The Washington times., 1934-03-27
HURL|NG MAIN
WORRY Of
PILOT
This Is another article dealing
Nth the prospects of major
IeG1ue baseball clubs:
BY ED PRELL

league OuSSOuL CGUOS'
By ED PRELL
Sd" AVALON, Cal, March q
U.N.S0.-Publicly, Charlie Grimm
canno+ be prevailed upon to shou
to the skies his Cubs will win tht
National League championship
privately, the genial st. Loui'
Dutchman will tell everyone with
in earshot his club, barring
serious accidents, will finish IL
front
Maybe it's the sunshine here
that makes Grimm so confident
but, then when you stop to stud!
his choice, but small, roster, vol
can see the playing pilot has
logical case. There are only 2:
=. signed players here for spring
training. But there is no dead
wood All are tried and true
major leaguers or youngsters whC
were little less than sensations ir
the minors.
Vet Stars Back
With all the veteran stars back
plus the addition Of Chuck Kleir
and these highly touted new
comers, the Cubs should be 9
vastly improved team over the one
that was in the pennant fight
until the last two weeks in 1893
For public enlightenment, this Il
as far as Grimm will go:
Il am not going to predict
where we-0r the seven other
Clubs-will finish. No man can
do that, especially in such q
well-balanced loop. But we
have assembled q strong squad
here. If we get the same
brand of pitching IS last year,
with the added strength fur
nished mainly by Klein, don't
see how we can miss.
Fright now I'm going out on
. limb and declare we have
the prize rookie Of the year in
young Dick Ward, righthanded
pitcher. I've seen enough in
o few days to know he will be
one Of our five starting pitch
ers. We have other new talent
that fairly makes my eyes
bulge-Augie Galau at second,
who reminds me Of Tony Laz-
zeri; Bill Lee, giant pitcher
from Columbus who, my scouts
tell me, is superior to Paul
Dean, and Babe Phelps, 225-
pound catcher from Albany
who is going to annoy n lot Of
pitchers this season."
Grimm might have forgotten,
or perhaps it was only modesty
on his part, to mention his own
return to normal playing condi'
ton as another factor for an as
sured better showing Of the
Wrigley clan.
Despite Infirmities
Despite his infirmities Of last
year, when he was plagued with
misery of the back, Charlie led
the league in fielding and estab-
liShed the best mark Of his career.
.986. He hit only PAT but con-
fidently expects to add 35 to 40
points to that figure. If he finds
he can't help the team in an
offensive way, he will bow out in
favor of young Dolph Camilli. the
Sacramento Italian.
It was lack of reserve material
that put the Cubs off stride last
year. Kiki Cuyler suffered
broken foot during spring train
ing, Grimm had his own troubles,
dependable Riggs Stephenson was
out much of, the time with in:
jurieS and there were several
minor physical disturbances.
There were no competent men
to throw into action when these
men were on the sidelines, so the
entire team suffered. The bur
den was too great on the pitchers.
An this has been corrected. The
Cubs have collected excellent re-
serves. If Grimm bogs down, he
has only to signal to Cam1lli, or
even place Babe Herman on the
bag. Billy Herman and Galanr
are available for second base
Woody English and Stan Hack
are good enough to play third
base regularly on any big league
club. # Bill JurgeS gets out OF
kiIter. either English or Galan can
play short.
No OutfieId Worries
There are no outfield worries
with such performers as Klein
Stephenson, Herman, Cuyler and
stainback, the latter a SIS, ,0oC
purchase from the Los Angeles
. club, who is given a chance to
win q regular berth.
Gabby Hartnett will have more
help back Of the plate with Benny
Tate, a veteran American Lacquer
and Phelps, whose terrific slug
ging has been one Of the main
training camp features.
Aside from Ward and Lee, the
Cubs have another new hurler IN
Roy Joiner, premier southpaw Of
the Coast League last year, who
won - games with the weak Oak
land team. Grimm'S plans call fol
five. starters, which means some
of the old Cub mound favorites
may be out of luck. Ward is as
sured Of taking his regular turn
while. Lon Warneke and Guy Bush
are others who can't miss. That
will throw the veterans Charley
Root, Pat Malone and Bud Tin.
ming in with such competition al