The Washington times., 1931-03-10
YANKEE NEED
THREE.FOLD
THIS YEAR

(ThiS is the second in a series
of 16 stories coUering prospects in
1881 of National and American
Baseball League teGnlSJ
By FRANK BUCK O'NEILL
International News Service
Special Correspondent
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, March
10.-Three problems must be
solved by Joseph Vincent McCar-
thy before the New York Yankees
can establish themselves as
serious contenders for the Ameri-
can League pennant of 1881. In
his first year as commander of
the RUPERT rifles, Mccarthy
must:
/. Develop at least two winning
pitchers from the ranks Of the
rockies.
2. Reconstruct his second base
combination and develop men
who can make double plays
8. Rekindle the winning spirit
of other days of the Yankees.
Also Needs Catcher
These are the major tasks of
Mccarthy, but to them We might
add one more. He must develop
a catcher with ability to think
in the crises that develno in a
tight ball game, and who COM
bines with mental agility tre ply
sical prowess of real bali player.
The loss of George PipgraS,
highlander, who pitched is win
ing games for the Yankees in
1890, is a staggering one Pipgras
may be out of action until June,
and it probably will be we'll along
in August before he regains his
normal pitching efficiency
Take Is games from a teams
winning percentage and you've
performed far more serious
operation, relatively, than the
mere removal of an appendix.
The most promising of the
rookie pitchers as this is written
are Frank Barnes, left handler,
bought from oronto; Jim
Weaver, right handler, bought
from Baltimore, and Vernon
Gomez, holdover from last year.
There is more than a fair
chance that Walter Brown will
overcome the handicap of ex-
treme bulk and make the grade.
Brown is nursing his arm along
carefully, and refuses to cut loose
with any pyrotechnics.
PennOck on Hand
The staff of veterans, not a
bad staff, either, consists Of Her.
bert Pennock, the master stylist
of pitching; Gordon Rhodes,
Henry Johnson, Ed Wells, Roy
Sherid and Lou McEvoy. Pen
mock is still a good pitcher, al
though treading the sunkist slopes
of his glorious career. He may
have another good year left in
that cunning left arm.
Gordon DUSTY" Rhodes, Is a
rlghthander of more natural
ability than developed control.
He may conquer his prediction
toward flightiness and come
down to earth this year. The
same holds for Lou McEvoy.
Barnes has impressed all OBJ
servers in camp as a potentially
great pitcher. He moves with the
calm assurance of a veteran but
has the fire of powerful youth.
Weaver is the giant of the
camp. He is so tall that JOie
Sewell has to talk to him by
radio. Weaver'S fast ball is
something to hear. 1t fairly
Whines past a batsman.
Mccarthy seems to think well
of Lefty Gomez, and Babe Ruth
concurs in the opinion of the
manager.
Second Base Problem
So far as the infield is con.
cerned, two places are settled.
Gehrig will play first and Lynn
Larry will be at short. Tony
Lazzeri, the hard hitting italian
youth, will be in there at second
or third. depending upon his abil.
ity to function in double plays.
There is a duel for the post at
second involving three men,
Jimmy Reese, team mate of Lyn
Larry in the Pacific Coast League,
Ben Chapman and Lazzeri. Which.
ever combination works best in
the matter of double plays will
be used. Bill Werber, a short
stop and all around kid in the
infield may furnish the element
of surprise. He is just starting
to come along.
It looks now as if Mccarthy
will return Earle Combs to center
field where the Louisville veteran
belongs. Ruth will be in right
as usual with Dusty Cooke. Myril
Hoag and Sammy Burd fighting
it out for left field.
Where will the Yankees finish?
Maybe second, perhaps third.
This writer does not rate them
at the top, but considers them
contenders from the start.