The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-01-30

Nth the NeW York YnnkeeSJ
BY FRANK BUCK" ONEILL
The Detroit Tigers will go into
training at Lakeland, Fla, on
March l, favorites to win their
third consecutive erican
League pennant. This particular
feat has been accomplished only
four times in the history of the
American League. However, the
connotation of difficulty is re-
lieved somewhat by the fact that
in the last is years, three teams
have put three consecutive pen
nants to their credit.
Those teams were the New York
Yankees of 1921, 90 and '23; the
Yankees of 1926, '27 and '28; and
the Athletics of 1929, 80 and 81.
The threat to the hold of the
Tigers probably will be found in
the Boston Red SoX who have
been strengthened greatly by the
venturesome trading Of Thomas
j. Yawkey, whose early training
in baseball was in Detroit.
Pitching Staff Is Best
It is entirely fitting that the
Tigers should open the training
season favorites. They were good
enough to spreadeagle the field
last year after a terrible start,
and their first line Of strength,
the pitchers, excels that of any
other team in the league with the
possible exception Of the Yankees.
The deal by which the cham
pionS acquired AL Simmons may
be open to question. If the for
mer terror to pitchers RECEIVERS his
form of other years, the Tigers
may storm through to another vic
tory, despite doubtful strength at
third base. It will be interesting
to observe Dixie Howell, former
Alabama gridiron ace, in action.
He may be great football player,
even when wearing the flannelS
of the diamond.
Mickey Cochrane's problems are
fairly simple. If he needs replace
ments in the Tigers. he needs
them at third base. He has a
young team and a courageous
team.
Starting with the catchers,
there's Mickey himself, still a
great ball player, and a flaming
fighter whose leadership elevated
the Tigers from the status Of
good ball club to the champion
ship. Hayworth, second string
catcher, is good enough to be the
starting receiver with most clubs.
Frank Reiber is third-string
catcher.
What Hurting Corps!
Building the backbone of the
team we move to the pitching hill.
There we find Tommy Bridges
with 81 victories and 10 defeats
and an earned run average OF
3.51 earned runs per nine-inning
game. Schoolboy Rowe stands
there, too, with 10 victories and
13 defeats and an earned run
average of 1858. Eden Auker
with 10 victories and 7 defeats;
Gin'ril Crowder with Is victories
and 10 defeats is right in line.
Crowder is a problem for Coch'
rane. He may do and he may
find that Father Time has at last
caught up to him.
Cochrane is taking Is pitchers
in all to training camp. Don
French, who won 18 games and
lost seven with Springfield last
season, is a promising kid Of %
years of age. Roxie Lawson, a
fast ball specialist. is another
pitcher who is rated as having a
chance. Carl Phillips, Of Beau.
mont, showed enough stuff in the
Texas League to give him
chance in any company. He won
20 games down there.
Moving along the "vertebrae"
we come to second base, where
Detroit has no one in the world
except Charley Gehringer and
Bill Rogell as second Sacker and
shortstop. At first base there is
Hank Greenberg, and what a man
he is in any company. Over at
third Marvin Owen will have
fight on his hands. Owen failed
to impress with his play last sea-
son and he may be replaced.
Bid for Ovens Berth
Herman Clifton, the Flea" is
slated for long workout at third
base when training starts. Clifton
played some mighty fine ball for
the Tigers last year. Gilbert Eng
fish, who had a round or two in
the National League; Dixie Howell,
OF Alabama; Chester Laabs, Don
aid Ross and Rudolph York. the
latter 209-pound Slugger, are all
infielders who may figure in
Cochrane's plans.
The Tiger outfield problem CEN
tiers around Simmons. If the vet.
eran Pole can come back, the pen
nant race should be a breeze for
the Tigers. No, not Just that, but
If AL comes back he will certainly
ease Cochrane's worries. If any.
AL slipped away off in his hitting,
but Cochrane can handle him bet
ter, perhaps. than Dykes could.
Goslin definitely is on the spot,
for his aging legs whined a misery
minor last year. Pete Fox is a
fixture with his 1921 average. but
Gerry Walker and Joyner White
are uncertaip factors.