lest we forget gave up i4s2
hits most In the league and had the leagues
run average AIS Only portion Of that record may Be
blamed on inadequate Unfolding ~
Public opinion and yes press have tended to
gloss over our recent progress in player development and
continue to give the bum because Of the failure Of
some Is years ago" That's what the man said
So SOME FIVE WEEKS AGO. the majors repealed
the bonus rule Major clubs free to sign youngsters
at will The Yankees have signed Pitcher Dale Zegler
from the University Of California Pitcher Charles Reide
Of Penn State Shortstop Tom fresh Of Central Michigan
The Cardinals have signed three outhelders Charley
James of the University OF Missouri Jimmy Beauchamp
Of Oklahoma State and Bob Burda Of Illinois, OF Burda
the Sporting News reports A major clubs except WASH
ngton contacted the boy"
The Giants signed Outhelder Jerry Robinson of the
University Of Arkansas and Pitcher Richard LeMay of
Michigan State The Red Sox signed shorstop Al Moran
Of Michigan State Pitcher Bob Hanson Of Dartmouth and
Pitcher Bob SclTwal Of Oklahoma. Cincinnati signed
Pitcher Jim oToOle from the University OF Wisconsin
THE PIRATES LANDED Shortstop Ed sada from San
Diego Junior College Kansas City signed Bob Carothers
Baylor innelder the Philes atched to Catcher Tom
Shoin Of Southern Cal and the Dodgers signed Pitcher
Jimmy Harwell Of Tulane
You have detected perhaps that the Senators haven't
signed ANYBODY This isn't Is years ago. This Is no and
beaten to player talent then this may be considered
bum rap n
The hottest prospect in the country i 17-year-0d
Dave Nicholson outielder with southwest High ii St.
Louis He'll graduate this month and neil be acquired
for about 100000 Chances the Senator'S won't be
IN the late bidding
soft-pedang the nadequacy Of his present pitching
staff Cal said Il toss aside the earnedrun averages and
the Won-loSs records But when Of the Senators
minor leaguers being cited genuine major league
prospects the wins and the earnedun averages suddenly
became important. That double standard doesn't fool
anybody.
@THE TRUTH IS that catching up fast on our
competitors in the talent development program Cal said
The truth Is that has to be proved Any major league
club can point to the minors and recite interesting
statistics.
But hot shots in the minors always major league
successes as proved by the of Bunky Stewart
Ted Alternately They had those ashy statistics too in
the minors but Buny had SILL record to show his
major league pitching and SO FAR Abernathy is s-22
The theme Of wait until next year" maybe longer
fails to excite It's been heard before The Senators are
woefuly at first base second base two outed spots
could use more hitting at shortsop their pitching
isn't the greatest The repair job date? drafted
second basernan