The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-15

Manager ZIP koenieF WIN
greet a small squad. hut one.
with one NJ two additions.
he believes will no right in the
thick Of the Western Inter
national league pennant fight.
He viii have about 20 players
including a half dozen rockies.
Koehler pursued new policy AZ
far as Tacoma Is concerned. IN
selection Of players from Coast .
league camps this spring Instead
Of taking all the players offered
him. he restricted his choices 70
those whom he believed are ready
10 play In Glass 3 baseball
TT would have been a simple
matter for me 10 nave picked
up 40 players in California said
Koehler. But there seemed to
he no rhyme or reason in taking
players who obviously are not
ready for the Western Interna-
tional league They would have
been names for the fans 10 talk
about. it's true, but they wouldn't
have meant anything 10 the club.
Also. II would not have been fair
to the players to lead them 10
believe they had chance to step
into Class 3 baseball
Those players who are
coming to Tacoma looked like
they are ready 10 meet the
requirements of the Western
International league. Almost
all Of them are In top shape
because of being with Coast
league clubs for six weeks and
II will be possible 10 launch
directly into the job Of get
ting a smooth working club
for the start of the season"
Holdout problems and retire
ment have left the Tigers short
couple of pitchers and one or
two other players. but Koehler
has assurance that the New York
Yankee chain, which recommend
ed him for the Tacoma job. will
furnish him with the men neces-
sary to give Tacoma contend
ing club.
BOTELHo GOOD
The first string catching job
will ne well cared for ny Eddie
Botelho, who last season was
rated one of the best defensive
receivers in the Coast league
Bill Gray, who played &c
games at first for Hollywood
last season. has signed, Civ
ing assurance that the initial
bag will be well guarded.
Bobby Baer who hit 800 last
season, hasn't signed but he isn't
regarded as a holdout. But if he
doesn't show up Tuesday. the
second basing Job will he fought
out between Mel Shelley. who is
rated as great prospect being
outstanding in the Western ASSOC
citation last season. and Bill Blet-
cher. the speedball kid. who
caught Koehler's eye in the San
Francisco camp.
Jack Hanson, who is coming
from Los Angeles. is regarded as
a fine shortstop prospect, al
though he has had but limited ex-
perience in baseball as fast as that
dished out In the ". l. league.
Hanson lacks polish. but has Won
derful competitive spirit, is quick
on the trigger and is cool under
fire. He looks like he will come
fast.
The Tigers figure they have
the hest third sacker In the
league In Ray Perry without
even bothering to find out
who are guarding the hot cor
ners for the other clubs. II
there Is better third base
man in the circuit. he belongs
In league of higher classifi-
cation. Perry is a power hitter
and the short left field fence
will cause him to smile when
he first looks il over.
There are two proven outfield-
ers IN the fold. They are Gene
kiley and Marvin Rickert. both
of whom are due for improvement
over their work last year which
was acceptable but not outstand-
ing Hub Singer was figured for
the third gardener. but he stayed
in California until ne knows
whether deal which sent him to
Tacoma from Portsmouth Of the
Piedmont league in exchange for
Stubby Hartman goes through.
STUBBY INJURED
This deal has been held IN be-
cause Harriman's finger. broken
toward the latter part Of the sea
son, did not heal and ne is not