Evening star., 1933-03-18
LNDSTROM PLUGS
WEAK GARDEN SPOT
h@e@d Same as Last Year,
When Club Surprised by
Finishing Second.
HSS saff Correspondent Of The Star.

~ D
March 18.-What the near
~ future holds in store for
PittSburgh's National League
entry depends largely on pitch
fling. Experts picked the Pirates
to finish sixth or worse, yet this
forgotten team came close to cap
turing pennant in 1882, finish
ding second.
Since the season closed, an outfield
weakness has been solved by the deal
which brings Freddy Lindstrom from
New York to work alongside the Waner
brothers. With Gus Suhr on first base.
Tony Piet on second, Floyd Vaughan in
short and Capt. Pie Traynor guarding
the hot corner, the inner garden will
remain intact.
The Pirates this Spring were first
OF all major league outfits to pitch their
tents. Their advance squad, composed
exclusively OF batterymen, held its
earliest workout on February %. In
the opening days Of practice Manager
George Gibson expressed his delight
over the enthusiastic manner in which
his men plunged into the job of get
ting into shape, especially the veterans,
Heinie Meme, Remy Kremer, Steve
Swetonic and. Waite Hoyt.
When Hoyt was signed recently, 1t
was figured the former Yankee star
would be used solely for relief duty, but
1t now appears that he has chance to
perform regular work. Not another
hurler in camp is training harder than
the former Brooklyn schoolboy. Bill
Swift, Bill Harris and Southpaw Larry
French also have been drilling at
merry pace, and although the team has
not been in uniform long, some of the
moundsmen already are cutting loose
With occasional curves.
TREMER was of little Use last year
n owing to touch of rheumatism.
After a course of hot baths his
ailment disappeared and for more than
two months he has felt like a new
man. Two extended hunting trips in
the mountains of Northern California
appear TO have been beneficial. SWe-
tonic was stopped by a sore arm just
when he was performing Sensationally.
With these two aces disabled, the Buc-
cancers lost much of their boldneSs
and wobbled just enough to hoist the
Cubs out front last Fall
Manager Gibson is closely watching
Hoyt Kremer and Swetonic He knows
what it means to have Just one of the
three battle-scaTed sharpshooters in
true form. and if two of them should
come back. the big Canadians troubles
would be about over. He also has Leon
Chagnon, Hal Smith and two left
handlers, Charley Wood and Ralph
Birkofer, to contest for permanent
berths on the staff Wood was stricken
with appendicitis at camp one year ago
and an operation forced him TO loaf
until nidseason. He was sent to the
Pirate farm at Tulsa and has COM
pletely recovered.
Birkofer, who also was developed at
Tulsa. is % years old and speclalizes
in binding fast ones as well as good
curves He is 5 feet 1912 inches tall
and weighs 1875 pounds. having a large
chest, broad shoulders and a powerful
build. He won II and lost IL games in
1882 in the Western League.
Joe Ward. %, was added to the CATCH
ing corps few days ago. Recently Bill
Brenzel was turned over to Kansas City
to complete the deal for Pitcher Hsl
Smith, made last Summer. This left
but three catchers. and to make up for
the shortage. Coach Otis Crandall
brought Ward here from Los Angeles.
Ward batted .344 in the last of his
three seasons with the University or
Southern California team, but he stands
little chance OF crowding out either Earl
Grace, Tommy Padden or Hal Finney.
Three ether youngsters complete the
list of pitchers. but they lack experience
and undoubtedly will go back to the
sticks. One is Otis Crandalls son
Jimmy. 21-year-old collegian, who was
with the Pirates part of last season.
The others are Homer Hurst, %. and
Enrol Stoner. 20, both from the Los
Angeles district.
s.EVERYTHING points to stirring
IL championship race in the Ma
tional League said Manager
Gibson. "and, While nobody knows how
any team will finish. I'm sure the
Pirates will give mighty good account
CT themselves. When We began train
ing I told the veteran pitchers they
were expected to get into condition
earlier than usual. owing to the short
ened stand in camp, but they were to be
the judges of how much hard work
they could do without overtaxing them
selves.
ITO my surprise. the four oldest men
have been doing more than the rest and
the one who has been setting the pace
is Hoyt The younger hurlers also have
been travelling at a fast gait. and while
it is too early to tell just how they will
come out, I am well pleased with all
that has been shown me so far.
1T looks&as if Hoyt is going to prove
helpful as rescue man, with chance
of becoming a regular He appears to
have gotten rid of his arm trouble. If
he is able to take his turn as a starting
slabman, he will not be permitted to go
into the box without five or six days of
rest. for one who has played as many
games as he has should nurse his arm
carefully.
Wood evidently has improved since
his operation and he may make the
grade this time. Kremer looks great
and his inability to pitch last season,
combined with his lay-off this Winter
possibly have retsored him to good
health. I'm perfectly content with my
catchers and there is ample reason for
| expecting plenty of fight when these
boys line up for battle on April H."
(Tomorrow-Chicago Cubs)
| Copyright, 1888. by North American News
paper Alliance, Inc)