Evening star., 1938-08-17
NEED TOP HURL|NC
T0AvO|DD|SASTER
Haven't Batting to Offset
Slab Dec|ine-KIinger's
Loss Is Blow.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.

CHICAGO, Aug. 17.-Wonder II
Pittsburgh is going to make blokes
of us hard-working sports prophets
by blowing another pennant? The
Chicago Cubs came home with the
idea that Pittsburgh was playing on
the jittery side, and there are no
better authorities on the subject of
jitters and blowing away champion
ships.
The Cubs nipped Pittsburgh for two
out of three, which they regard as a
great achievement, and the Reds won't
do Pie Traynor's club any immediate
or particular good.
Pittsburgh had better put seams
in the pennant during the next few
weeks. during which time they will
play the Eastern brigade on the home
field for the last time this season.
If the Pirates do d reverse, the going
in September will be mighty uncom-
Portable. Bill Terry's Gaints have
been perking up bit, and. with Bill
Cissell, the team has second base
man who at least can stop a ball
and complete few double plays.
Giants Team to Watch.
You don't count the Cubs to rally
in September, for Gabby Hartnett
now benched by an injury still is
contending with the same conditions
that brought Charlie Grimm his re-
lease; shortage of reliable pitching
and sad lack of batting power. The
Giants are the team Pittsburgh must
stave off, unless, by some remote
change, the Reds should start boiling
over once more.
Those Giants are the opportunists
of baseball. The last two seasons
saw them come with a rush when
the Cubs began scattering pieces OF
the pennant all around the league.
No one would rate the Giants good
ball team. but Terry has knack of
driving his men at an unexpected
pace once the door is opened late
along in the season. If Cliff Melton
can come through with some good
service for sweet Will, those Giants
may duplicate the performances of
1867.
Pittsburgh may have to hobble along
the remainder of the season without
Bob Klinger one Of their best pitch
ers over the first half of the cam
paign. The Cubs believe Traynor will
run short of pitchers before the end
comes, and the Pirates do not pack
enough hitting power to win on ordi-
nary throwing. OF course, the Buccos
still have healthy hold on first place
and it's too early to predict definite
breakdown, but the fact is pie" Tray
nor is more worried than at any time
since the shooting started.
Still Saving His Nickels.
Personally, your correspondent is
saving eight nickels against another
subway world series. Eight will be
enough for four round trips to the
Polo Grounds and the Yankee Sta
dunn. A fellow won't need any more,
for. even should the Giants come up
to win, they will be so exhausted that
the Yankees ought to wrap up the
series in four straight.
The Yankees made another fast,
shrewd move in signing Wesley Fer
rell. With that power behind him,
Ferrell should give Joe Mccarthy a
lot of help, although. for the life of
me, I can't figure why Joseph needs
any assistance for the Yankees have
the American League pennant in stor-
age. Wes can help bit on those
numerous double-head coming up
and he'll be handy against the Pirates
or Giants
I haven't quit on the Buccaneers
yet, but those eight nickels will re-
main on deposit until Traynor's boys
win or lose.