Evening star., 1937-03-25

N Even the slickest crystal ball
N gazer would toss up his hands
and retire when he came to
forecasting the Cleveland Indians
Of 1887.
The team, led by the sensational
Bob Feller, can win the American
League pennant or it can fall right
back into the wilderness of the second
division without causing the futter
of an eyebrow
It's the mysterious club in big-time
base ball
Probably go per cent of the teams S
chances depends on Kid Feller and
the veteran catcher, Frank Pytlak,
II Feller can come through as ad-
vertised and Pytlak can catch 100
games without repairs, the Indians
may stage an uprising thatrl scalp
every enemy club in the circuit.
So far. Feller looks greater than
great. The l8-year-old schoolboy
pitcher from Iowa has developed fine
change of pace down here to 60 with
his fast ball and sweeping curve.
Pytlak Lacks Durability.
PYTLAK has been a problem for
years. A great catcher and a
dangerous hitter, his problem has been
ruggedness. In four years with Cleve-
land he has failed to catch more
than 81 games, retiring in 1886 after
but IS. Pytlak reported in fine physi-
cal and mental shape this Spring, but
he's still a problem. If he couldn't
catch 100 games before, Manager
Steve ONeill hardly can expect that
many from him this year when he's
a vet of %.
On paper the Indians appear greatly
improved over last season, when they
hit the skids and landed in fifth place
Although Joe Vosmik's punch will be
missed, Manager O'Neill believes the
big swap with the St. Louis Browns
gave the team better balance and
lifted its spirit.
Pitching again will be the strongest
point of the Tribes pennant argu-
ment. O'Neill can and may carry lC
pitchers, with Mel Harder, Johnny
Allen, Dennis Galemouse, Earl White.
hill and Feller composing a starting
big five" all right-handers except TO,
Whitehill. The three reserves, un.
doubtedly, will be Ivy Andrews, OBJ,
tanned from the Browns; Lloyd Brown
and Willis Hudlin.
Infield Shift Helps.
WH1TLOW WYATT, who won an.
other big league trial at Kansas
City, with IL victories, and Tommy
Drake. strong right-hander up from
New Orleans, seem to have clinchec
the other two pitching jobs
The coming of Lyn Larry from st
Louis has forced O'Niell to switch
his infield with fine results. Larry ha!
been stationed at shortstop in plac,
of Bill Knickerbocker. who went tt
the Browns. Bad News" Samm,
Hale has been shifted from third t.
second and Roy Hughes has beer
transferred from second to third
The shift has given the Indians thei
snappiest-looking infleld in many {
moon.
There should be plenty of class ant
punch in the Indian outfeld Ear
Averill. 378 hitter last season, vii
be in center field: Julius Solters, tn
former Brownie, whose three-yea
major league batting average stand
at .304. will patrol left. and eithe
Bruce Campbell or Weatherly vii
hold down right field
Weatherly hit 335 last season ant
starred on defense, but Campbell i
giving him a great battle for a regu
las job. Refusing to go down ant
out after two serious attacks of spina
meningitis, Campbell, who was hitting
.372 when he collapsed last season, il
back in camp and betting the cove
off the ball. Weatherly will have hi
hands full beating Bruce out of a job