Evening star., 1938-03-23
MCCARTHY HASP|PE
.}OBB0SS|NCY YANKS
Gordon Is Only Uncertain
Figure on Team-Di Mag
Held No Problem.
By GAYLE TALBOT,
Associated Press Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. March %
Asking Joe Mccarthy about his New
York Yankees is something like asking
an admiral how he likes the looks OF
his 16-inch guns. You know the an
swer.
You know the Yanks have been the
all-everything for two straight years
and as you watch Two-gun Lou
Gehrig and his batting companions
frolic in the sun. you realize you're
looking at the champs.
They have a lazy confident air, like
they were going through all this train
ing only because it was written in the
text books. Mccarthy sits in the
dugout and cheWs his tobacco and feels
no pain whatsoever. He hasn't real
worry in the world.
He doesn't need to worry about
whether young Joe Gordon will be the
star at second base his Newark record
indicates he should be- II the press.
ure proves too much for Gordon there
is Billy Knickerbocker. an experienced
hand, ready to step in.
They're not absolutely sure of Cor.
don yet, because he hasn't had ar
opportunity to team up with Frank,
CroSetti, the regular shortstop. Cros
etti has been having little leg troubl,
| and it remains to be seen whethel
Gordon can keep pace with frankie
on the double plays.
Unconcerned Over Di Mag.
There's no worry at all about 10,
Di Maggie. the eminent San Fran
cisco holdout. Mccarthy isn't ever
| discussing the possibility of having t,
rake up substitute center fielder HI
knows Joe will sign eventually TO
S25.000. which is a lot of rocks eve,
to a man who owns fish restaurant
Col. Rupert. beamiHg from hi
customary box. was asked if he in
tended to discipline Di Maggie. or is
sue any ultimatum. or anything.
Not at ALL" said the colonel. ID,
Maggie has his contract. He eithel
can sign it and report to us, or he car
stay out of base ball. It's immateria
to me- We have plenty of good bal
players. I've made him my last anc
final offer"
Would Joe's salary start on open.
ing. day, no matter when he reports?
Sure, if he is in shape to play his
best baseball. If he's not in condition
it won't start until he is"
Experiments With Outfield.
Mccarthy is doing some experiment.
ing with his outfleld, shifting Joe Sci.
kirk from right field to left and putting
Tommy Heinrich in right. The idea is
to get full value out of Henrich's grea,
throwing arm. He can sling shot 6
ball to any base. right on the nose, ane
that's very important when opponent.
start pumping singles into right.
AS Heinrich also is hitting his heac
of, there seems little doubt he will
have a regular berth. And 50 Myri
Hoag. who hit .301 last season anc
starred in the world series, probably
won't make the first team. That.
the Yankees.
Inelr plCCnerS are Tar advanced
Both Lefty Gomez and Red Rufing
the terrible twins. are taking regular
turns in exhibition games and look
almost in July form. Gomez has given
three hits and no runs in his last
eight innings.
Joe Beggs the kid who won 81 and
lost 4 for Newark, looks great to Nc
Carthy, except for little wildness
and is certain to be retained. Bill
Dickey is DOING his customary job OF
catching and Red Rolfe still is as good
third baseman as anybody needs
You see why Mccarthy can sit and
nod in the sun while his rival man.
ayers fret about such things as porous
infelds and on-hitting cleanup men