Evening star., 1938-04-17
laor Baseball Ere Of Start Highly Hopeful of Rich Season
FAN INTEREST INTENSE
AS LEAGUES NEAR LINE
Dean Deal Makes Cubs Co.Favorites With Giants
in Scrappy National Loop-American Looms
Romp for Yanks With Mats Sixth

start off with the idea that the Yam
KEGS can be beaten. There's no harm
in that. In fact, there's precedent
The Yankees of 1893, fresh from a
ur-straight conquest of the Cubs in
the world series and given a super
rating, cracked up. They did no better
than second, In fact, for three straight
years.
The Tigers, because they have the
power and because 1t looks as though
Mickey Cochrane has found the
answers to most Of his pitching prob
lens, are rated the No. l challenger.
Much depends on how successfully
the slugging Rudy York takes over the
chief backstopping duties. with Coch-
rane definitely assigned to bench lead
ership.
Tribe Has Possibilities.
If Detroit doesn't come through,
perhaps Cleveland finally will find the
right combination under its new pilot,
Oscar Witt. who led the Yankees No.
l farm, Newark. to minor league
heights last year. The Tribe has
great possibilities, with both the
pitching and catching due to show
marked improvement If the club
can shake off the jitters in the Yankee
Stadium this year it may gain the
impetus to go places.
Otherwise the American League Of
feis no prospect of competition in
volving more than fight for the
fourth berth in the first division.
Boston and Chicago figure to scrap it
out for that objective
Here's a size-up OF the National
League situation, as it moves toward
the barriers:
New York Giants-Strong down
the middle" with Lou Chiozza ready
to alternate with Burgess Whitehead
at second base, as long as necessary:
Wally Berger tussling with Hank
Leiber for the center-fie assignment
and two fine backstops in Harry Dam
ming and Gus Mancuso :. Cliff Mel
ton. 20-game rookie winner in 1887,
looks to have replaced Carl Hubbell
as No. l southpaw, and probably will
hurl opener Spring showing of
two freshman Fingers, Lohrman and
Vandenberg, indicates ready replace
ments for any weakening of first
starting line i. :. Club still lack enough
punch, but has championship poise.
Dean Holds Cubs Fate.
Chicago Cubs-A big season for
Dizzy Dean, who broke down and won
only 13 games last year for the
Cardinals, will mean more to the
Cubs pennant chances than all the
master -minding that Tony Lazzeri
can contribute to the new board OF
strategy. The Bruins won't miss
either Curt Davis or Clyde Shoun
with hurting staff comprising Dean
Bill Lee. Tex Carleton, Larry French
and Clay Bryant, upon whom high
hopes are placed Much depends
on how the veteran spark plug, Gabby
Haltnett, stands the wear and tear
of his 17th big-league season. but
there will be plenty power. with either
Phil Cavarretta or Rip Collins on
first base.
st. Louis Cardinals-Joe Medwick
and Johnny Mize, the one-two punch
Of the National League. can outslug
any pair in the house. but what are
the Cards going to do for pitching,
Unfolding and backstopping?
Players obtained from Cubs in Dean
deal. Pitchers Davis and Shoun and
Outfielder Stainback, do not offset
loss of Dizzy, assuming latter was in
shape for comeback year . Team
is mostly in stage of raw development
now and will be troublesome only if
big defensive problems are solved
Warneke seems only grade-A pitcher
on staff
Pittsburgh Pirates-This rollicking
crew, if it takes Manager Pie Tray
nor's stern warnings and discipline to
heart. may be the surprise of the pen
nant battle It has speed, power
and prospects of better pitching j..