The Washington times., 1937-03-16
BY MALCOLM YATES

BY MALCOLM YATES E.
International New Service sports Writer
NEW ORLEANS, March Is.
'If little frankie Pytlak can
catch one hundred games, and
If young Bob FelIer can pick up
where he left off last year wen
90 places" Steve O'Neill, man.
ager Of the Cleveland Indians,
declared here today.
We've going to be in the
thick Of the pennant chase all
the way" O'NeiIl went on. "The
Yankees will be tough. And SO
will q couple of other clubs, in.
cluding the Indians. ,-.
"Our pitching will be i'm
proved. And our OutfieId will
powder the ball as hard as in
'36, and don't forget that
though we finished fifth as Sep
tember ended, we were just two
and OEe-half games out OF sec
Ond place."
REST ON TELLER
O'Neill admitted that Cieve.
lands destiny rests on the broad
shoulders Of 1S-year-old Bob Eel
ler, the Iowa farm boy who quit
doing chores last summer to
stand the leagues best hitters on
their heads and establish a new
league strikeout record.
Bob is on the spot" Steve
unused. Hes only 18, After all,
and we can't expect too much of
him this season, but we're con-
fident he has the courage and
the speed and the ability to
develop into one Of the great
est pitchers in the history Of
the game. 49,,
"Feller should be coed for
10 to Is victories. And If he
can hang up 20 in his first full
campaign, unless these old eyes
deceive me can see . pennant
flying over the clubhouse for
the first time since 1919"
Commenting on the. winter
trade in which the astute Rogers
HornSby according to some OBJ
servers bested the Indians, O'Neill
said:
"The acquisition of SOIters,
Andrews and Larry will prove as
beneficial to us as the change
Of uniforms by KnickerbOcker,
Vismik and Hindebrand win be
to the st. Louis Browns"
The trade seemed to be some
thing of sore point to the Cleve-
land manager, and he refused to
comment further.
Going Through PAGES
Fifteen pitchers in addition to
Feller are going through the
spring training PAGES here. From
last years squad there are Feller,
Dennis Galehouse, AL Milnar, Will
lis Hudlin and Mel Harder. New
comers are Johnny Allen, John
HeiSe, Paul Kardow. Tom Drake,
Bill zuber, Earl Whitehill. Joe
Heving, Clarence Fischer, Whit
low Wyatt and Ivy Paul Andrews.
Five Of the fifteen will be cast
adrift.
Johnny Allen and Catcher Billy
Sullivan are unsigned as yet, due
to contract differences, but O'Neill
anticipates no serious difficulty
with them. Pytlak and Sullivan
will divide the catching duties,
leaving Joe Becker, with the club
last year, and Henry Helf, a local
youth who has caught O'Neill's
fancy. to fight for the third string
job.
O'Neill's infield situation is prac-
tically settled right now. Six in
fielders are on hand. five will be
retained, and the finger Of fate
points at Rookie Don Gugler, who
is almost certain to be farmed out
for more experience. The others
are Hal Trosky, Lynn Larry, Boze
Berger, Roy Hughes. and Odell
Hale.
Similarly, O'Neill's outfield prob
lens will have to be solved by the
FIVE gardeners on hand-Ju1iuS
Solters, Earl Averill, Bruce Camp.
bell, jeff Heath and Roy Wealth
ely, all scheduled to be kept on
the payroll all summer.
Judging from the activities to
date, and the attention ONeill
has been according his charges,
the Indians will open the season
with Larry at ShortStop, Hughes at
third, Averill in centerfield, TroSly
a. first, Solters in left field, Hale
a; second, Weatherly in right field
and Pytlak behind the plate, with
the boys taking their cuts in that
order.
O'Neill ended his interview
abruptly. He had fidgeted and
fused while being questioned, and
kept watching his men while an
swering. Suddenly he asked to be
excused and loped onto the field,
yelling back over his shoulder,
"Just say we'll be in the pennant
chase all summer" and he went
back to work, for Steve trains { il;
vigorously and faithfully as the
most hopeful rookie in his camp.