Evening star., 1928-04-03
BY JOHN b. FOSTER.

NEW YORK, April S.--PhySically the
New York Yankees had fine training
season in Florida. Mentally they needed
all they got and a little more. Some
DAYS they played rlSt base ball against
other teams and other days they were
not as quick on the watch as a
championship team of their skill should
be.
With a dismal record of three VIC
tories in thirteen games played in the
South TO date, the Yankees are re-
turning to New Yory looking like any
thing but concuering heroes. The YankS
stopped OF yesterday in Atlanta, fol-
lowing games in Jacksonville, Fla, and
Montgomery. Ala. where the writer had
q chance TO observe them in action
again.
average base ball against some teams,
but il wasn't all tire fault OF in
dividuals. The plays that they at
tempted failed to come through. while
scratch hits and timely hits scored runs
against the champions where the latter
couldn't scratch or hit.
Miller Higgins is authority for the
statement that he has a queer team.
So he has. IT is an odd assortment Of
mentaltieS. When the cogs work per-
fectly it is about as good a ball team
IS ever was put together. When the
units of the cogwheel lock, the team
is stalled.
Double Plays Hurt Team.
This team, which has batting order
that is as formidable as any in base
ball. could not bat runs home in 20
chances that were offered in Southern
exhibition games. Not much attempt
was made TO play the old Army game"
of sacrifice, because there was no neceS-
Sity for it. But the second batter. who
was presumed TO hit behind the runner,
either batted into q double play or hit
the ball up in the air for the outfielders.
Sometimes that put one out. sometimes
two, and more than once double play
retired the side. Some Of the double
plays were assisted by the soft sand of
Q Florida field. which deadened the
speed of the ball.
But il wasn't the same batting team
that finished the season of 1927 far IN
the lead in the American League. On
the other hand. the players are hitting
the ball. and bye and bye when the
pendulum begins to swing the other
way the yanks viii be as hard to beat
in the regular race Of the season as
they have been easy to beat this Spring
BY teams that never could win pen
nant from them.
Some of the more ardent worshiperS
of the team have begun to worry for
fear that it is out Of the race without a
game having been played in the Ameri-
can League. There is no need to go TO
that extreme. After the season begins
and the pressure is on, the Yankees
vii be no easier TO beat than they were
last year. At least two Of them are
better than they were last year. They
are Earl Combs and Babe Ruth. And
Bob Meusel gives signs of working out
OF his lethargy.
Dickey q Coming Star.
There is one splendid young player on
this team His name IS Dickey, and he
Is a catcher. If the future is kind to
him. he will finish major league base
ball with q reputation. He Is tall. slen-
der. agile, graceful, as easy OF motion
as the blades Of an electric fan. and
smart. All that he needs Is experience.
No one can go far wrong in writing him
down as one Of the future stars OF the
national game.
Durocher. who made such fine field
ing record In the American Association.
Is not hard enough batter, seemingly.
to get into the American League Just
now. OF course. none Of the Yanks has
done much batting except Dugan. II
Durocher's skill we're measured by the
remainder OF the team. he would appear
fair. but he didn't rake the ball as 1t
must be raked in major league company.
In the long run. the Yankees may
have TO give their pitchers stronger sup
port than they gave them last season.
They were so strong last season with
their bats that they made life easy for
their pitchers When they are not
strong in batting their pitchers are not
expert enough 70 hold the team in line.
Iazzeri will be all right after he has
had a little rest. and the rest may do
him good.
The team lacks that aggressive bat