Evening star., 1939-07-26
Terry Unable 10 Rely
On Any Hur|er for
Strong Game
Decline Of Vet Boxmen
Grove Blow to New
York Pennont Hopes
BY the Associated Press,

NEW YORK, July 26.-Injuries
and other misfortunes have bobbed
up like ginger ale bubbles in. the
National League this season, but
they seem to be getting more than
their share of the blame for evil
days which might befall team.
Much has been written about the
luck of the Giants, all bad. Bill
Terry's team had lost nine straight
before yesterdays win over the
Cards, which is subpar even on the
Philly course. 1t lost two shortstops,
had an outfielder playing third and
a first baseman pitching, among
other things.
All of which undoubtedly made
Terry's job one large headache, but
it also took the spotlight away from
what sis the major cause of the
Giant disaster.
That cause could have been dis
cerned by watching the bull pen in
deep right center the other day.
1t was the picture of Carl Hubbell
and Hal Schumacher warming up
for relief duty.
Giants Broken on Slab.
The Giants pennant chances
hinged on the ability of Hubbell
and Schumacher to show their old
time form after winter arm opera
tions. The fact that they are being
used in relief roles, although also
starting, tells its own story.
1t often has been demonstrated
that a club could have its infield
crippled up with rheumatic, its out
field groaning with ptomaine and
its catching staff stove up with shin
splintS and still be q pretty dan
gerous outfit If it had one thing
able pitching.
That is what the Giants haven't
had, although it is admitted that air.
tight support can make an ordinary
pitcher look pretty good, and that
good pitcher might look pretty bad
with nothing behind him but his
shadow. A shortstop making four
errors, as Scalzi did in one game,
could lose a no-hit game.
At present the Giant pitching staff
stacks up as the weakest in the
league. Terry hasn't man he can
start with any confidence he will be
closer than the clubhouse when the
last out is made, and this. despite
the fact that Hubbell clicked yester-
day-for his third win of the year.
Other Clubs Well Fortified.
All the other clubs have chuckers
who really are chucking this year.
The Reds and Bees are knee deep in
good moundsmen, with such men as
Paul Derringer, Bucky Walters,
Junior Thomson, Lou Fette, Jim
Turner and Danny MacFayden Itch
ing to work.
The surprising Cardinals have
Curt Davis, Bob Weiland, Lon War
neke and Mort Cooper ready to 20
all the way. Brooklyn has Luke
Hamlin, Hugh Casey and, until re-
Gently, had Whit Wyatt. The Pi-
rates have Truett Sewell, Bob Kiln
ger and Joe Bowman, despite the in
activity OF Russ Bauers and Cy Blan-
ton. Even the loWly Phils have fair
country chuckers in Hugh Mulcahy.
Walter Higbe and the ancient Syl
johnson. Old Charley Root is doing
right we'll for the Cubs, and Bill Lee,
although not as effective as last year,
still is a horse for work.
The Giants were relying primarily
on Schumacher and Hubbel. They
aren't the peerless duo of other
years, and Terry has been forced to
rely on the unpredictable perform
ances of Cliff Melton, Bill Lohrman,
Harry Gumbert and Manuel Salvo.
The injuries and suspensions have
hurt, but the collapse of the pitching
staff has hurt more.