The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-03
By GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff Correspondent

By GEORGE KIRKSEY
 United Press Staff COrrespondent)
 Sarasota, Fla, April 3-(UP)- The Boston Red Sox left here the champions of the grapefruit league and Joe Cronin boasts that next October they'll be hailed as con- querors of the Yankees. Cronin may not be talking through his hat. What the Red Sox needed most was pitch ing, and that's what they had most of when they headed north.
 By far the outstanding develop ment of the Red Sox training sea- son was the showing of our pitch CTS, both the veterans and the youngsters" Cronin said. "It's the first time since I've managed the Red Sox that I haven't started north with pitching headache. We haven't sort arm on the staff and every man is working his head off,"
 Cronin has 13 pitchers on his squad, with two to be trimmed off before the deadline. The top men are 40 year old Lefty Grove, Jim Bagby, Emerson Dicknan, Jack Wilson and Denny Galehouse. Be- hind them come the two brilliant r!ghthanders, Herbie Hash and Bill Butland; Mickey Harris, Scranton southpaw; Fritz Ostermueller, just hitting his stride after a sinus at tack; Charlie Wagner, Woody Rich, Ted Olson and the big relief man, Joe Heving.
 Grove Still Good
 Grove is still Grove and good fer once week. The two righthanders who burned up the grapefruit league were Bagby and Dickman. Bagby, who won IS games in 1888, learned his lesson last season after a dis agreement with Cronin, and is hustling again this year. He's even afraid to talk out of turn. Every day Bagby says to Coach Moe Berg: Tell me if say anything wrong" Dickman, used mainly in relief roles last season, appears to have gradu- ated into starting job.
 Wilson and Galehouse have the stuff to win if they can get the ball over the plate in the American league as well as they did in Florida. Those five-Grove, Bagby, Dickman, Wilson and Galehouse-are likely to start the season as BoSton's "big five" But, anyone of them may be forced to yield his job to young ster. Harris, who won IT and lost four for Scranton may be surprise package. Hash, who had an early sore arm, has rounded into form and has good chance to crowd his way into the picture. Rutland is coming along slowly and Cronin is not try ing to push him. Ostermueller has gained back 12 of the 20 pounds he lost during his sinus siege, and should be in top shape by opening day.
 "It's a staff that could very well pitch the Red Sox to the pennant, unless it breaks down completely" Cronin said. "Even if some of the fellows I'm counting on fail, we are well stocked with reserves, and our pitching is not likely to fall com pletely to pieces"
 Outside of the pitching staff, the Red Sox have had only three addi- tions to last years hard-hitting out fit. Dom DiMaggio, the bespectacled coast league rookie, has stepped into an outfield berth. Marvin Owen of the White Sox is around as utility infielder. And, George Lacy from Minneapolis joined the catching staff of John Peacock and Gene De- SautelS.
 Despite the sprained ankle which laid him up for IS days, Dom Di- Maggie has shown Cronin enough to make him satisfied with his gamble in disposing of Joe Vosmik. DiMag- gio is major league in running, field ing and throwing. If he hits he'll be the rookie of the year. He has good eye at the plate and does not lunge for bad balls. He's a deer on the basepaths, and good bet to lead the league in runs scored.
 Ted Williams, who will play all the shade fields this season (that is left field in Boston, right field in Yankee stadium, etc.), promises to become the outstanding hitter in the league. With his added confi- dence and one years experience, Williams has the home run crown, runs batted in title and batting championship all within respectable shooting distance. Doc Cramer, who is old man consistency himself, will play between Williams and DiMag- gio.
 The big lift in the infield may come from Jimmy Foxx, who had the greatest spring since he joined the Red Sox. The appendectomy he underwent last September is load of his mind. Williams and Foxx, hitting No. 3 and 4, gave Boston the best one-two punch in baseball. Bobby Doerr will be at second, Cronin at short and Jim Tabor at third. Doerr missed g games last year and his presence through a full schedule should make great difference in the Sox's defense. Ta- bor is likely to be a better ball player with an added years expe- rience.
 Bring on the Yankees" says Cronin, we're ready for them"
 NATIVES FEAR TREE SPIRITS"