The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-01
CLEVER GROUP OF
 |HUSTLERS UNDER |FRISCH FOR 1S41
Has Enough Reserves to Make Changes as Much
 Depends on Pitchers
By JACK GUENTHER United Press Stan Correspondent


 San Bernardino, Cal, April l. (UP)-The Pittsburgh Pirates will place the accent on youth and hustle In their second year under the leadership of Frankie Frisch and, If Q shaky pitching stah stays glued together, they may surprise the National league with a serious pennant challenge.
 Tn his brief tenure as manager, Frisch has hacked away deadwood until today he boasts one of the youngest squads in the majors. Aside from the pitchers, only one starting regular is older than 28 and the average age of the team is close to 25. Since youth usually de- notes speed-the Pirates will be plenty fast.
 Frisch will enter the season with out @ definite lineup. He has warned that no regular is sure of his job, no matter what his name or previous feats. For once he has enough material at hand to make choice from day to day and he claims that the men will be shifted in both the outfield and the infield until he finds @ combination with maximum of zip.
 The Pirate shippers major prob- lem is pitching, the plague of most managers in spring training. Last year only Truett Sewell and Mace Brown were able to win 10 or more games. This season they again will form the nucleus of @ staff of Ii. Among the regulars are Joe Bow man,. Max Butcher, Bob Klinger, Ken Meintzelman, Dick Lanahan and John Lanning. Together these eight men won only 83 games in l945-but they are the best of the lot.
 T0ssup
 A dog fight is now in progress for the other three positions. Russ Bauers and Long John Gee still are question marks and of the sig youngsters up from the minors the best prospects appear to be Aldon Wilkie, a southpaw who won 13 and lost five with Seattle last year: Bill Clemensen from Syracuse and Rich- ard Conger, who comes from U. C.. L. A. via Beaumont. Frisch expects to make no decision here until 1t is time to trim his squad.
 While the pitching is more or less open, the catching job is closed. It belongs to Al Lopez whom the Pi- rates obtained from Boston last season after dickering which lasted almost a year. He will be supported by Virgil Dav:s, Q veteran from last year; and Joe Schultz, who came up as e rookie from Portland in 1040 with an average of 1926.
 The infield hasn't jelled as yet but the most probable regular line- up will be composed of Elbie Fletch- CT at first, Frank Gustine at second, Arkie Vaughn at short and Lee Handley at third. The latter will be pressed by Debs Gartns, 0 com bination third baseman and out- fielder who led the league in batting last year but hasn't won starting job for l94l.
 Take Turns
 Handley will get the call as long as he keeps hitting because he is a superior fielder. but Garms will re- place him during slumps and at other times will alternate in the out- field. A newcomer to this group Is Sthuart Martin of the St. Louis Cardinals who served as 6 utility man in all positions last year. A rookie who will be retained Is 25 year old Alfid Anderson, who was brought up from Atlanta.
 The outfield at present Is com- posed of three right-handed hitters. Maurice Van Robays Is in left, Vince DiMaggio in center, and Bob Elliott ii right. Against right-handed pitching, Frisch can counter with garins, Lloyd Waner and Ed Stew art of San Diego, who batted 1920 in the Coast league last season. Waner, at 35, is the second oldest man on, the team but Q timely hit- ter in the pinches.
 Last year, Frisch gambled with his players regardless of how many games he lost until he finally found what he eventually made his start ing team. It cost him plenty of per- centage points but at the end of the year the Pirates were playing the best ball in either league. This year 1t will be the same-with a little s.aa sta aln AARn