The Washington times., 1938-03-28

J14C P4N1l1uBs JUG NGOIlu says
his hurting corps is all right, and
with the support Of Boston's
heavy hitters, will keep the team
in the thick Of the fight.
The Sox catchers are game
Desautels, who is slightly better
than average behind the plate;
something below average power
at the bat, but withal a capable
man in his job. Then you have
that old reliable, Moe Berg.
Berg is one Of the finest receiv-
ers in baseball, but around him
was framed one of baseball'S
figures Of speech: 'Slow as Moe
Berg"
LiUes the Sport
Jack Peacock is the living
breathing spirit Of baseball. He
arrived in camp with his shin
guards, chest protector, shoes
and glove rolled in a bundle
which he carried under his arm.
Peacock hit .311 in Minneapolis,
and the veteran Mike Kelly told
me the other day that Jack is
q real ball player. The crying
need Of baseball is catchers.
Even the st. Louis Cardinals,
with their. fabulous resources in
man power are trying unsuccess-
fully to make a receiver out OF
Don Padgett, an outfielder.
'Our problem is one Of catch
Ing" Cronin told us yesterday
as we watched the Red Sox and
Brooklyn Dodgers at Sarasota.
"Our pitching will be SatiSfact-
cry,
Jim Bagby definitely is
major league timber" Cronin
said, plunging into the subject
In his usual direct manner.
Emerson Dickman in two
years schooling learned how to
pitch in the minor league. Dick
Midkiff is very good. Smart
and fast, Charley Wagner is a
real pitcher, and so is Jack Will
son. Bill SayleS is a prospect.
Archie McKain has not been
scored on this spring. Tab
him, he's good.
Grove is off for another sea-
son, and so is Marcum. We
don't know much about Oster-
mueller. He had an operation
performed upon his arm. He
looks all right.
FOxx in Form
Jimmy Foxx opened the sea-
son by hitting the ball over the
Left field fence in the teeth of
q head wind. He has been hit
ting so good that York will have
to hustle for that homerun
championship.
Chapman never was as good
in. the training camp" con-
tinued Cronin. The only time
they've gotten him out has been
on line drives. He is as fast as
ever; and throw-he has been
pegging on a line.
Vosmik is held back by a sore
ankle, but he will be ready soon.
Cramer is always good.
Bobby Doerr has completely
recovered from the blow on the
head he received last year, "
Cronin said. "He has been
playing a whale of a game at
second base, and now that Eric
McNair is in camp and signed
we can go right to work per-
fecting our defensive plans for
the season. Higgins has been
going like a house on fire at
third base"
The writer cruised about the
camp a bit and soon encoun-
tered Phil Troy, road secretary
Of the Red Sox.
"You out to see that Cronin
play ball." piped Troy. "He has
done about everything a short
stop could be expected to do.
Leo Nonnenkamp is going TO
develop into a real star one of
these days. He has height and
speed, a good arm and power.
Encouraging at Least
"All in all. I would say that
the picture is highly encourag.
ing. Of course, the Yankees,
the Tigers and the White Sox
are improved clubs. They have
balance and power, but we have
a better team this year than we
had last"
We watched the rhythm OF
Lefy Grove; heard the whack oil
his fast ball in the glove of De
SautelS and felt that Cronin'S
optimism regarding the "fire
man" was not misplaced.
OStermueller pitched wei,
against the Dodgers, developing
far better speed than was anti
cipated by Joe Cronin.
Victory for the Boston Rec
Sox this year or in the imrpe
diate future would carry out the
theme of justice in sports. Ton
Yawkey bought the Boston Rec
9ox from Bob Quinn, now presi
dent Of the Boston Braves, II
February of 1888. In a span O.
five years Yawkey has poured
approximately $3,500,000 init
baseball, rehabilitating the for
tunes and prestige of the Amer
lean League In Boston.