Evening star., 1939-03-17
Final Cincinnati
Worry Solved
By Big Deal
Bill, Lifted From As,
Likely to Be Made
leud-Off Better
BY GAYLE TALBOT.
Associated Press Sports Writer.


TAMPA, Fla. March III think
the Cincinnati Reds have just about
sewed up the 1899 National League
pennant with their purchase of Bill
Werber, feet and sure-handed third
baseman from the Philadelphia
Athletics.
So do the Reds. They were
happy bunch around their hotel last
night, and even Manager Bill Nc
Kechnie admitted he was very
pleased" with the deal. He should
be, because Werber set the Gin
cinnati treasury back $25,000, and
that for a player no club in the
American League needed at the
waiver price. They're all we'll fixed
at that spot.
With Werber plugging the hole at
third the Reds will be tough out
fit to beat out. They finished only
six games out of first place last year.
Though his batting fell off in
the latter stages of the 1888 race,
Werber still is a grand fielder after
six years in the big time. and that's
all the Reds want. He still has
much of the speed that made him
the American Leagues leading base
stealer three times within four
years.
Werber Apt to Lead Of.
McKechnie wouldn't say for sure,
but it's more than likely Werber
will lead off the batting order. He
drew SO walks last season, and if
he can do that with his new club
he will get knocked in with a par
eel of runs. Frankly, it will be
okay with us If he doesn't hit over
$50" said club official last night.
Though of course we won't COM
plain If he wants to do better than
that"
The deal solves McKechnie last
big worry. Now he can quit trying
to make a third-sacker out of Lon
ME F1ey and send him back to
scrap 1t out at second base with
Ed Joost. the fine looking kid from
Kansas City. Lewis Riggs will be
traded or sent to the minors. for
McKechnie plans to carry two first
basemen. two second d-basemen and
Nolen Richardson as understudy to
Bill Myers as shortstop and gen
ersl utility hand.
From what I've seen of the Reds
IN the last 10 days, I'm ready to
climb out on that long limb and
pick them this time. AS a team
and as individuals, they've begged
me not to, but there it is. I don't
think the Giants, Cubs or Pirates
has as sound lineup right down
the line. Certainly none OF them
has anything like the potential
pitching.
Abundant Slab Talent.
watched Lefty Grissom hold the
Yankees to one dinky single for
five innings the other day, and can
guarantee he is ready. His fast ball
is singing as of yore. Paul Der
ringer, who had to carry the load
last year, with some spectacular
assistance from Johnny Wander
Meer and Bucky Walters. gazed
rapturously at Grissom's pitching
and said: MY, my, it looks like
We might go places
The club, furthermore, is coming
up with more great looking young
pitchers than McKechnie knows
what to do with. They're all over
the place, one day holding Brooklyn
hitless and the next stopping the
Yankees cold. Gene Thompson, for
instance, hoped into camp from
Columbia, S. c., class B" team,
with big chew of tobacco in his
mouth, and it looks at the moment
as though he might pitch starting
ball for the Reds.
Another thing that sways me
toward the Reds is their magnificent
confidence in themselves. They had
it even before Werber was added
to the fold, and now they fairly reek
with it.
Harry Craft, the teams center
fielder has been doing a remarkable
job of fielding in exhibition games,
and Ival Goodman, its home run
hero, is Furnishing the ball. Yes,
all things considered, I look for
the batteries in the opening game
of the 1899 series to be a couple of
southpaws named Gomez and Girls
eoy1o