Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 323, Indianapolis, Marion County, 20 April 1927 — Page 10
PAGE 10
Playing the Field
■With Billy Evans -
| Y~. WEAKNESS at shortstop is a I Shu' ln s fault in the lineup of L—any ball club that aspires to a major league pennant. The'Washington club at present ippears doubtful as to who will
eventually play the position. That was a perplexing probilem most of last season. In the early stages of last year’s race, Peckinpaugh and Myer alternated at shortstop with the result neither one got going satisfactorily. Many games were lost because the infield had h t some
Evans
,f the machine like perfection that i ',i .iwavs characterized the play of ~.,0 at third. Peck at short. Harris at second and Judge at first. ’ 'hose early season defeats proved i handicap that kept the Nationals n the background much of the summer. However, in the month f f the 1926 campaign, the \\ ashing.on club was the smoothest workng nrganizatio i ii the American league. “Buddy” Myer, who came to Washington so highly touted as a shortstop, seemed to have struck his stride in the field and was g< • ing great at the ba*. HAS STIFF STYLE\ 2=nHE late season splurge made 'I ’ [ by Myer convinced Manager | Harris that he had earned he l ight to play shortstop regularly, is a result, Washington traded the . iciont Pecklnpaugh to Chicago, bei ving he was no longer of any ~•( at use to the club| Myer having .rrlved. (>C all players, a shortstop must be ,tle. Since bis major league de- , it there has always been a certain tiffness to the play of Myer. As c would bend over for a ball, the .ion seemed labored. Late last fall, this one flaw in his fifty appeared to have been eliminate and. However, It is back again this pting and probably is due to some huscular condition. Whatever the reason, it caused Manager Harris to shift Third Baseman Bluege to short and Myer to bird for the exhibition games. In iis minor league days, Bluege was a 'hortstop. When Peck was injured jn the 1924 world series with the Slants. Bluege performed most satefactorily in his place. The shift experiment hasn’t Worked out very well. Asa matter of fact, the trouncing given Washington by the New York Giants in the spring series between the two clubs, was the result of an uncertain infield. To make matters worse, Manager Harris has not been able to play because of a broken finger. SERIOIS HANDICAP NLESS the shortstop problem is soon properly solved, the Washington club is going to fork under a terrific handicap. Jhe lituation and condition of last ycai nay be repeated. It is just possible that Peckinlaugh would be a right handy man o have about, now that Myer has suffered a return of his back rouble. Peck’s dogs are ailing and he san’t cover the ground he once did, ,ut he still is quite a shortstop. His ludgment of where the players hit s uncanny, thereby giving him a itart on the ball and his execution Uways has been remarkable. Watching him perform in several ixhibition games in the south, he turprlsed me by his agility to step iround so quickly for so early in Ihe season. When Washington secured Pecltinpaugh, his coming rounded out one of baseball’s greatest infields. His passing seems to have broken It up.
Given to Millers by ‘Boots’
MINNEAPOLIS AR R H O A E koftus. lb ... . 4 3 a 14 0 0 fohne. 2b 4 3 l 0 * Smith cf .... 3 1 O 4 0 ft Wean. U 4 1 0 ft <? Wetzel, rl 4 ft ft 1 ® A tennn, c 4 3 -j 4 ' izzell. 3b 5 1 3 1 1 jmmer, as .... fi 0 - •* f i pvens P 0 2 ? 1 2 fvueger 1 0 ft ft " Wilson. p .... 1 1 ft JJ 1 1 lubbell. p ft ft ( ' JJ ® loon, p 0 ft 0 _ft * Totals 35 11 Ift 37 14 3 Kru£er batted for Owens in fifth. INDIANAPOLIS AB R HO A E (Mer 3b .... J J } ’ A Uthws. cf.. 4 1 1 * 11,I 1 , .. . 1 I 1 " 