Evening star., 1938-03-30
Frisch Beset by Ifs"

Frisch had no idea where his team
would finish. We might win the
pennant or finish fifth" he told me-
This is a great bunch-but it's one
Of the reasons my hair is turning
gray. We have too many ifs to suit
mel don't like ifs
IF Dean has a big year-if Sam
Baugh can come through-if we get
some good catching-if our young
pitchers, Lanier. Macon and Krist.
keep going as they look now-if We
can patch up an infield-you see
what I mean-one if after another
who knows?-I don't"
We assisted the Well-knoWn Dizzy
Dean in mailing some 70 kingfish,
ranging from 10 to % pounds What
about Dizzy? MY arm isn't sore any
longer he told me, but it isn't as
strong as it ought to be. I still feel
little weak after that sinus and flu.
But after last year I've got to be all
right. I figure on getting ready for
the season and not croWding myself.
But I'd like to have a stronger feel
ing in my arm"
What about the catching?" I asked
Don't worry about that" Dizzy
said. II have to pitch to these boys.
I know what they have. Well be
good back of the plate with Owens
and one or two others. If I can do
my part we'll be up there shooting
at the top. Maybe the Cubs7 ought
to win. But the Cubs should have
won last year, with the best team
and a seven-game lead-but they
didn't. And don't overlook those Reds
if some of us start to slip They'll
be in there-giving everybody trou-
ble-plenty of trouble. They have
hitting, pitching and speed"
Diz lost IA pounds through the
flu attack. He isn't quite ready yet.
All he wants now is to put more
strength in that right arm. This is the
season I'm shooting at" he told me-
'after what happened last year. Can
you imagine me or any other pitcher
winning only one game after July
the 4th? 1 couldn't help it. You
know like to win"
A Tip From Medwick.
Then Joe Medwick, the leading hit
ter of the National League came into
the picture. We started talking about
Medwicks batting Joe baked. I'D
rather talk about Sam Baugh," he
said. He needs more batting plac-
tice. Ill give you tip-and some
ball players a tip" Joe said. Tell
them to come to Florida at least five
or six weeks before the training sea-
son starts. Let them get in shape
and get their legs right-hunting or
playing golf-relaxing at fishing.
Legs are big part of any game.
You've got to have good legs-I don't
care whether it's football, baseball,
golf or tennis. That's what I've worked
on. I was in just as good shape
when the training season started as
I'll be in May. This is tough COM
petition today. I mean if you want
to get anywhere"
Larry Lajoie had an angle" told
Joe, about hitting. He'd make up
his mind to hit the next one-f it
happened to be in reach-even If
1t was inches wide"
That's my idea" MedWick said. II
wait for ball in what We call
certain zone. That doesn't mean over
the plate. If you wait too long to
decide you haven't got a chance.
Figure this out: With fast ball
pitcher that apple comes up at the
rate of 100 feet a second. That means
half second at the pitching dis
tance. That doesn't leave much time
to figure things out. So I'm set to
hit any ball I can reach-I don't
care where it is. Maybe I haven't
got one of those third-of-a-second
minds. Who has?"
Medwick is right. So was Lajoie.
Both have done fairly we'll if you
care to check back.
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