Evening star., 1939-03-28
Dodgers at Lost Are Solid,
And Not Above Necks.

This year." says Silent Larry,
"the lower clubs are stronger and
the top clubs are not. That means
4 a HI of race all the way. We
may move up several places our
selves In fact, we will move up.
That's what we're in business for"
Leland Stanford MacPhail has
low boiling point. But there is
merit in his remarks all the same.
Durocher is manager who knows
his way around the field. His as
sistant brain trusters, Charley
Dresser and Bill Killifer, are foun-
tain-heads of smart baseball. For
the first time in years, the Dodgers
have a solid look about them which
is not localized in the region north
of the neck.
They are solid and sprightly and
they seem to know what they are
doing. They work together, with
one or two random and not very
important exceptions. It's not
good ball club, but that description
fits every ball club in the National
League and the Dodgers have as
good chance as two or three other
teams to land in the first division.
Last year, they were weak in
three spots. not to speak of pitching
for the moment. They had no per-
manent catcher, no permanent
second baseman, and no permanent
third outielder. Today, Durocher
and MacPhail are convinced that
Pete Coscarart, the tall and graceful
Basque second baseman who spent
last summer acquiring polish and
information from Charley Dresser
at Nashville, is ready for full time
big league work. Dresser agrees
emphatically. With the deal which
brought Gene Moore from Boston,
the Dodgers rounded out a group
Of proved outfielders-Moore, Ernie
Koy, Tuck Stainback and Goodie
Rosen-who are not transplanted
first basemen or fugitives from
Freud.
Besides those four, there is Fred
Sington. the reformed Alabama all
America football player, who hits
with ringing power.
Phelps FinoIIy Leorns
To Protect Fingers
Brooklyn had permanent catch
er last year, but he wouldn't stay
: permanent. Babe Phelps is poten-
tally the most valuable catcher in
the league. Half dozen managers
covet him. Every year, however,
the Babe splits finger and invites
the boys on the bench to move over
Durocher, studying the Babes
long and honorable record of busted
digits, decided that it couldn't be
pure coincidence. He asked his
coach, Bill Killifer, a great catcher
: In his day, to confer with Phelps.
Maybe there's something he don't
know" suggested Lippy Leo.
This proved to be an inspired
guess. Killifer drilled Phelps with
an eagle eye as the Babe warmed
up in practice. and was shocked to
the core of his being by what he
saw.
"Hey!" he barked. Its a wonder
you got anything left below the
wrist. Don't you know you should
keep the fingers of your meat hand
closed until the pitch is in your
glove?"
Mr.. Phelps studied this over and
broke into happy smile.
Say, that might save the wear
and tear on my fingers" he ad-
mitted. "It's great notion"
1T always was" said Mr.. KILL
fer.
With Phelps on the road to SAL
vation, pitching is Brooklyn's chief
problem. The club doesn't bank on
Van Lingle Mungo, though I think
Sdungo will win some games. But
Rreddie Fitzsimmons, Luke Hamlin,
lot Pressnell, Ira Hutchinson and
hitlow Wyatt, cool-headed veter-
from the American Association,
IA about as good as the average
p] ching staff, and Vito Tamulis has
, it in him to become an important
sotthpaw winner In the National
Le4gue.
keep your eye on u.s." says Le-
land Stanford MacPhail, who al
ready has our ear, and between his
teeth, at that.