Evening star., 1933-05-19

" the toughest tuSSlerS OF the
Western group again this
season, in two of three games
here, the Nationals now have as
their guests an outfit that was
the softest sort of pickin's for
them in Griffith Stadium last
year-the White Sox.
In the 80 fitting with the Chi
cago gang on the local lot, Clark
Grif1th's hands took 10 of II
games. But something new in
White Sox is on display this time
and the Nationals aren't figuring
on platters of fried fowl until the
chicks are out of the shells.
This new edition of the White Sox
is one of the seasons great surprises.
Although picked to make better show
ing than they did last year when they
finished seventh-most base ball critics
have rated the Chicagoans fifth best
in the circuit, something they haven't
been since 1928-none really expected
them to make the splendid race they
have from the outset of the campaign.
Nor is it believed the White Sox will
maintain such a dizzy pace for long,
but all who have business with Lew
Fonsecas henchmen these days GER
tainly have a wholesome respect for
them. The Nationals will have to keep
their heads up so long as the White
SoX are around.
nERE'S the season nearly one-hfth
L i gone and the Chicago combine
in fourth place in the standings
with a margin over the up-and-coming
Athletics sufficient to keep it there at
least the remainder of the week. It
doesn't seem natural,
There's good reasons for this Chi
cago surge, however. In the early going
of the campaign the White Sox got
some great pitching out of their mix
ture of rubber-arm veterans and hard
throwing youngsters. Old Sam Jones,
the sad one, got new lease on his base
ball life and bowled over the opposi-
ton with his dipsy-dos. Not so old Ted
Lyons found tired Tipping wing sud-
denly enlivened and did wonders with
it. And the younger members OF the
Chicago curving corps did some sensa-
tional work.
Those who should have been hitting
weren't then, but the pitchers managed
to keep the White Sox swinging along \
at an alarming rate. The strain began
to tell on the hill hands finally, but
when it did White Sox batting eyes be-
gan to clear and there was little slack
ening of pace.
That's how the White Sox are today.
Their pitchers are coming through only
every once in awhile, but their good
batters are banging the ball right regu-
larly. And they have enough good bat
tiers in the lineup to make trouble
for the best Of pitchers, once tney
swing in true stride.
NUT in Chicago not so long ago the
~ Nationals took the measure OF the
White Sox IN two OF three en-
gagements But only by desperate pat
Ting. Ten innings were needed 10 get
the first game from the ngnting rCn-
secans. The next day in double
header they gave the Cronin crew
thorough thrashing and threatened TO
the finish of the second set-to to make
it two straight.
They were full CT hits and ginger
then, and with what they have IN the
lineup the White SoX are apt to be so
at any time Al Simmons is just as dan
gerous at the plate in White Sox
uniform as he was when he wore the
Mack livery. So are Jimmy Dykes and
Mule Haas Pitchers have to respect
this Evar Swanson this year, too. The
big Swede has been burning them up
And Luke Appling looks far better
hitter than he did when he was shift
ing from pillar to post trying to find
somewhere to land. Since landing at
shortstop more or less permanently,
Appling has been in a great hitting
mood.
Haas may not be seen in action here
until Sunday. the last day of the Sc
ries. He had few words with one of
the umpires up in Philadelphia on
Wednesday and was ordered to take
rest But Elias Funk, the White Sox
extra outfielder, can give pretty good
account of himself.
In every way these White Sox still
are strong enough to bear watching
by the Nationals and all other clubs in
the nirc11it