Evening star., 1938-07-02
CH|CAGO'S SLUMP
LAID TO MANAGER
Club Bosses Hold Charley
Is Poor as Tactician,
Lacks Decision.
BY FRANCIS ]. POWERS.


CHICAGO. July 2.-The Chicago
Cubs, preseason favorites for the Ma.
tional League championship, have
slipped badly and the higher-ups are
greatly annoyed by that achievement
The Cubs chief ailment is lack OF
hitting and the slump has been on sc
long there seems little likelihood of its
being broken.
OF course the burden of blame fol-
the teams poor showing Is thrown on
Manager Charley Grimm There is
nothing new to that, for Grimm has
been under fire the last three seasons
but this time P. K. Wrigley may dc
something about the matter. Grimm
likely will finish out the season, for
Wrigley has said he will not pick his
next manager from within the organ
ization and 1t would be dificult to
secure suitable man during the cam
paign.
Grimm Faces Trouble.
Grimm is accused of lacking decision
and OF being poor tactician and
frequently confirms both charges. For
the past several weeks the Cubs psy-
chology department, consisting of
Coleman Grifhth and Jack Sterrett,
has been travelling with the team in
an effort to put finger on the weak
nesses that have submerged it into
fourth place.
So far the psychology professors
have rendered no report but one is
told that when said report is made. 1t
will condemn Grimm. The Chicago
teams are going in strongly for the
mental stun this season, for on their
last Eastern trip, the White Sox were
accompanied by Mirus, q professional
mind reader. However, one trip WAS
enough for Mirus, gent who knows
when he is licked.
The Cubs troubles are indicated in
the batting averages of Demaree. Her.
man, Galan. Collins, Marty and Jurees,
an OF whom could double as living
skeletons IN circus if their percentage
were used. Demaree and Herman have
been consistent 800 batters in previous
seasons and their failure is puzzlinp
even the master psychologists.
Pitching Only Fair.
Chlcagos pitching has been fair, or
was until recently. Bill Lee and CLAW
Bryant, early in the season, found that
pitching IN batting practice was a good
remedy for wildness. But, after thev
mad located the plate and enloyed
prlef winning streaks, both went back
70 the program Of least labor. Larry
french has been unable to reach his
regular form and Root, LOGAN and
Russell have been of little value.
The only Cubs playing worthwhile
oau are the veterans Tony Lazzeri and
Carl Reynolds, who still retain some
OF the spunk acquired in the American
League, and Stanley Hack, who easily
is the best third baseman in the Ma.
tlonai. What probably hurt the Cub
morale more than anything else is the
inability OF Dizzy Dean to pitch. Had
OlEzy rounded into condition. his
pitching and spirit could have carried
the Cubs to the championship. But
now. after weeks on the bench. Dean
seems as demoralized as his mates.
No Cub Surge Likely.
Chicago is not yet out of the race.
but it is losing ground rapidly and
knowing the complacency of the Cubs
IN previous seasons, one does not an
ticipate any sudden or violent uprising
IN the second half of the season.
The Cubs seem to have the attitude
that so long as P. K Wrigley doesn't
object too strenuously they should not
bother to worry about their position
in the race.