Evening star., 1933-03-18
Pennant ChaSers-Giants.

T OS ANGELES, Calf, March 18.-
No one knows better than Bill
Terry and his Giants that they
will have the fight Of their lives
in the National League scramble this
season.
In the first place, the Giants have
been pretty well tangled up In pennant
tradition for the last IS years. During
this stretch McGraw has stepped away
with 10 pennants, which is still the
record. with Connie Mack one flag
behind.
Bill Terry also remembers that Just
year ago the Giants left Los Angeles
with high hopes of a big season. They
looked to be better advanced than
either the Cubs or Pirates.
When the season opened there was
an astounding collapse along all fronts.
The fast. snappy looking team of late
March seemed to be slow and listless
after the April opening, and promise
In pitching went to seed quickly
There still Is another cloud on the
Giant horizon. There are so many
well-matched teams In the National
League this season that it would be
quite simple matter to slip into the
second division and still rank only a
short distance back of the leaders.
Both the Cubs and Pirates are GER
tain to be in the first division as they
are now the two favorite entries. The
Cardinals. with their brilliant pitching
staff, look to be another first division
certainty
When saw Max Carey, in Miami.
he was s,Te that his Brooklyn Dodgers
would also be up with the elect.
Both the Boston Braves and the
Phillies have improved strength and
must be reckoned with.
This means hot fight along every
front, with few soft spots to build on.
Bill Terry's Angle.
In spite of all these handicaps, Bill
Terry still Is hoping for the best. Bill,
himself, is a great ball player and a
natural leader. He has had his men
hustling and his Giants should enter
the race in first-claSs shape.
L am not making any predictions, u
he said. "'n race Of this sort, where
there are so many good ball clubs to
beat.
In one way It gets down to the
same old problem-which is pitching.
This Is always a gamble. and it has
been quite a gamble with us for the
last two or three years.
Il am not worried in any way about
our infield or outfield strength. We
have the hitting power that will get its
share Of runs. If our pitching holds
up, as I hope 1t will, I feel sure that
we will be in the picture right along
1T will mean a lot to us. of course
II Jackson can last through most of
the season at short. He is a great ball
in every way If his old leg trouble
should come back. however. we have a
| first-class understudy in young Ryan
who has shown fine promise. You may
recall Ryan as a fine foot ball player
| for Holy Cross He is an all-around
athlete and a natural competitor.
"As I said before, our infield with
Critz, Jackson, Ryan and Vergez will
hold its own with most any Of our
competitors. We have plenty OF speed
and punch In our outfleld. and SO
once again. all we need Is some steady
pitching to give any team battle"
A Hard Race.
"I think you will see more hustlina
in the National League this season.
Terry continued, than you have seen
in many years.
II have never seen a better balanced
league to start with.
IT understand the Cubs and Pirates
have been picked as the two leading
contenders, but do not think In any
way they outclass the Giants, Cardinals
Dodgers and. we might add, the Braves
and the Phillies.
I'm a race of this sort you see q
large number of games decided by one
run. Any team lucky enough to win
lot Of these one-run games will be
right up there. and there Is always q
certain element Of luck in one-run OF
extra-inning victories.
"As far as my own pitching stad
goes. Hubbell and Fftzsimmons now are
ready to 60 the route. I hope to gel
at least three more dependable pitchers
by the middle Of April, but 1t Is little
early yet to say Just how this hope will
be worked out.
mo one, for example, was looking fol
the big slump that hit us last April
and lasted for many weeks. When We
were al Through that ne were reads