The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-03-30
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY

UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
Tampa, Fla, March 80 - U.P)
Notwithstanding those four re-
sounding snacks from the Yankees,
Ernie Lombardi's nap at the plate,
the double-play nightmare between
Frey and Myers at second and other
world series horrors, the Cincinnati
Reds have a better ball club this
spring than they had a year ago.
The Reds have strengthened their
pitching, their infield is Steadier,
their catching is satisfactory, and
if they could only find a hard-hit-
ting left fielder, they would be a
lead-pipe cinch to square off with
the American League champions
next October.
Bill McKechnie, the canny Scot
who led the Reds from the cellar
to the pennant in two years, does
not talk much, but one quick peek
at his wrinkled countenance is
enough evidence that he spends
many a sleepless night pacing the
floor and worrying about that left
field spot.
Mccormick A Hopeful
McKechnie is hoping that young
Mike Mccormick, up from Indian
apolis. with a .318 batting average,
will fill the spot, but Bill isn't kid
ding himself bit. Mccormick Is a
hustler, has speed to burn and a
good arm, but there is still a big
question of his hitting power. He
was slamming the ball all over the
lot in early games but he slowed up
considerably when the pitchers
started throwing the No. 2 ball
dugout lingo for a curve. And Mikes
record of only three home runs in
the last two years is anything but
impressive.
But McKechnie is likely to 60
with Mccormick in left because he
has spirit and can cover plenty of
ground. If he f1ops, Old Wally Ber-
ger or Vince DiMaggio, runs-batted-
in champion of the American Asso-
citation, will be on the bench await
ing their chance.
At every other position the Reds
are set, the only club in the Nation
al League which can name its start
ing lineup now for opening day.
Harry Craft, weighing 35 pounds
more than he did in the world
series, will again be in center. He is
likely to add about IS or 40 points
on his .257 batting average now that
he's hale and hearty again. wal
Goodman will play right. He was
out of 80 games last year with the
shoulder injury he received in the
All-Star game. With Goodman play
ing a full schedule, \the Reds are
much stronger extensively.
The inf1eld again will be Frank
Mccormick, who's likely to give the
boys a run for the leagues most
valuable player award this season,
at first; Lonnie Frey at second,
Billy Myers at short and Bill Wer-
Der at third. Unless Eddie Joost, the
leagues best reserve inflelder, takes
the second base job from Frey, the
Reds 1899 infield will remain in
tact. Joost can cover as. much
ground as any second sacker in the
league, and if his hitting improves
ne won't be on the bench long.
Walters Looks Better
The critics are saying that Paul
Derringer and Bucky Walters will
not win So games between them this
season, but no other club in the
circuit can offer a pitching pair
capable of winning as many as the
Red aces. Walters, who won ~ last
year, appears to be better than ever
this spring, but he does not mind
admitting he'll be lucky to hit the
q mark two years in a row. The
improvement in the Reds staff will
come from the youngsters, Gene
Thompson and Whitley Moore, Joe
Beggs, from the YankS, and the
veteran Jim Turner from the Bees
Then, Johnny Wander Nicer, trying
to regain his lost control, might