Evening star., 1940-05-09
From the
Press Box
4 Fellers Would Make
Tribe Real Nuisance

Tribe Real Nuisance
BY JOHN LARDNER,
Special Correspondent Of The Star.
NEW YORK, May 8 (N.A.N.A.).-
Suddenly it has dawned with a
blast upon the ownership of the
Cleveland baseball club that it's nice
to have good second-base combi-
nation. The New York Yankees real
lied this point several years ago and
were making hay with it while the
Indians knew only by hearsay that
the double play was legal.
Today, with fast, sharp, young
gentlemen named Mack and Bou-
dreau surrounding second base,
Cleveland is up there punching,
with fair chance for the pennant.
I don't think the Indians will win,
but they'll be tough to beat, which
is something new along the banks
OF Lake Erie (you know the banks
mean; some of them pay per
cent, as well as the Indians sal
aries.
The vandals of Oscar Witt, now
helping themselves to portion of
the Yankees formerly the Browns),
still are little confused by the
antics of Boudreau and Mack. Har-
old Trosky, at first base, is startled
every time somebody throws the
ball at him.
Trosky Lonesome on First
Without Bose Runners
This is new stuff to Harold. For
merly, whenever an enemy batter
hit one on the ground the throw
was to second base-from an out
fielder. Harold stood by and ad-
mired the powerful arms of Ben
Chapman and Earl Averill, and then
he resumed his position and chatted
about politics with the base-runner.
Nowadays, base-runners at first
base are rare, and Harold is lonely.
The outfielders can't get used to it,
either. AS the ball goes hopping
from the plate toward second,
Heath, Chapman and Weatherly
come charging in, yelling, Il got
It'll" Then Mack or Boudreau stops
the ball and throws the runner out
at first, while the outhelders bump
their heads.
But I trust" says Manager Witt,
hopefully, that before long the
boys will get used to seeing an in
fielder do that trick. After all, they
got taste of it toward the end
Of last year. when these two kids
Of ours, Mack and Boudreau, came
up to play at second and Short
stop. In a couple more months
we'll be acting like we knew it
could be done all the time"
Assistance from Infielders
Gives HurIers Confidence
Mr.. Witt is living in a rosy glow.
His Eastern trip so far is not quite
sensational, but the Indians are up
there. The hitting is timely; the
fielding is fine. If they had three
more Fellers on the pitching staff
they'd be downright nuisance.
But, of course, if the Indians had
three more Fellers. they might not
need Boudreau and Mack.
1T makes world of difference"
says Mr.. Witt, having a couple of
boys out there at second who can
60 and get EN- and make fast PLAYS,
especially the double play, which I
thought was extinct. Before this,
our pitchers always were in Jams
because there always were men on
base. If they gave up a base hit,
they knew it meant at least run
and usually two runs. That's quite
q strain to work under.
To-day our pitching staff is not
the best in the world, but at least
the boys are developing more con-
fidence because they know they'll
have help behind them on the tough
plays. I've got couple of good
young pitchers, and when the
weather is warm to stay, think
Mel Harder and Johnny Allen will
be able to give Feller and Milnar
full-time help.
Hits by Mack and Boudreou
Delightfully."- Surprise Witt
"You know, I figured originally
that Boudreau and Mack were the
answer to our problem whether they
hit or not. I thought if they hit
only once in while, we still could
afford to carry them because of
our power in the other spots. But
what are they doing? Those two
boys are knocking the cover off the
ball, and even when they start to
slump off, they'll be dangerous, be-
cause they hit that thing long
way, both of them.
This looks to be a good race"
says Oh Os enthusiastically "Bos-
ton and Detroit and the Yanks and
us, with the rest of the clubs i'm
proved That's what we needed,
you know, little cooperation. No
body's surrendering to the Yanks
any more, and that means there's
a good chance for somebody else.
It might as well be u.s."
Leaving this lyrical thought with
his audience, Mr.. Witt turns away
to stare at his second-base combi-
nation just once more, to make sure
It's there. You never can tell what
Judge Lands will think of next.