The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-23
RY m CnNKLIN

United Press Staff COrreSpOndent)
 Los Angeles, March 23.-(UP)- Manager Gabby Hartnett of the Chicago Cubs is pinning most of his hopes this season on a come- back pitcher.
 On the right arm of Clay Bry- ant, whose 19 victories meant the 1888 pennant, will depend 8 great deal on what the Cubs do this year. Bryant pitched only 31 innings last year, winning two games and los- ing one.
 With plenty of material at his comamnd-SeaSoned men in key posts and a good crop of hustling rookies-Hartnett is putting most of his eggs in a single basket in what has been called his now-or- never year.
 "Just give me Bryant back in his 1888 form. a few breaks and we'll give them plenty of surprises this year." says Gabby.
 And the reason Gabby is gabbing again, after dismal backslide to fourth place last year, is that Bry- ant shows all the signs of regaining his 1888 form.
 On Upgrade Again
 The medical charts of Bryant's arm trace the rise and fall of the Cubs during the last two years and if they are any barometer the Cubs are on the upgrade again. The soreness which last year robebd the big fellows arm of its 1888 zing is gone and he is dipping the ball over the plate again with all its old time speed.
 My arm feels good as it did two years ago." Bryant says. of course, I haven't been pushing hard this early, but last year it was stiff and sore from the first day on. And I haven't had a bit of trouble so far"
 If Bryant fails to click, Hart nett still has a row of hurlers that vii lgive any batter troubles First there is the great question mark, Dizzy Dean, who's back again try ing to mack good-at a far smaller salary than last year. And there are southpaw Larry French. Big Bill Lee, and Claude Passeau ready to carry the big burden if Bryant and Dean fail to come through. In ad- dition, such excellent rookie pros- poets as Julio Bonetti. Verne Olsen and Ken Raffensberger stood out i'll early training at Catalina Island. <.
 The catching is well under con- trol with Al Todd, who played for Brooklyn last year, holding down the varsity job. And if rockies Bob Collins or Clyde Mccullough don't make the grade, Hartnett can al- ways step in and help out. Rogell In There The main item of suspense is at shortstop where Bobby Mattick, who held down the job most of last year, is being pressed by Bob Stur- geon, newcomer from Columbus. Also in the running is Billy Rogell secured from the Detroit Tigers in trade. Stan Hack, who has been slow rounding into form because of illness, will hold down third; Rip Russel will be at first and Billy Herman at second. vailable for re- lief duty at first or in the outf1eld is Phil Cavarretta.
 Brightest prospect in the outfield is tubby Domenic Dallessandro, who led the Pacific. Coast league in bat ting with San Diego last year. He hit 1868. He has been working in left field with Augie Galan shifted to center and Bill Nicholson to right. This is only an outfield of fair strength but should pick up once Hank Leiber ends his holdout siege.
 The sublime confidence winch flowed from the Cub camp last year is gone this year. To baseball men it means one of two things the absence this spring of IS play CTS who trained at Catalina in 1939 subdued the rest, or the Cubs mean business this year.
 Hartnett swears it's the latter.