Evening star., 1938-04-25
YANKF|NALEL0ST
ON WEAK RELIEF
Series With Sox Opening
Here Today May Throw
Light on Subject.
By FRANCIS E. STAN.

Bucky Harris said it all when he
walked out of Yankee Stadium and
mourned: What I'd like to have now
Is Fred Marberry.
During the wild wave of prosperity
on which the Mats rode to the top of
the American League last week the
relief problem was pigeon-holed Now
the question is before the house again.
Lack Of good relief job cost the
Griffs their place at the top Of the
league yesterday in New York. Co.
ing into the Yankees half of the
eighth inning the Mats held a 3-to-2
lead. But Ken Chase and Jimmy
De Shong couldn't hold the edge, and
the unsteady champions OF the world
rallied to win, 4 to g.
Today, as the Mats opened another
home stand, against the Boston Red
Sox, Harris finds the relief problem
his major one. In the beginning the
idea was to groom Emil (Dutch)
Leonard for the role as the chief
rescue pitcher. But it was Leonard
who was to start again today against
Boston. Dutch now is a full-fledged
starter, and Bucky must I'LL the relief
roles as well as he can.
Slab Plans Are Jumbled.
Chase was intrusted with the task
OF holding the Yankees yesterday, after
q home run of the bat Of Pinch
hitter Goose Goslin had tied the
score at % in the seventh inning.
Ken loaded the bases with one out in
the Yanks' seventh, but squirmed out
Of it, and in the next frame the GrifIs
presented him with a 3-to-2 lead.
But after two Yanks reached base
with only one out in the Yankee
eighth Chase was waved out and De
Shong brought into the box. Jimmy
missed ending the inning without a
run by only half step on a poten-
tial double play. The miss was as good
as a mile, though. and the Yanks
scored two runs on q force play at
second base to win.
As the Mats open against the Red
Sox today Harris finds his pitching
plans jumbled His certain starters
are Wes Ferrell, Monte Weaver and
Leonard. The status of De Shong is
not yet decided. Jimmy has shown
himself, in the past, to be both a
capable starter and good relief
pitcher. So has Pete Appleton, for
that matter. Elon Hogsett is Bucky's
spot" pitcher, and will be used al
ternately as q starter and a relief
worker, depending on the type of ball
club the Mats are facing.
Chase, who was charged with yes
terday's defeat, probably will make
a better starter than q finisher, and
Harris realizes this fact. But Ken
as yet has not shown sufficient con-
troll to warrant risking him. Bill
Phebus and Joe Kohlman are untried
so far.
Red Sox Set Important.
Some light may be thrown on the
matter during the three-game series
with the Red Sox. Tomorrow, in the
second game, Pete Appleton will get
his frst chance to start. Harris then
will send De Shong to the box to see
what Jimmy can do. When the smoke
clears Harris may have q pretty def
mite idea as to the identity Of his
fourth starting pitcher, or at least
the right-hander who will alternate
as q starter with Hogsett.
This would simplify the relief sit
uation by the process Of elimination.
The extra guy will go to the head of
the class in the bull pen.
The invasion of the Red Sox today
was to reveal a new and improved
Boston entry. Manager Joe Cronin
made one important change during the
winter when he traded Pitcher Buck
Newsom, Outfielder Buster Mills and
1nfielder Red Kress to the Browns for
Outf1elder Joe Vosmik. The Red Sox
now are playing Vosmik, Rog Cramer
and Ben Chapman in the garden, or
the same outeld which represented the
American League in the all-star game
Of 1885.
Doerr 1T Second for Boston.
In the inf1eld the only change is at
second base, which has been guarded
50 far by young Bobby Doerr. At first
base there is Jimmy Foxx, 1T short Is
Conin and 1T third is Pinky Higgins.
Gene Desautels still does most Of the
catching, . Job he inherited last June
when Rick Ferrell was traded to
Washington.
The Red Sox were no drawbacks to
the MATS last year. They were one
OF the three clubs In the league that
See STAN, Page A.l3.)