Evening star., 1940-05-25
Champs IS Games Behind
Their Pace of 1889

Chomps - Games Behind
Their Pace of 1889
That was year ago today. Now
the Yankees, playing in Boston and
headed this way after their first
swing through the West, are trailing
some Is games behind the edge they
held year ago. This has been
bitter spring for Mccarthy. For the
first time under his management
the Yankees have known the very
depths of the league.
A year ago the cry "break up the
Yankees!" first heard in 1927, was
heard again. This spring new
cry was heard: THE Yankees are
through" With Di Maggie out OF
the lineup as the season got under
way, with Dickey, Rolfe and Keller
not hitting, with Gordon and Gro
setti blowing easy plays around
second base and with Vernon Gomez
on the shelf, the champions buckled
staggered and skidded as the Red
Sox pounded their way to the
front.
Mccarthy benched Crosetti for
the first time, shook up his batting
order, used Buddy Rosar in place
of Dickey and did everything he
could to rouse his team from the
state into which it had slipped. The
players tried to laugh off their
slump, and when that failed, showed
signs of getting at least mild panic
Nothing worked. Things went from
bad to worse, eliminating in 10
to drubbing in Cleveland.
Spell Broken When Lineup
OF Lost Yeor Returns
Almost in desperation, Mccarthy
hurled his 1899 lineup back into
action. That, seemingly, did the
trick. The Yankees began to push
forward.
They're still a long way back. They
still lack the drive and poise they
knew year ago. But they are
pulling themselves together-and the
enemy is beginning to crack here
and there. The Red Sox pitching
has been weakened by the slipping
of Old Nose Grove. In Cleveland
Mel Harder and Johnny Allen aren't
holding up and Bob Feller hasn't
achieved the consistency expected
of him. being very good in one
start and very bad in the next.
The main sign Of improvement
In the Yankees is lessening Of the
tension under which they were op-
Grating when their slump was at
its worst. Too many of the players
Joe Gordon being an outstanding
example-tightened up. In the field
they couldn't wait until the bal.
came to them to throw it. At bat
they swung at bad pitches in theil
eagerness to knock the ball out o1
the lot.
They made heroes of pitchers that
never had been heard of or that
once had been pretty good, but hac
no license to beat them. Strange
or orgotten-names got into
the headlines after almost every
Yankee game. Any left-handec
pitcher was good bet to beat them
They saw so many southpaws they
must have come to the conclusion
that there weren't any right-hand.
ers remaining in the league.
It was a completely bewilderine
experience for them. No wonder
the last time saw them they looked
as though they were wandering II
a fog.
Foe Spotted Many Miles
As Yonks Regain Troll
They appear to be out Of danger
now. Ruffing, Pearson, Russo ane
Breuer are in form. The hitting
still little spotty, is better thar
1t was. The Yanks are beginning
to catch up with some of the pitch
ers who made their lives miserabl'
Just a little while ago.
Mccarthy, whose patience wa
worn so thin that it cracked wild
open in Cleveland, has regained hi
composure. The Yanke. following
this stand in Boston, are coming
home. With their ranks reformed
1t may be that they are about t.
start in earnest new drive tina
will take them to heights no bal
club ever has known-five pennant
In a row.
The journey isn't going to be al
easy one. They have spotted tn
Red Sox a long lead and thei
stumbling was tonic to the entir
league. But they still have all tn
stuff they carried year ago. VI
to now their main difficulty has beel
encountered in assembling 1t an
tossing it at the enemy.