Evening star., 1933-04-01
At LEAST ) CLUBS
ENTITLED TO REACH
Odds on BUGS and Cubs Not
Convincing-Cards. PhilS,
Dodgers Strong.
BY ALAN GOULD,

n IEW YORK, April 1.-There
M seems to be no harm In try
/ Y ing to dope" the National
League pennant race, an
open competition INDUCED in an
nually around this time by the ex-
perts, but reservations are at
tached to any calculations about
what may happen. At least five
and possibly seven of the eight
clubs figure to offer a wide va
riety of arguments in the 1889
pennant debate.
Last Spring the ST. Louis Cardinals
then on top of the base ball world, and
the New York Giants, breezing back
East under John Joseph McGraw, wers
picked by a majority of base ball critics
TO finish one-two. They wound up In
tie for sixth place. McGraw passed
from the picture while his team was
still in last place.
That's the way things are apt to
happen, unexpectedly, in Mr. John
Arnold Heydler'S "loop' and it is among
the reasons why no great amount of
family plate so far has been yegered
on the professional odds making the
Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs
joint favorites.
THE Cubs emerged from the last
L world series with very little prestige
and their stock tumbled again this
week as result of a fractured leg for
Kikt Cuyler, feet outfielder. It places
more responsibility on the bat and
ability of Floyd (Babe) Herman, out
standing acquisition by the Cubs since
last season. If Herman RECEIVERS his
Brooklyn slugging form, if Frank
Dernaree can plug the outf1eld gap, and
II Cub pitchers like Young Lon Warneke
duplicate their 1882 performances, the
champions may repeat.
otherwise 1t looks like big year
for the Pirates or one of the so-called
dark horses in the race, including the
Phlll1es, heaviest hitting array in either
league; the Cardinals, equipped with
the finest young pitching staff In
captivity. and the Brooklyn Dodgers,
much improved IN two vital spots, pitch-
ing and first base.
Pittsburgh came of with first prize,
Freddie Lindstrom, in one of the VIM
ter's biggest trading sessions. The
former Giants presence In the outfeld
with the ubiquitous Waner boys gives
the BUGS the strongest outer trio In
the league. The team. under the glid-
ing stimulus Of George Gibson and old
Honus Wagner, is blessed with
hustling spirit born of the sensational
development Of youthful stars like Piet,
vaughan and Grace. This drive and
!mpetuoSlty may counteract weakness
In the pitching department, where
comebacks by men like Swetonic, Kre-
mer and Hoyt are needed to complete
the defense against smuggling raiders.
THE Cardinals, with sharpshooters
i like Dean, Derringer, Carleton.
Walker and Hallahan, to say
nothing Of Vance, Haines Lindsay and
matter what the clubs infield insists
may be. But for the loss Of Shortstop
Charley Colbert, from a glnshot
wound, the Red Birds easily could be
conceded an even chance to win their
nth pennant In eight years. It Is un-
derstood they made flattering offer td
the Ph1lhes for Dick Bartell, but It was
declined. Unless Hornsby can show a
comeback, which appears doubtful, this
Cardinals will have two infield gaps
to worry about.
the nve clubs which figure now to be-
the most dangerous The Dodgers, with
Joe Judge ready for first base duty II
Bissonette fails to recover and two i'm
pressive pitching requirements for the
colorful Vance in Beck and Benge, look
stronger than last year. when they fin
1shed third. The Phillies, fourth in
1882, depend upon improved pitching
and reliable second baseman, Finn.
to move them toward the top, but they
have not yet signed their slugging first
baSenan, Don Hurst, who led the Ma
tlonal League in the vital department
OF batting in runs last year.
IT is difficult to see how the Boston
Braves and Giants can be more than
troublesome without achieving a
major upheaval. The Braves have
picked up at least one new infield SEN
sation in Dick Gyselman, but they dis
tlnctly need more power at bat to sup
port fairly good pitching staff. The
Giants are showing lots of hustle under
Bill Terry's leadership, but their lineup
lacks all-around class. They have only
two pitchers of known quality, and they
need the daily services of Travis Jack
son, now an uncertain factor, to be
dangerous
Like the Giants, the Cincinnati Reds
have only two good pitchers, Lucas and
Johnson, but DOME Bush's peppery lead1
ership, plus the bats of Hafey, Bottom.
ley and lombard, may produce un1
expected results.