The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-17
BY JOHN DUNLAP

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 United Press staR CorrespOndel;t)
 Pasadena, Cal, March 17-(UP) Jimmy Dykes, Chicago White Sox manager, is smiling these days.
 He has one of the best infields fin the American league, a veteran pitching staff, and plenty of hitting. With that lineup, Dykes IS optirnis- tic to the point where nothing short of the pennant will satisfy him,
 Pitchers Please
 Dykes, too cagey from 20 years experience in the majors to make an outright prediction of landing in the World Series, nevertheless pre- dicted his team will surprise Chi cago fans, who doubted that the Sox, who finished third, would break into the first division in 193G.
 T think our chances are brighter than last year." Dykes said. I'm pleased with our pitchers. We've got the hitters. You'll be hearing plenty from us."
 Steve Messner, the Los Angeles rookie with the $25,000 price-tag, is one reason why Dykes smiles. Jimmy is not quite ready to retire from third base but Messner Is displaying such early finesse that he'll open the season on the hot corner. The 19-year-old slugger burned up the Pacific Coast League with his fiery play.
 Three other infielders, all batting well over 300 last season, form the bulwark of the team. Shortstop Luke Appling led the league in batting wiht 1888 and Zeke Bonura was the leading first-sacker and hit .336. The big 2OO-pounder has been clouting the ball hard in practice.
 Second Baseman Minter Hayes, who batted .312 for third position on the Sox, rounds out a well-balanced infield. He has shown excellent form in staying of the threat of Frank Hackney, capable young Texas rookie. Tony Piet, ex-To- ronto infielder, is angling for duty at second or short. Lester Rock is understanding Bonura.
 Dykes has 8 formidable 14-nlal1 pitching staff. The holdovers from last year are Merritt (Sugar) Cain, Vernon Kennedy, Ted Lyons, Clint Brown, John Whitehead, 1talio Chelini, Monte Stratton and Ver- non Wilshere Kennedy, the ace right t-hander who scored 2l victor ies last year, says he can boost 1t past 25 if his knee injury continues improving under Pasadena's broiling sun.
 Cain won IS last year. Whitehead and Stratton, the tall men of the team, have shown fine early-season form. Whitehead says he can beat his l3 victories of 1936 while Strat- ton expects to double his five wins. Brown, the submarine screwballer, won six and lost only two last sea. son.
 Few Outfield Worries
 San Francisco's Chelini arrived early in camp and has his portside deliveries smoking. Lyons has been & consistent winner with the Sox for 14 years, bagging 10 wins last wear. Bill Dietrich, former Port lander, Duncan Rigney of St. Paul and Gale Wolfe and Frank Papish, both of Omaha, won Al games be. tween them while Thornton Lee of Cleveland won three and lost live. one of these may be released to Los Angeles.
 Dykes has few worries in the out field and will line up with Mule Haas in right, Rip Radcliffe in left and either Larry Rosenthal or Mike Kreevich in center. Rosenthal played most of last year in the center Garden and has an inside track. Fred Walker, a left-hander, IS an" other good performer in center. Thomas McBride, the rookie from Longview, Cal, is an understudy to Radcliffe.
 Luke Sewell and Mervin Shea will don the mask and protector be- hind the bat.