Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-21
BY GAYLE TALBOT, JR.
Associated Press Sports Writer.

CAN ANTONIO, Tex, March
~ 21-PosseSsing little strength
that they did not have last
- year, when they finished
just one Jump from the American
League cellar, the 1880 Chicago
White Sox are strangely confident
and hopeful for first division
berth.
A different manager and a choice
crop of rockies is the only real strength
exhibited by the Chicagoans. The nat
ural superstition would be that they are
not quite ready to win a pennant.
But the Sox, apparently, never heard
of such line of reasoning.
They are whooping it up for the like
able DOME Bush. There is spirit, q
spark in camp you can't miss. Even the
continued absence of Art Shires, who,
it appears, might be permanently abb
sent has failed to diminish their en-
thusiasm. The players, to man, be-
lieve they are headed for the first
division, and Bush is not the kind OF
fellow to tell them differently.
Bush Likes Rockies.
We've got a fine looking bunch of
youngsters" said DOME. TITS too early
to do any predicting, but believe the
boys are going to play some great base
ball for me- I think it's safe to say
we'll finish higher than last year. Inn
proved hitting is responsible for the
fine morale of the Hose Is the manner
in which they have cuffed the Giants
about in the exhibition series. Excel
lent pitching by veterans and rockies
alike and hard hitting gave the Bush
men three victories before the New
Workers. took verdict. A young team,
the Sox rounded into shape early, and
are about ready to go now.
Except at first, where the veteran
Bud Clancy has filled in for Shires
during the Great Ones prolonged cor
respondence with headquarters, the
team looks at least as strong in every.
department as last year, and its pitch
ing and hitting should show an i'm
proyement. Although a great Spring
batter, Clancy neither can field as
skillfully nor hit along with Shires for
full season.
In shifting Chalmers Cissell from
short to second, Bush has solved his
keystone problem. The expensive boy
from the coast looks like natural"
on the right side of the diamond and
is hitting the ball hard. His change
of scenery. however, left q fine, large
vacancy at shortstop, and that Is where
the real battle has ragged.
irwin Jefrries, a grinning youth from
Dallas, and Ernie Smith, up from Biz
mingham. are scrapping 1t out with Bill
Hunnefeld holdover. with no decision
yet in sight. Both Jeffries and Smith
hit over 800 with championship clubs
last year. and one of them likely VIII
get the nod, with Hunneflelds again
booked for the utility role. While Kamm
at third completes the tnfield. John
Kerr, who held down second last year.
finds himself in a precarious position.
Jolly Is Prize Addition.
smead Jolly, strapping slugger from
San Francisco, who has hit around
400 regularly for several years, is the
prize addition to the outfield. He re-
ported late and has yet to prove that
he can do big league pitching that way,
but Bush expects him to break up
flock OF ball games. Between him and
regular trick in the pasture patrol
are the feet Carl Reynolds John Wat
wood and Alex MetZler, regulars last
year, and Jimmy Moore, George Black
erby and Dave Harris, three hard-h1C.
ting newcomers Moore, who batted at
1854 clip for Dallas last year, appears
the most promising Of the latter trio.
though he is nursing . broken finger
at present.
Two youngsters from lesser leagues
are being counted upon to bolster Q
somewhat wobbly mound staff. They
are Vic Frasier, a cool right hander,
whose pitching featured Dallas drive 70
the 1929 Texas League nag. and Pat
Caraway. southpaw. who compiled .
remarkable record with Topeka Of the
Western League.
Forming the backbone of the STAFF
are the aging Urban Faber, Alphonse
Thomas and Ted Lyons, who know
what it is all about. If they have a
good year and Frasier and Caraway live
up to their promise, the Sox should be
capable of dealing some misery. Other
holdovers, none of whom did extensive
pitching last year, are Grady Adkins.
Harold McKain, Ed Walsh, jr.: Ted
Blankenship. Bob Weiland and George
Connally. Two, maybe three OF them,
seem due for the tall and uncut.
The catching will be in very capable
hands, with Morris Berg. Martin Autry
and Johnny Riddle ready to go. Berg
again is expected to bear the brunt,
with Autry doing first relief. Riddle is
a brilliant prospect from Indianapolis.