The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-03-19
new INFIELD
and BATTING
BECOME WORRIES
Terry to Work From
Bench; CastIeman, Schu.
macIler Improved
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY
United Press STAFF Correspondent

BY GEORGE k1HkSEX
UNITED Press STAFF Correspondent
Oaytona Beach, Fla, March 49,
CUP. There are two schools Of
thought regarding the champion
New York Giants, now on an ex-
tende.. tour Of the southland after
2S days Of training in Havana.
Broadly speaking they may be
listed as:
j. That the Giants can't miss be.
caus Of improved pitching, hustling
YOUNGSTERS plugging the weak spots
at first and third, and the return
70 form Of Outtielder Hank Leiber.
2-That the Giants pennailt VIC
tory last season was O miracle and
Chut attempts to strengthen the
e ID hare been futile.
Satisfied
Bill Terry, the self-sufnciSnt, to-
:. co-chewing manager Of the
Giants, belongs to the No. group.
&c Try predicts no pennant, but says
his club Is the best he's ever mani
aged and needs no sympathy from
the second group who believe the
bottom will drop out Of the National
l. ague champions and that they'll
drop all the way to second division.
'This Is my kind Of a club" says
Terry. Its the best I've ever man
aged and I feel safe in predicting
that we'll run one-two. The teams
to eeat, OF course, are the Car.
dinals and Cubs. It remains to be
seen which team got the best Of the
WLrneke for Pafmelee and Collins
deal. That deal probably will de-
te-mine which club will be Our
rongest rival"
Uncertain
-ank Leiber, the big, blond
Dutchman from Phoenix, Ariz., Is
tbs keyman with the Giants. Leiber
was big disappointment last year.
Terry says he quit on him. II he
regains his form Of 1885, the Giants
are likely to be contenders again.
It's up to Leiber to give the weak
h.ttinG Giants punch with Terry
de. .nitely on the bench.
The infleld is so per cent new.
Johnny Mccarthy, bought from
Newark for $4,000, will be the first
h.seman until he shows he can't
handle the Job. Sam Leslie will be
his undcrstudy. Les Powers, the
other first base candidate, will 90
back to Baltimore.
II. Mccarthy hits .290," says
Terry, "1ll be satisfied. He's the
niftiest fielder In the league and
will improve our defense"
Lou Chiozza, rated the fastest
man in the league by Terry and
Ha Us Lober:, Phils' coach, takes over
TT avs Jackson's third base Job. icE
Bertell and Burgess Whitehead
again will form the second base
combination. Tommy Thevenow ane
Mickey Haslin are the reserves. W.
Joe Moor and Mel OFT. old stand.
byS, will flank Leiber In the out.
e I'd. Jimmy Ripple, who took over
Leiber's Job last year. has been
benched for the big Dutchman. He
and George Davis are the outfield
reserves.
Hub" OF Team
Carl Hubbeil will be the mound
ace again. He won 20 games last
year and the Giants are banking
on him 70 come close to that figure
again. Improvement is expected In
Clyde "Slick" CaStleman, Harry
Gumbert and Frank dabler. Castle.
man, who won only four games, has
shei..l signs Of coming back. Hal
Schumacher, recovered from an Ell.
bow ailment, is counted on to win
considerably more than the II
games he copied last season. Freddy
FitzsimmonS will be used as a spot
pitcher. AL Smith will be the No. |
relief man with aid from Dick Coff-
r. IN.
The only freshman pitcher who'll
Stick is Cliff Melton, 6 foot, ~
inch southpaw vino won 20 games
for Baltimore last season. Terry
thinks Melton is ready and will give
him every chance to win starters
JOB.
Gus Mancuso again will bear the
brunt of the catching, but Ike DAN
p'ng will be given more work this
year.
Summing up. the Giants will be a
punchless, defensive team unless
Leioer delivers. AT best they'll have
no power to waste. They must make