Evening star., 1939-03-20
bucs Seek Two.
Slab Stars for
Flag Chance
Troynor Declares He
Won't Miss P. Wuner
And AL Todd
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calf, March
20.-The Pittsburgh Pirates, having
little difficulty breaking into the
win column in exhibition games,
came back to their training site to-
day to meet the Chicago White Sox,
who have had rough shedding in the
spring plactice affairs, too.
Harold j. (Pie) Traynor, Buc man.
ager, isn't too concerned about these
setbacks, but admittedly he will
spend sleepless nights until he can
plug the main weakness of his club
meaning the pitching department.
Traynor divulged he has lines out
for a couple of pitchers, but unless
deal goes through, he is rather
pessimistic about the Pirate chances
in the National League this season.
Traynor, going into his sixth year
as boss of the Pirates, seems we'll sat.
isfied with the rest of the organiza.
ton.
Two Pet Peeves Gone.
There are two notable absentees
from the 1888 ranks, and it is on the
shoulders of these two, as much as
anything else, that Traynor places
the blame for the fold-up of Pitts
burgh in the closing stages of last
years fight with Chicago's Cubs.
Paul big PoisonD Waner apparently
is lost from right field, and AL Todd
is gone from the catching job.
Traynor VOWS he won't miss either,
one, and goes farther than that. He
gave strong intimation he was glad
they were gone-Waner as a hold
out, Todd traded to Boston in ex-
change for Catcher Ray Mueller.
In Waners place he has Heinie
Manush and Fern Bell. Bell. who
hit 1927 with Louisville last year,
lost the game against the Cubs in
Los Angeles yesterday when he let
Ripper Collins liner go through him,
| but he's a better fielder than that
would indicate; better, doubtless,
than the aging Waner, who con-
trlbuted several highly important
hobbies last year.
Lloyd little Poison Waner re-
mains in center, and the left field
| berth is taken care of by hard
hitting Johnny Rizzo. who batted
.30l in his first year in the majors
last season, including "a booming
homers.
Traynor has no squawk with his
| lnf1eld OF Gus Suhr at first, Pen
Young at second, Lee Handley at
third and slugging Arky Vaughn at
short. Bill Brubaker will be on
hand for utility service.
Mueller Regular Backstop.
Mueller will be the regular catcher,
backed up by Ray Berres and a
rookie, George Susce Traynor has
several other promising recruits, in
! Guiding Outflelders Bob Elliott from
Savannah of the Southern Associa-
ton, where he batted 325; Outfielder
Van Robays from Knoxville, and
1nflelder Johnny Juelich from
Rochester.
Traynor intimated he might use
some OF this talent, or possibly somta
one else. in getting hold of a pitcher
or two. He spoke glowingly of the
wealth of pitchers with Cincinnati,
and it may be he has an eye on
this camp for a deal.
AS things stand now, however,
he rates Russ Bauers and Jim Tobin
as the only two pitchers I've got"
which isn't very complimentary to
the rest of the staff. His verdict
might have the effect of stirring the
, Cy Blantons, Bill Swifts. Mace
Browns ct al into regaining the
mound power they once displayed.
The easy going Pie seldom cuts loose
in public on his men. but it is fact
that some of the trusted let him
down last year.