Evening star., 1933-03-12
AL WHANGS APPLE
WITH HIS OLD GUSTO
DispeIs Rumor of IIIness-AN
Positions Filled Except
Right Field.
BY FRANCIS J. POWERS.

n VOW that it has been estab-
M lished that there is nothing
i y wrong with the batting eye,
arms or legs of Aloysius
Simmons, the well known annihi-
lator of base balls, the stock of
the Chicago White Sox has popped
up quite few degrees.
1t is no secret that Louis Comiskey
was seriously worried when his newly
purchased star was unable to accom-
pany the first squad of White Sox to
Pasadena and reported to be suffering
from most ailments known to mankind,
Simmons dispelled all doubts as to
his condition a few minutes after his
arrival in the training camp by pump
ing several drives over the fence and
literally spraying the outfield grass with
what would have been hits in a game.
Like all great batters, Simmons still
will be big league hitter when his
legs no longer can carry him around
the bases. The worry about him should
not be his batting but rather his speed
and ability to cover ground in the out
field. And from the most recent re-
ports there is no immediate cause for
anxiety on that score. Simmons never
was very strong for Spring training
camps, and in recent years did much
Of his conditioning at Hot Springs be-
fore reporting to Connie Mack in
Florida.
EW FONSECA, the White Sox man
- ager, who is returning to the play
ing field after a season Of almost
ic T.
the workouts. He spent the Winter
conditioning his legs and apparently
did very thorough job, for he is right
sprightly around first base. Like SIM
mons. Fonseca always will be able TO
hit, and if he is able to play through
the season it Is a good bet his batting
mark will be 800 or better If not,
then 1t will be new Fonseca in the
lineup. for he is a real hitter, The
return Of Fonseca will mean many runs,
for while he is not the best defensive
player in the world he is not the worst,
and the power of his bat will more than
offset his errors on the field.
Practically every position on the re-
built Sox team is taken except right
field. That berth will so to either
Evar Swanson or Red Kress. Swanson
is the faster and better fielder so the
decision will be rendered on hitting
power National LeaguerS tell me
Swanson is a better than average batter
and might still be in that circuit only
for a sore arm that caused his de-
parture from Cincinnati.
TRESS is hustling. aggressive
n player and if he can regain the
batting eye he lost between St.
Louis and Chicago when he changed
clubs he will add much to the SoX at
tack. Right field seems to be the best
spot for Kress. He cannot play second
or third base and lacks the skill Of
young App,ing at shortstop. But
should he fail to win the right-field
position, he will be handy man
around the bench. He can fill in at
first base quite acceptably: do tenn
porary job at shortstop, and is not the
worst at third base.
The new White Sox crowd are very
enthusiastic over their chances for
the coming season and Lew Fonseca
has instilled a new spirit of hustle into
his men. If all the regulars produce
in expected fashion the Sox have fine
chance Of climbing into the first di-
vision. That's where the money Is to
be found by both owners and players
and currency is a matter Of Importance
in these times.