Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-09
RATED BEST FIXED
CLUB IN Bic LOOPS
Outside of a Pitcher or Two
No Chance Is Conceded
to Newcomers.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

l. re GF.SbOtCC + Ia, MdTCI
9.-NeW material, barring a
~ pitcher or two, will have no
place on the New York
Yankees for the season of 1888 for
the simple reason that there is, as
yet, no room for newcomers on the
squad. Joe Mccarthy, manager
of the world champions, will have
a veteran team intact, unless all
signs fail, when he takes to the
field next month on the quest of
another American League pen
nant and, maybe, another world
title.
More fortunate than many other
managers in either major league, the
Buffalo Irishman went South this year
with his 1882 model Yankee line I'M
broken, unimpaired, and with every in
dication of satisfactory performance for
the year 1898. In this respect Nc
Carthy holds position that is enviable.
Veterans of training camps have
stated frankly that there have been
few years in which big league man.
ager had at his command so reliable
complement at training camp. He
has under him the squad which ad-
vanced in midseason last year to
commanding lead in the pennant race.
won the flag by the decisive margin
of Is games and then went on to win
the world series from Chicago'S Cubs
in four straight games.
A veritable juggernaut of the dia-
mond; a competitive tank that smashed
it's way through and over all OppoSt-
ton, and crushed it in the drive to base
balls highest honors, the outfit en-
bodies heavy stickwork. reliable field
ing and a capable pitching array. The
Yankees face the coming season with
no changes forecast, unless, of course,
unforeseen developments dictate other
wiee. And, the squad will carry the
confidence which its position atop the
base ball world iustifles.
ATcCARTHY'S problems have been
w confined this year, not to the de-
velopment of material for replace
ments. but to holdout situation which
involved five of his stars as the team
started the training camp in st. Peters
burg, Fla. Eabe Ruth, Lou Gehrlg
and Tony Lazzeri. three big guns on
the attack: Charley Rufing, pitching
ace, and Bill Dickey, mainstay OF the
mask and shinguards. are the I'M
COSS III liz oAAANS AAioSAttAAS
who merited this classification. But
their ouarrels were with the front Of
fec, and these differences were not
permitted to interfere with the train
ing program. And Dickey and Lazzeri
already have come to terms.
Il is taken for granted that the
financial differences of the others will
have been adjusted before the cry Play
bali is heard at the stadium for the
first time. McCarthys indifference 10
the situation encourages the benet that
he is proceeding accordingly, with not
a worry in the world. In emergency
he has the material to equip his team
against any weakness.
In the main, the Yankee leader has
a team that reflects youth, with yet
enough base ball experience. Ruth, at
80, and the redoubtable Herb Pennock.
VINO is SO, are the eldest members OF
the squad. For them the end OF major
league activity cannot be far away.
Ruth insists that he will have another
good year in the coming campaign.
Pennock may be on the wane. but none
will say as yet that he will fail this
year. He won nine games last year
and lost five. He was a tower OF
his most masterful exhibitions for the
world series.
0NE and all, however, the Yankee
~ squad. veterans and recruits, ap-
pear in excellent condition. The
athletes have taken care of themselves
during the off season, from Ruth right
on down the line Getting in shape at
the training camp, therefore, was not
80 much a grind to reclaim the psyslcal
perfection Squandered In careless OIL
proach to the return of another season
following the interim of inactivity.
Ruth typifies the condition OF the
entire squad He hied himself early to
the Southern climate after an intensive
training period in New York and is
ready for the drop of the flag. His
companions IN the outfeld, Earle
Coombs, beginning his tenth year as
Yankee, and Ben Chapman, the Ala
bama flash, likewise are in superb shape
and in no danger of losing their jobs.
If an emergency arises, there IS Sammy
Byrd, who is starting his fourth year
with the club, and Myril Hoag, enter
ing his third campaign in Yankee livery.
joey Sewell is the
- daddy of the infeld. at "a years of
age. He played good ball last year,
hitting for 272 and getting a fielding
average of 974, which strengthens the
belief that his position at third is as
sured. At shortstop there is question
as to whether Lyn Larry can win back
the position from Frank Crosetti, with
the odds favoring the latter. At second
base there is no sane reason for doubt
ing the security of Tony Lazzeris con-
tinued reign. while Leu Gehrig has no
rival for the position of first baseman.
Bill Dickey will do the bulk of the
catching as he did last year. and Arndt |
Jcrgens, the other 1882 backstop, must