San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-23
Reminds Listener New York
Club Had Hotpoint Edge
on Nearest Rival Last Fall
and Can Afford to Slump;
Stands Pat on Lineup.
BY JOE WILLIAMS.

New Orleans, La, March 22.-Mr.
Miller Higgins of the champion YAM
KEGS, who are currently involved i'll
their annual spring calisthenics, peers
over his gold-rimmed glasses at you
and frankly admits that his ball club
probably isn't as strong in all respects
as it was a year ago.
Then Mr.. Huggins. who is about as
heroic looking in his drab. plainly.
tailored ciyleS as an order or French
onion soup, reminds YOU that his bail
club was exactly 106 points stronger
than any ball club in the American
League last year-thcse figures repre-
sentlng the mathematical margin
which separated the New Yorks and
The second-place Detroits last October.
Continuing, Mr.. Huggins-wno is
talking as he scans the stock reports
i'll the late afternoon extras, being an
investor of no small consequences
gives you to understand that his Yam
KEGS can afford to slip somewhat. say
30 points, and yet be formidable
enough to win their fourth champion
ship, feat which has not been ac-
complished by a major league team
since Gibraltar was a pebble.
Will Stand Pat.
Higgins plans to stand pat on his
veteran lineup. Schang and Hotf-
man will do the bruHt of the catching.
Hoyt, Pennock, Jones. Shawkey and
Bush will again be the slab depend
ables. Pip. Ward, Scott and Dugan
will form the infield and Ruth, Witt
and Meusel the outfield.
However, as the season unfolds it
self Higgins may be compelled to
make slight or major changes in this
set program. Scott, the Iron Man, is
no longer great shortstop, though
he is still of major league caliber.
Scott may slip; if he does. he will GO
to the bench. This is no secret in
the Yankee camp. Scott realizes his
situation perfectly.
Who will go to short if a change
must be made? Higgins has three
men he can school into the breach. two
vets and colt. McNally, formerly
of the Red Sox. and johnson, late of
the White Sox. are dependables, if
not brillants. They are the type Of
players who will do in a pinch.
Gazella Great Prospect.
Gazella is the youngster. a college
man from Lafayette. If you read the
football news you will remember him
as the quarterback on the great La
f0yette eleven two years back. In ac-
ton Gazella reminds you of DOME
Bush when the midget first came up
TO Join Detroit in the farawny days
of Tiger grandeur. Higgins thinks
he is a great prospect.
AS TO pitchers. Higgins has seven
teen in camp. Probably ten will be
kept. But the brunt of the work will
fall on the shoulders of the five vcr-
Grams who, among them. turned in %
of the 9S Yankee victories last year.
Pipgras. a right handler. who was with
the club last year, and Roettger. an
other right handler with but limited
experience, are the prize prospects
among the youngsters.
Witt, of course, is the only outfield-
or whose position az regular is in
any way imDeriied. The Yankees paid
a lot of Jack to Louisville for Combs.
leading outfielder in the American As
ISOLATION last season. Combs Mas a
weak arm. Wits chief weakness IS
weak arm. All other things being
equal, Witt will hold his job, with
Combs standing by MS n reserve