The Washington times., 1931-03-30
SEXPECT
To REPEAT
THIS YEAR
By SID KEENER
International News Service Special
COrresnOndent


Correspondent
BLADENTON, Fla, March 30.
A ball club that has won q pen
nant naturally expects to repeat
the trick. Thus 25-odd members
under Gabby Streets banner are
confident Of winning the 1881
championship in the National
League race. They may be wrong
but that is the story Of the Car
dinalS and they will stick to 1t
to the bitter end.
The Cardinals point to the
fact that they outgamed three
powerful opponents in the stretch
drive last fall when they hurdled
past the Giants, Robins and Cubs
to finish in front by two games.
Then they see a general improve
ment in their play, a pitching
staff that is stronger with Bur-
leigh Grimes toeing the mark at
the start of the season and the
prospects of two phenomS COM
ing through in Paul Derringer
and Jerome Dean, alias Dizzy
the Great"
Keeps Nine Pitchers .
Other pitchers include Jesse
Haines, Bill Hallahan, Sylvester
Johnson, Flint Rhem, AL Grabow-
ski and Jim Lindsey, holdovers,
and Tony kaufman and Allyn
Stout, graduates Of Houston.
Street has announced he will
retain nine pitchers, which
means two will be dropped. So
far, Gabby has not indicated
the two who will not be among
those present when the curtain
goes up April IA.
The catching staff has one new
member. He is Miguel Gonzales,
ancient receiver, who has been
added to Jimmy Wilson and Gus
Mancuso, to fill in occasionally.
The only position open to COM
petition is at first base, where Jim
Bottomley, a veteran OF nine sea-
sons in the National League, Is
trying to hold his job in a battle
with Jimmy Collins, a friSky kid,
who was a sensation with Roches-
ter. in the International League,
last season. Collins batted .376,
created a record for driving In
runs with 1876 hits, and socked 40
home runs.
Frisch on Second
frankie FriSch will be found at
second, with Charley Colbert at
Shortstop and Sparky Adams at
third base. Eddie Delker, a broad
shouldered youth, who Smacks
long ball, is a candidate at third,
but he is not regarded as serious
threat, owing to strained muscle
in his right leg.
Early last season Delker de-
velOped a serious case of char
ley horse and played in only
80 games for Rochester. 1t was
believed he had recovered COM
pletely, but after working out
with the Cardinals week this
spring the yOungster started to
limp. With Delker's condition
uncertain the Cardinals brought
back Andy High from ROches-
ter to fill the role of substitute
infielder.
The outfield presents a COM
plicated tangle owing to the hold
out tactics of Charles "Chick"
Hafey, who rejected a contract
calling for $12,50O, holding out
for $4,000 and returned to st.
Louis. Rumors Of a trade for
Hafey have been circulated and,
until Chicks status is definitely
established, the outfield will not
be known.
Taylor Douthit, recognized as
the leading defensive star Of the
league, is set as the center fielder,
while George Watkins, a juvenile
who batted 1873 last season, has
won the job in right field. If
Hafey does not return to the
club and, if no trade is engi-
neered, then left field will go to
Ernie Orsatti of last years
squad, Pepper Martin, bought
from Rochester; AL Moore, drafted
from Buffalo, or Joel . Hunt,
bought from Houston.
OrSatti leads in the race at
present. He is an aggressive
player, filled with color and a
batter who rates around the
1926 figure. Martin batted 1868
with Rochester, has greatly inn.
proved since he was with the
club two years ago, and may
prove the dark horse in the bat
tie.
Streets biggest problem centers
around his pitching staff in Sc
lecting his five regular starters.
Grimes, Haines and Hallahan
naturally are starters. Rhem in
sists he is going to win 20 games
this season. Then Derringer and
Dean are regarded as pitchers
who are destined by Street to be-
come stars.
TWO TOY MASC0TS
Gar Wood, the speed boat
champion, always carries two toy
dolls in his hoaf with him HIT,