Evening star., 1933-03-30
Gone Bush Sire Reds Will Vacae
SEES SIXTH PLACE.
| AS LOWEST FINISH
Needs Better Hurting, Hard.
Hitting Gardener to Be
in Race, He Says.
BY stah Correspondent of The Star.

! BY Stan Correspondent of The Star,
TAMPA, Fla, March 30.-Oc-
cupantS Of the cellar for two
i straight seasons in the Ma
ton League, the Cincin-
natl Reds stand a very good
chance of coming out in the SUM-
light OF a respectable finish in 1893.
What impresses the observer Of
training activities in the Reds camp is
the confidence players are manifesting
in that result. Cincinnati probably is
the most rehabilitated team in the
older league as with few exceptions the
lineup will comprise new players.
AS things shape themselves, the line
up on opening day will be Rice and
Roettger, right field, to alternate there
against right-handed and left-handed
pitching; Morrissey, third base: Bot
| tomley, first base Hafey. left field:
Moore, center field; Grantham, second
base Lombardi, catcher; Durocher.
shortstop.
Eppa Rixey, gigantic left-hander who
son in the National, may be the pitcher
on that day against Pittsburgh in Gin
cinnati April IL. Rixey has been ex-
ceptlonally successful against that hard
bollded outfit in the past, being a real
cinder in the eyes of the famous Waner
brothers.
A GLANCE at that lineup will con-
IA vince the student of base ball
that the Cincinnati club will
have an impressive punch with the
Babe Herman to the Cubs more than
balanced.
The pitchers and catchers have been
in training since March and are at
least two weeks ahead of their condi-
ton shown in corresponding period
last season. The other members of the
club did not report until March 10,
but have made rapid strides since
their arrival
The present indications are that
Morrissey will win the third base job
although he has stiff opposition in
young Otto Bluege. brother of Ossie
Bluege of the Washingtons. Morrissey
| has been showing up brilliantly at the
hot corner and Bluege is keeping pace
with him. Third base was a hole in
the Reds defense last year.
George Grantham may win the sec
ond-base job because of his hitting, but
will have to show improved fielding,
especially in completing double plays.
His work would indicate he has over.
come that weakness.
THE most fortunate break for the
i Reds has been the restctation to
complete health Of that sterling
batsman and fielder. Chick Hafey. whose
| illness on Memorial day of 1882 and
which continued throughout the re-
mainder Of the season was the Begin
| ming of the Reds misfortunes. With
| out him the team cracked and it did
| not have the necessary morale and
spirit to 60 along, especially at the
speed they had been showing previously.
Manager Bush says if he is fortunate
enough to obtain one or more good
pitchers and another hard-hitting out
| fielder he will concede nothing to either
Cubs or Pirates, who are universally
! picked as the contenders In the forth
coming race in the senior circuit.
Even as at present constituted the
team should finish fifth or sixth, ac-
cording to Bush. That would be an
/ accomplishment after such protracted
tenancy of the cellar.
The Reds of 1888 may be one Of the
real surprises Of a more or less erratic
season.
Copyright, 1893, ty North American Newt
paper Alliance. 1nco