Evening star., 1940-03-11
From the
Press Box
Bees Depend on West,
Plus Tight Defense
BY JOHN LARDNER,

BRADENTON, Fla, March II IN
AN.A0.-Once again the Bees of
Boston are committed to a policy of
tight baseball The worst you can
say for this system is that it makes
for a negative sort of exhibition.
The best you can say for it is that
It won pennant for the New York
Giants in 1888.
Having no money to speak of, the
Bees must make the most of their
physical equipment which includes
a big, roomy ball park where brisk
wind blows against the hitter. AS
sure as A follows B, this calls for a
tight defense-smart, cool pitching,
a fast infield that can make the
double-play and outfielders who can
run mile for the ball and bring II
down.
1t also calls for a great defensive
catcher to hold all the strings in his
hand, and that is why Casey Stengel
leans so heavily on Alfonso Raimon
Lopez, the pride of Ybor City, with
whom Mr.. Stengel was perfectly
willing to dispense in the days when
he managed Brooklyn.
Bees Are Tough Bond
On Their Home Lot
Get a run and throttle the other
club-that is the Bee platform at
home. Naturally, it isn't much help
on the road, where the Bees play half
their games and where Mr.. Stengel is
forced to send his defensive team
to the post in short ball parks that
demand hitting.
Last years record shows that Bos-
ton won but three games at the Polo
Grounds, three in Cincinnati, two in
st. Louis, and four in Brooklyn
all short parks where the best-laid
defensive schemes can be wrecked
by couple of Chinese home runs
But times being what they are
with the Bees. they are satisfied to
take their lickings on the road if
they can keep their average above
500 at home-and last year, one
OF their worst years, still showed
them with percentage of 514 on
the home prairie. where the wind
whistles free and the double-play
blooms
One quick look around the training
camp down here by the Gulf of
Mexico will convince you that the
Bees are plotting no revolutionary
measures, no change of policy, for
1910. Mr.. Stengel works all day
on, his pitchers, and he probably
would work all night on them, too. if
the pitchers (and Mr.. StengeD were
not so fond of sleep.
Promising Pitchers
Hang Around Comp
There are promising pitchers
around this camp, and a raft Of
promising infielders and the usual
quota of outfielders who can go and
get 'em. There is just one fair
slugger, Max Buster" West, who
batted 81 runs across the plate. last
year.
He's my power" says Mr.. stengel
shyly.
oUuellOW IL StllI Is nara 10 aSSOCl.
ate G. Dillon .Stengel with drum
tight. penny-ante, se-to-the- vest
baseball - Stengel, the carefree
comedian; Stengel. who heckled
John j. McGraw when the great
man was thought to be 80 per cent
sacred: Stengel, whose best-remem-
bered feat is his home run inside the
park in the World Series of 1923,
when he staggered around third
base on one wheel and almost had to
be carried to the plate.
This frustrated dental student still
manages to enjoy himself, even
when his ball club is suffering.
when I say that West is my
power" says Casey, his eye roaming
around the field, II am almost for
getting John Cooney. the fence
buster. Cooney is getting stronger.
BY the time he's SO, the pitchers
around this league will be passing
him purposely on sight,"