The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-14
BY GEORGE K1RKsEY

ONOAeCA AAAASAA0A@
 United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, April 14.-(UP)- A mystery team in April, the St. Louis Cardinals will be National League champions in October. The Gas House boys seem equipped with enough power, pitching, speed and all-around strength to fight off the Chicago Cubs and the New York Giants in another red-hot, ding-dong National league finish.
 Those three clubs-the Cards, Cubs and Giants-seem to be the class of the league. Right now the champion Giants may seem to hold the whip hand, but everyone knows that Bill Terry's team iss set up for tight, defensive games and isn't likely to be able to beat back challenger with as many poten- tial weapons as the Cardinals seem to possess. As for the Cubs, they couldn't win the pennant the last two years with the best club and the parade is likely to pass them by again.
 The middle three clubs appear to be Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Brooklyn, in that order. As always, the Pirates have a good club but their April hopes always turn to October ashes. The Reds will move up fast under Bill McKechnie, one of baseball's outstanding pilots. The Dodgers, with 8 classy infield, are definitely better.
 Lack of power is likely to drop the Boston Bees, strong on defense and pitching, to seventh. The Phil- lies have some worthwhile pitch- ing, but seem doomed to the cellar, especially since the Cubs or Giants are likely to pry loose one of Jim- my Wilson's pitching aces with cash.
 Going back to the Cardinals, we find the team loaded with question marks but we also find that for every problem facing manager Frankie Frisch he has two or three possible solutions. The big riddles seem to be: l. Dizzy Dean. 2. shortstop. 3. catching. 4. young pitchers.
 Dean must come back for the Cards to win, but there's every rea- son to believe that old Dig will be a 20-game winner. He looked great in spring training until he con- tracted a cold which set him back somewhat. If Dizzy's lost some of his blinding speed, as some say he has, that means that he'll have to use more pitching finesse and less strong arm stuff. He can even do that. Last year he won 13 games and was out for more than two months.
 The Cards will start with Don Gutteridge, a third baseman, at shortstop. Most everyone says he won't do but he's a hustler and learning fast. If he fails Jimmy Brown is around for insurance. Mickey Owen, last years big flop behind the bat, has come a long way and may be able to carry the brunt of the Cards catching with the veteran Ryba and the young ster Bremen to assist him.
 Two of the finest young pitching prospects seen in the south were Max Lanier and Max Macon, the two left-handers from Columbus. They have every chance to become regulars. Macon looks ready now and Lanier, with more stuff but less experience, is coming fast. Not youngster, but surprise member of the Cards staff is Guy Bush, going on 35 years. He looks like the Bush of winning Cubs days.
 The uncertainty surrounding the Cards naturally means that they may start slowly. They may not look like champions in April or May, but by June they should be- gin clicking and when August comes, the heat they turn on will blaze pennant path.
 Until the Cards get squared away they have the leagues two great est hitters, Medwick and Mize, to carry them. They also have perhaps the leagues best hitting outfield in Medwick, Padgett and rookie Enos Slaughter. Rounding out the pitch ing behind Dean we find Warneke, Weiland, Si Johnson, Bush, the two rockies, Macon and Lanier, Nc Gee, Krist, Henshaw, and Harrell There's ample pitching in that staff with Dizzy leading the show.
 The infield will be Mize at first Stu Martin, who apparently has re- covered his health, at second, Gut teridge at short and Pepper Martin at third. Art Garibaldi also is around for third base insurance and If Gutteridge is taken off short he may go back to third.
 Other qualities which make the Cards look like coming champions are their abundant speed, their hustle and will-to-win.
 The Giants have failed to ado strength, and may be slowing up Too much reliance is again placed on Hubbell. Ott is problem al third because after 12 years in the league, he may not be able to ge the route at third. Terry's team as always lacks power. If the Giants win again, it may be true what they're saying about new minor league.
 Outside of pitching, the Cubs may have the leagues best all round club, but they have no single hurler who can be counted on tC win 20 games, break . slump ol open an important series. The Cub' blew the pennant last year ant blamed it on injuries. They blew Il the year before and had another alibi. There's something vital miss.