Evening star., 1934-05-15
SHY HOT HURL|NG,
G|ANTSSEEM SHOT
Miss ParmeIee, but Others
Not Performing Up to
1888 Standard.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

)HICAGO, May 15.-Grant-
4 ing the New York Giants
\ seldom appear their Sun
~ day best when combat
ting the Cubs on Wrigley Field,
there was nothing much in their
play on the entire Western trip
to remind one they are world
champions.
Admitting that Col. Will Terry has
had his share of misfortunes with
Parmelee out for six weeks; Critz on
the bench and Mancuso not yet able
to catch regularly, there is nothing
about the rest of the team to make
you believe it will be rolling down to
Rio" when September comes. To me
it lacks much of the elan which dis
tinguished its play last Summer.
The Giants are not getting the fine
pitching they received last Summer
and of course, the absence OF Parme-
lee weakens the staff by 25 per cent.
for Col. Terry has not yet found that
fourth starter and won't from the
collection of throwers that come after
Hubbell, Schumacher and FitZsim-
mons. But even Hubbell, Schumacher
and FitZsimmons are not quite so hot
as in 1888 and the lively ball is being
blamed for that.
Bemoan Lively Ball.
That ball will kill some one on the
infield before the Summer is over, "
moaned one of the Giants. "A pitcher
cannot work with his usual confidence
for one swipe at this jack-rabbit ball
may break up game. Last Summer
We won % shut-out games. How can
a pitcher throw a shut-out with this
ball?" Maybe So Maybe what the
Giants say is true and then again
maybe they are just talking
If the new ball is so easy to hit
the Giants certainly are not getting
their share of additional wallops.
They won last year because OF great
pitching and smart defensive work
rather than hard hitting. This sea-
son demands hitting and the Giants
are short of that
George Watkins, the outfielder
Terry obtained from st. Louis in
exchange for George Davis, has not
hit a lick, and now Lefty" ODoul
is dragging his ancient brogans
around right field trying to make his
batting ability Offset his fielding
weaknesses. Even if ODoul does
mace the ball with old-time ferocity.
the Giants still will be short on power
hitters, since Col. Terry and Mel OFT
are the only others who can come
under that classification
TINE Giants miss Hughie Critz at
second, for "Blondy" Ryan Is
not the hand there he was at
shortstop. Further the they cannot
beat us" stuff Ryan peddled his mates
so successfully last season now has
no effect upon the Pirates, Cardinals
and Cubs, just to mention three
teams. Travis Jackson, the veteran
shortstop. is playing a great game
There is ball player, that Jackson.
If the Giants get righted and off to
another pennant, Jackson is one of
the fellows who will deserve a lot of
credit.
Maybe the Giants will get the pitch
ing when Parmelee gets back, but at
the best it won't be so tight as last
season. The question then will be
whether or not the New Yorkers can
muster enough hitting strength to
win for their pitchers. The Cubs,
Pirates and Cardinals have plenty of
walloping power and, everything else
being nearly equal, it is the punch
that will win the pennant this year
/ doubt if the Giants will have
enough Of it and so at this time pre-
dict a rough road for Col. Terrys
boys.