The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-15

better and the whole league is bet ter balanced and stronger-but they still can't beat the Tanks.
 Every manager who talks about them says they can be beaten if they have tough luck. Good ball clubs override tough luck. The Tanks did it last year. They'll do it again this year if it happens to come their way. They are better fortified with reserve strength than a year ago. They have more and better pitching. They still have that mighty triumvirate of Joe DiMaggio (don't kid yourself; he'll sign and play ball for the Tanks at Col. Ruppert's rates), Lou Gehrig and Bill Dickey. And they have been beating the brains out of the op- position for two season.
 The Tigers offer Charley Gehring- CT, Hank Greenberg and Rudy York against the Tanks murderers' row. Last year Gehringer won the bat ting title, Greenberg led the league in runs batted in, and York was the home run sensation.
 In pitching, Cleveland can match the Tanks "big two," Lefty Gomez and Charley "the Red" Ruffing, with Johnny Allen and Bob Teller. They have power generated by Solt- CTS, Trosky and Averill, but beyond that they are question marks. Os- car Witt will build the groundwork for great ball club this season but he won't produce a pennant winner. His job is to beat off the Tigers for second place.
 Detroit, the club which will beat out the Tanks if it's in the cards, seems to be plagued by tough luck again. Schoolboy Rowe's comeback under black cloud, Tommy Bridges early trouble with an old elbow ailment Gall right now but for how longO, Frank Croucher's leg broken. Any club that expects to menace the Tanks must be at full strength, and must be favored by the Gods.
 Another intriguing issue in the league is: "Who will take the place of the White Sox in first division?" For two years now Jimmy Dykes has lifted his club above where everyone thought it should finish Now he may drop below where he thinks he'll finish. He picks the White Sox for fourth. How can he make it when he lost two key men like Shortstop Luke Appling with broken leg, and No. Pitcher Monte Stratton, with sore arm?
 The Boston Red Sox may get in the first division after five long years of Illustration. They have the punch, defense and players if their pitching holds up.
 Another club possibility is Wash ington. zeke Bonura adds punch and spirit and breaks up 8 left handed batting array that made the Senators suckers for southpaws.
 The other two clubs, the Phila- delphia Athletics and the St. Louis Browns, are both building. Tie Ath- letics have the foundation of a win ner, but to be two years or more away. The Browns have cleaned house and should come long way from last years miserable record of 46 games won and 108 lost for percentage of .299. The Browns have punch but their pitching is question.
 But as the league shapes up the Tanks, Tigers and Indians will bat tie for the first three places and probably finish in that order; the Red SoX, Senators and White Sox, will batel for the next three places, and probably finish in that rank; and then come the Browns and Athletics. The top team won't win smany games as last year (1O2) and the bottom team won't lose as many (108). The league will be tighter and it'll be a September October finish