Evening star., 1940-04-16
Mats Initial SET
Is Rugged Test
For Slab Crew
Also Should Provide
Line on Flag Chance
Of Powerful Bosox
BY FRANCIS E. STAN.

0lVcu Ulcdk III lIlt WCdJlleI,
major league baseball was to open
today on eight scattered American
and National League fronts and no
where was there gaudier or more
important inaugural slated than here
at Griffith Stadium.
The eyes of the Capital, of course,
were on the Nationals-young. swift,
ambitious and on the comeback trail.
The eyes of the diamond world in
general, however, were focused on
the Red Sox-a murderous crew
picked in some quarters as destined
to overthrow the mighty Yankees.
An event of the last 48 hours has
added import to the gala Griffith
Stadium festival which was to be
held today, providing the predicted
showers hold off. The Yankees Joe
Di Maggie is on the sidelines with
sprained knee. 1t may be two weeks
before the slugger will be back in the
game. This blow, together with
Second Baseman Joe Gordon's pain
full, if not disabling. ankle injury and
the loss of Outfielder Jake Powell
lying in Kentucky hospital with
severe concussion of the brain, figure
to hurt the Yankees in the early
fight.
Yankees Left Handed Heavy.
In the meantime, what of the Red
Sox? Foxx, Williams, Cronin g. Co.
are capable of making lot of runs.
They always have manufactured
plenty. But can Bob Grove carry
on? And will Jim Bagby, jr., and
Woody Rich and Herb Hash pitch
winning ball?
Some of these questions were to
be answered, starting today, as the
Red Sox were to go against the Ma
tionals' slab ace, Dutch Leonard, and
the Griffmen were to face Grove.
The Boston Washington pairing
was about the only good break the
champion Yanks have received
lately. Minus Di Maggie, they were
slated to face only the lowly
Athletics, but even in this series they
may run into trouble
I Today in the Philadelphia opener
for the champions they were to face
Connie Mack's southpaw, Chubby
Dean. With Di Maggie and Powell
out, the Yanks' remaining power is
on the left side of the Selkirk,
Heinrich and Keller in the outfleld,
and Rolfe and Dickey OF the able
right-handers there is no outstand-
ing slugger. Not among Dahlgren,
Crosetti and Gordon.
Haynes, Hudson Question Marks.
Sharing the spotlight today with
the Nats-Red Sox and A's-Yankees
openers were pair Of National
League games. The Cincinnati Reds
and the st. Louis Cardinals, who
have divided expert opinion this
spring, were to meet formidable
rivals. The winning Reds,
opening at home, were to entertain
the Cub team they dethroned last
! year. The Cardinals. also opening at
home, were pitted against the Pitts
burgh Pirates. under the manage
ment of frankie Frisch.
In the meantime, local interest
/ NSAlbSAo uA Aoul1u Vic ACOll.
ard, winner of 20 and loser of only
games last year, apparently is set
for another big year, but the WASH
| ington' problem is to find other
hurlers to keep pace with the big
knuckle ball exponent.
Provided the weather permitted
today's game, light on the Washing
ton pitching situation will be shed
tomorrow when the Red Sox, still
here, face young Joe Haynes. This
hurler, along with Rookie Sid Hud-
son from the Florida State League,
supposedly will be teamed with
Leonard by way of throwing right
handed pitching against the enemy.
Southpaws Saved for Champs.
1t is the plan of Manager Bucky
Harris to hurl the three right
handlers against the hard hitting
Red Sox, team loaded with right
handed hitters The two ranking
southpaws of the. club, Ken Chase
and Joe Krakauskas, will be saved
for later in the week, when the Mats
go to New York to play the Yankees
in three-game series
Win or lose, Leonard's status is
fairly certain. The fellow can pitch
major league ball. But Haynes has
yet to prove himself. As rookie he
did we'll, considering physical all
ments. But he wasn't a big winner
and now, going into his sophomore
year, he must meet the test. What
Hudson will do can only be con-
Jectural. It's tremendous Jump
fromthe Florida State League to the
majors. Harris thinks he can make
the jump. Until American League
hitters have their say, this must be
regarded as good enough.
AS for the two southpaws-Chase
and Krakauskas-this also is a test
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