Evening star., 1962-04-04
Bench Advice
Helps Johnson
Raise eAverage
Senator Shortstop
Accepts Tip to
Relax at Plate
By MERRELL WHITTLESEY
Star Staff Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla, April 4.
Somebody on the Senators
bench who speaks in a loud
whisper has been saying take
it easy, nice and easy now"
while Bob johnson has been at
bat in the last two games. 1t
has helped the young shortstop
to five hits and a rising batting
average.
After Bob's momentous per-
formance against the Yankees
the other night when he had
three hits, drove in three runs
and was positively dazzling in
the field, he came back with
two base hits in Miami yester-
day as the Senators beat the
Orioles, Ga, and stretched their
winning streak to three.
The Senators were early
risers today for a 31a-hour bus
trip here from Miami, with
Bennie Daniels due to face the
Pirates this afternoon. The
team flies to Portsmouth, Va,
at 8 o'clock tonight, has an
open date tomorrow and meets
the Pirates there Friday.
Feeling Great Now
johnson hasn't identified the
voice, but he's certainly fol-
lowed the suggestion to Take
it easy" Mickey Vernon said
it wasn't his whisper. II just
want him to lay off that high
ball he's been going for"
Mickey added.
In the early days Of workouts
and in batting practice before
the exhibitions, johnson was
hitting more balls out of the
park than everybody else put
together. But in his first IL
games he had only IL hits.
II can hit from IL to Is
home runs this year without
going for the fence" the friend
lily, likable shortstop said
Somebody spotted my timing
was off, and did me a favor by
telling me to take it easy.
Blessing in Disguise
II was pressing in the field
my legs were sore, and I WASH
getting the throw to first fas
enough. But after a couple O
good days you don't notice an
of those things. Now I'm feel
ing great"
johnson hit % home run
last year, 16 at Rochester
where he said the ball was live
lier. and six after being recalled
by the Senators. Bob was sen
to the minors about this tim,
last year and it was the bigges
disappointment Of his life. Nov
he admits it might have beer
a blessing in disguise.
II know I'm no Marty Marion
with the glove" he said, "bu
If I play regular I can handl,
the shortstop position. I'll ge
to know the hitters better, ant
where to play them" He wa
the middle man on two sharl
double plays yesterday.
johnson has boosted his bat
ting average to .281, and is thirC
in runs batted in with nine.
Tasby Comes Through
Willie Tasby drove in his frs
runs of the exhibition season
yesterday, three big ones will
a pinch-double down the left
field line in the eighth inninI
that cleared the bases ant
wiped out a 4-3 Oriole lead.
Pete Burnside, who will star
against Detroit in the thirt
game of the season next Thurs
day afternoon in D. c. Stadium
worked five innings. but stil
is far short of the amount o
work he would like to hav
had.
The slim southpaw had onl
one bad inning. He had troubl
getting the ball over in tn
second and when he did tn
Orioles whacked it. After Mar
Throneberry walked, jack
Brandt doubled and Dick WI
liamS and Hank Foiles singld
But a double play helped Ft'
out of the inning.
Burnside said his breskine
stuff is not sharp because o
inactivity. But he retired tn
side in order in three inning
and walked only two. Claud'
Osteen gave up two his in tw'
innings and Jim Hannah
helped by a double pay, face,
only seven batters n two in
nings. He struck out Boo