The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-03-26
BY GEORGE KTRSKEY

BY GEOKGE A1kSSkEx
UNITED Press STAFF Correspondent)
Lakeland, Fla, March 26.-(UP)-
The problem Of rebuilding the for
tunes of the Detroit Tigers, hit by
a combination of hard-luck blows,
including Commissioner K. M. Lam
dis decision freeing 81 players in
the Briggs farm system, has caused
manager Del Baker to institute
several noble experiments in an eff
fort to vacate second division.
York at First
In the order of their importance
the Baker experiments are:
/. Shifting Hank Greenberg to
the outfield to make room for Rudy
York at first base.
2. Taking a chance on the vet
eran National Lacquer, Dick Bartell,
to plug up the shortstop gap.
g.. Shifting Frank Croucher to
second base where he'll take over
If the aging, ailing Charley Geh-
ringer is unable to stand the gaff.
The Greenberg experiment has
taken an unusual twist. Hank Is
making good in the outfield, hust-
ling and improving every day. But
the question is whether York will
be able to take care of first base.
In several exhibition games, he's
looked like the worst looking rookie
first baseman in Florida. Baker
plans to let Greenberg play the
shade fields around the league until
he becomes thoroughly familiar
with an outfielder's duties.
Bartell, the Cub CASTOR, has added
spirit to the Tigers If nothing else.
Last year the Detroit quartet was
probably the deadest group in the
majors, but little "Rowdy Dick" has
changed all that. Bartell is sound
physically and looks great now. The
question is how long he can hold up
Gehringer's ailing back has been
a real blow to the Tigers. He in
jured 1t shoveling snow last winte,
and the first day in camp he suf-
fered a recurrence of the ailment
He's been taking diathermic treat.
ments and going through exercises
to strengthen his back but at 81
Cehringer may not be able to stanc
the day in and day out grind any
more. It not, Croucher, fifty point.
weaker at bat than Gehringer, will
play second.
Higgins at Third
Frankie Higgins at third will COM
plete the Tigers infield. Even the
most optimistic Tiger supporter
must admit that the Detroit infielc
Is slow and old-maybe just slow
enough and just old enough to pre-
vent the Tigers power from lifting
them out of fifth place.
With Greenberg playing left field
and Barney McCoskey, last year.
brilliant rookie, in center, the Tigers
have two outfield spots well taker
care of. Bruce Campbell, obtained
from the Indians, and Pete Fo,
will divide the other post. Campbell
who plays well in the spring, will
begin the season In right, with Fox
taking over when he slows UP.
The pitching outlook isn't COM
pletely forlong. Buck Newsom, Tom.
my Bridges, Dizzy Trout, Free
Hutchinson and Schoolboy Rowe
look like the clubs big five. Rowe
has been looking exceedingly vel
and Hutchinson, who improved hi.
curve ball and is 20 pounds lighter
this spring, is likely to develop int
a winner. Harold Newhauser from
Beaumont End Dick Conger, a 10.
year-old collegian from U. G. L. A.
look like the best two youngsters ir
camp. Newhauser has the stuff bu
his control needs improving. Congel
has the control and needs a littl.
more stuff. Other pitchers likely t.
stick are Lynn Nelson from tn,
Athletics, Luther Thomas, AL Ben.
ton and possibly Tom Seats, left.
handler from Sacramento.
The shift of Greenberg to the out.
field and York to first has improved
the Tigers catching because Birdi,
Tebbetts, possibly the leagues No.
man to Bill Dickey, will do most O
the mask work now. Billy Sullivan
from the Browns, who's marking
time while waiting for a broken fin
ger to mend, will be the No.
catcher.
With Gehringer in the lineup, tn,
Tigers will boast formidable at
tack With seven potential 800 hit
ters, including the one-two hom
run punch Of York and Greenberg
But they have definite defensive
weaknesses and other drawback
that will make their struggle to ge
back into first division a tough one.