Evening star., 1938-04-08
MANAGER CLEVER
HANDL|NCHURLERS.
Likely to Place Derringer
Among Leaders, Improve
Others on Staff.
By FRANCIS J. POWERS.


CHICAGO, April 8.-Chiefly because
Bill Mckechnie is manager, the Gin
cinnati Reds are expected to pull out
OF eighth place this season. McKech-
ME is one of baseball's finest pres
tidigitators and he'll do tricks with
the Reds, who haven't been out of the
National Leagues second sector since
1926, and have spent seven of those
seasons in seventh or eighth spot.
Mckechnie is great hand with
pitchers: his success with Lou Fette
and Jim Turner of the Bees last sea-
son Is evidence enough of that, al
though much more is available The
Reds have pitching talent, if anything.
and the old pipe smoker will make the
most of his hurlers
Paul Derringer still should be one
OF the National Leagues best pitchers
and Mckechnie's mild MANAGERIAL
methods will get the utmost out of the
temperamental finger. Lee Grissom,
Gene Schott, Al Hollingsworth and
Ray Davis showed flashes of consid-
cradle skill last season and Manager
Bill is certain to improve their per-
tormanceS.
Moore May Prove Star.
But the Reds ace in the hole may
be Lloyd Moore, who is back from the
International League There are MANY
VINO believe Moore has fast ball COM
parable to that of Dean or Feller, and
that's ample recommendation. Johnny
Vandermeer, the outstanding minor
league pitcher of 1886, added to his
store Of knowledge at Syracuse last
summer and should be ready for ma ior
league duty. BY and large the Reds
pitching staff is young and will I'M
prove under crafty teaching of its new
manager.
McKechnie has not had time to
strengthen the Reds superstructure,
so one finds Kampouris, Myers and
Riggs again holding down three in
field positions. Frank Mccormick has
been assigned to first base. where he
will improve the defense, even should
his batting be short of expectations
and demands. Cincinnati's inner line
will not be very robust at the plate,
but its defensive skill will mean a lot
to the Red pitchers.
A measure of strength has been
added to the outfield by minor league
acquisitions, so Cincinnati will not be
entirely helpless at the bat. Dusty
Cooke, back from successful season
with Minneapolis, will hold down one
patrol and 1val Goodman, a Red reg
ular OF several seasons. another For
the third picket job. McKechnie has
Harry Craft. slick graduate of Syra-
cuse; Anthony Bongiovanni, who was
a considerable slugger in the Pacific
Coast League, and the veteran George
DAVIS. None of those fellows are ex-
actly fence busters but their fielding
aoalllty will come in handy on the
VIDE expanses of the Cincinnati park.
Hershberger May Catch.
Ernie Lombardi, the clubs best hit
ter. and Spud Davis are capable
catchers but slow as molasses in jan
uary, so McKechnie NAV use the
smart, sprightly Willard Hershbereer
who was purchased from the Yankees
Newark farm. Hershberger batteG
.325 in the International League and
It he can do .275 for the Reds will be
an asset.
On Cincinnati's pitching, McKech-
ME should lead the Reds into sixth
place, and, if his hitting goes acove
the expected par. the team may finish
one notch higher. At any rate. Bill
Will have Cincinnati playing smart
and proper percentage baseball. and
That will be a treat for the Rhine
land fans.