The Washington times., 1937-02-11

IhtS IS dnOther OF q preseason
series on the major league base
ball teams. Tomorrow: The Chi
cdoo Cubs.
By FRANK BUCK" O'NEILL
Harold "Pi" Traynor, manager
of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks
forward with interest to the train.
ing camp at San Bernadino, Calf.
where the Buccaneers of 1887 will
launch their drive for the pen.
nant. Baseball critics may tell you
that the chances of the Pirates are
no brighter than their sable flag.
but Traynor SCOTS at SkepticS
and admonisheS them to take
nothing for granted in baseball.
Pittsburgh finished fourth in the
National League last season, tie
Chicago Cubs tying the St. Louis
Cardinals for second. The exact
place was determined by the divi.
sion of world series money. The
Cards and Cubs split second and
third money, leaving fourth money
for the Buccaneers, and whether
it's fights or baseball, the team
that gets fourth place money is
the team that finishes fourth.
Traynor thinks his club will
finish higher this year than it did
last. He predicates all predictions
on the power of his rockies, half
dozen of whom will parade for in
spection when action starts in
camp.
Heintzleman May Help
The clamor of Traynor for
pitchers vas partially stilled when
the Pirates acquired Cannon Ball"
Ken Heintzleman, a 20-year-old
pitcher from Jeanette, winners of
the Pennsylvania State Association
championship. This young man
won % games for his club last
year and. while Jeanette is not
the biggest town in the world, win
ming % games is good going in
any company.
Earle Browne, who stresses the
"e" in spelling his names, may be
something of a problem for the
pitchers of the National League,
He is thoroughgoing left-hander
and he Smacks the ndl for dis
tance. He turned in 35 hcmors in
the American Association last
year with Minneapolis, winning
fourth place in the league in his
activity Starting as a pitcher. he
progressed to playing first, and
then went to the outfield. ThiA
parallels the course of Babe Ruth.
Frank Madura is a second base
man, and the Pirates can stand a
second baSeman. He played with
Scranton last year and led the
league in CoaXing bases on balls
from pitchers. He walked 1913 times
last season, and also Socked the
ball for an average of .310.
Browne VS.. Jensen
Browne will have a rugged bat
tie with Forrest Jensen for place.
Jensen was the regular left fielder
last year, and hit .283.
II Browne can cudgel the Ma
tlonal League pitchers as enthusi.
aStlcally AS he walloped the Asso-
citation hurlers, he may oust Jen-
sen. Browne hit 1852 for Mime
apolis.
The Waner brothers are fairly
secure in their holds on right and
center fields. Paul plays right and
Lloyd plays center. Fred Schultz,
former Washington player is on
the Pirate roster, but may have
difficulty in holding his place.
The catching staff of the Pirates
is not too good, with Tommy Pad.
den, former Yankee rookie a regu.
lar, and Al Todd fixture. Aubrey
EppS. rookie from Scranton also
is with the Pirates.
Gus Suhr, first sacker Of the
Pirates is one of the iron men of
baseball, and an outstanding per.
former. He hit .312 last year. and
probably will do as we'll this sea-
son. Lem Young played second
base last year for the Pirates and
was reasonably effective.
vaughan Can Hit
Arky Vaughan is a hard-hitting
shortstop, and champion batsman
Of 1885. Brubaker played 145
games at third last year and PROB
ably will hold down that base
this season.
Charley Lucas and Jim Weaver.
who pitched for the Yankees and
Cubs before migrating to Pitts
burgh, were the leading pitchers
for the Pirates Lucas won Is
games and Weaver accounted for
IA. Darrell Blanton failed to
pitch up to form of previous years
and won only 13 games.
Ed Brandt, veteran of Boston
and Brooklyn, moves into Smoke
town this year, but Brandt is
something of a problem. He may
recover the form that made him
one Of the great SouthpawS of re-
cent years, and he may go along
as he went last year, neither as
good as he could have been, nor
as bad as he might have been.