Evening star., 1936-04-12

The second fight of the American
League, except for the mystery men
collected by Connie Mack for the Ath-
letics. is stronger than last year.
Washington has flrst-class ball club,
with recruit sensation in Buddy
Lewis at third. but the pitching Is
on the weak side.
The White Sox have pitching, but
not enough batting punch, even with
Mike Krevich, a newcomer, threaten
ing to do better than AL Simmons did
last season at bat. The Browns, under
Hornsby's leadership. will be no push
over for any opposition. The AS will
be confusing to identify, but not much
else.
Parmelee Cards Hope.
SUPPORT for the st. Louis Cardinals
In the National League race is
based mainly upon two factors: Q)
That the Cubs, who needed a 21 game
winning streak to overhaul the Cards
last season, can't repeat that miracle,
and (2) that the pitching of the cele-
brated Dean brothers, aided by Roy
Parmelee, erstWhile wild man of the
Giants, will give st. Louis the balance
of power. Parmelee has looked so good
this Spring that he is slated to get
the opening game assignment against
the Cubs. team he likes to beat.
With Pepper Martin shifted to the
outfield and Charley Colbert back on
the job regularly at third base, the
Cardinals are well fortified everywhere
except behind the bat. The shelving
of Bill Delaney, favorite backstop of
the Deans, has been followed by TEN.
porary illness of his main replacement,
Virgil Davis.
The Cubs figure they will not need
another late season rally to repeat.
With Manager Charley Grimm back
at first base, young Phil Cavarretta in
reserve and big Chuck Klein, his old
clouting confidence restored, back at
his regular right-fiel post, the cham
pions have no particular worries, un.
less something happens to their
pitching staff. If Lonnie Warneke's
arm doesn't snap" the way it did
in the. world series and If Charley
Root has another good season in his
ancient arm. all will be well, but the
Cubs do not have much margin of
pitching safety.
Giants Look To New Men
THE Giants, after collapsing twice !
in the stretch, base their hopes
mainly upon infield requirements, in
Guiding Burgess Whitehead at second
base and Sambo Leslie, a heavy sticker,
as understudy to the veteran manager,
Bill Terry, at first base. The club has
the leagues best outfield in OFT, Lei
ber and Moore. If Fred Fitzsimmons
comes back and Carl Hubbell keeps
sharing the main pitching job with |
Hal Schumacher and Clyde Castle
man, New York may climb back to |
the top.
Pittsburgh, fortified behind the bat |
by AL Todd and with Manager Pie
Traynor back at his old post, third |
base, is the dark horse contender. |
Heading the Buc pitching staff is
the sensational sophomore, Cy Blan-
ton, most effective in the league last |
year, but unless he and Bill Swift get
more help than they did last year
from Guy Bush among others, the
Pirates can't expect to 60 places.
The Dodgers, with a completely re.
vamped inf1eld and outfield, besides |
the acquisition Of such experienced
as Ed Brandt and Fred
farmhouse from Boston, figure to
give the fans Of Flatbush quite a
show and their opposition consider
able trouble. Due mainly to their
pitching staff. including q comeback
BY Big George Earnshaw, they look to
be the class of the second division.
Cincinnati furnished one Of the big
surprises of 1885 and may repeat.
The Phillies. shifting Lou Chiozza to
the outfield and installing Leo Norris
at shortstop in search Of more punch.
have enough good pitching to be
troublesome. The Boston Bees, forti-
ned behind the bat with AL Lopez
and featuring other ex-Brooklynites,
can do lot better than last year
and still not get out of the cellar.