The Washington times., 1938-02-08
Walker und Owen Add
Power to Chisox Attack
Former Tigers
Also Bolster
Defense
By FRANK BUCK" O'NE1LL

on the penn1nt chances OF the
American League clubs 1Chich
are preparing to enter spring
training for the 1888 season.
Tomorrow Buck O'NeiH will dis.
cuSS the Detroit TigerS.)
When Jimmy Dykes wrapped
up Vernon Kennedy in cellophane
and handed him over to Mickey
Cochrane in the deal that made
Detroit's citizenry do everything
but burn Cochrane in effigy. he
just about clinched second place
for the White Sox in the Ameri-
can League 1888 pennant race.
You recall the deal: Dykes gave
Vernon Kennedy, Dixie Walker
and Tony Piet in exchange for
Gerald Walker, Marvin Owen and
Mike fresh.
Tiger fans could stand the sor-
row of parting with Owen and
fresh. but their blood boiled at
the very thought of bidding fare
we'll to the eccentric Walker.
The chances are that those
same fans will steam and simmer
as Gerry Walker drives the White
Sox on, adding strength to a bat
ting order already bristling with
power, Kennedy will have to i'm
prove on his performance of last
year when he allowed 500 earned
runs per nine inning game.
DEAL HELPED SOX
The White Sox got what they
wanted from Detroit when they
acquired one powerful right
handed hitter in Walker, and
capable third baseman, who is not
a bad hitter, in Marvin Owen.
Walker drove in 113 runs last
season, a performance vastly supe.
rior to anything Dixie Walker or
Tony Piet gave. Owen outclasses
Piet defensively.
With greater punch and greater
defensive ability in two positions,
the White Sox must be rated
stronger than they we're last year.
A slight edge is seen for Chicago
in the race with the Tigers. Chi
cago batted .280 as a team last
year, trailing the Yankees by
three percentage points.
The White SoX would be better
off if they could develop a player
to replace Jackie Hayes at second
base. Hayes is a steady, heady
defensive player, but not much of
hitter The same is true of
Bozie Berger, whose style is so
completely wrong that he needs
schooling in the fundamentals of
bat swinging. Berger has power.
but kills his chances by incorrect
methods of hitting.
A PITCHING HORDE
Jimmy Dykes will take IA pitch
ers to the Pacific Coast for train.
ing. Nine of these were with the
club last season. Frank Cook.
one of the hurting staff, played
independent ball last summer
Walter J. Zuehls pitched for Uni
versity of Wisconsin. Dykes will
be agreeably surprised if either
shows anything worth while.
The pitching ace of the Sox last
year was Monte Stratton. who
won IS games and lost 5. Ted
Lyons, the old Baylor Bear, ac-
counted for IL victories. He lost
seven games. Silent" John
Whitehead won II games and lost
8. Thornton K. Lee, the big left
handler, won IL games and lost 10
last year.
These pitchers might easily
have turned in far more impress
sive records had they been aided
here and there by solid hit in
the pinches, such as Walker will
supply, or by some good defensive
play at third, such as Marvin
Owen will make.
HITS WILL FLY
The White Sox batting order
will be impressive next spring,
even with Hayes at second base.
Hayes is a good bunter and weighs
in with many timely blow in the
course of year.
There will be Kreevich in the
lead-off spot. then Hayes, and in
order may come Walker, Bonura,
Appling, and perhaps Rupert
Thompson, young outfielder
from San Diego The boys say
that Thompson is prospect OF
more than usual promise. Kree.
vich, a dangerous hitter and ar
experienced ball player, also fig
ureS.
sEWELL "A GREAT CATCHER
Luke Sewell probably will do
most of the catching next summer
with Rensa as his chief assistant.
SeWell ranks with the best catch
erS in baseball.
The Chicago infield will take the
field on opening day, barring un-
foreseen developments, with Zeke
Bonura on first base. He is a slug
ger, and while not a gaZelle, is a
good sturdy ball player. Hayes
will be on second, Appling, a
power hitter de luxe at shortStop,
and Owen at third. Watch for a
marked improvement in this boy.
for change of uniform often helps
a player.
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