Evening star., 1941-03-28
Brooklyn Ready
To Go, Better
Than in 1941
Flag Is Seen Beyond
Reds With Strain on
HurIers Too Great
BY GAYLE TALBOT,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

TAMPA, Fla, March 28.-The
really smart move at this point
would be to take a runout powder
on the National League. pleading
illness from overwork and pointing
out that the bill of rights as good
as says that no man can be forced
to make fool of himself.
Either that or take the easy way
and pick the Cincinnati Reds to
win their third straight pennant
behind one of the finest pitching
staffs ever assembled. A fellow
at least would be assured of some
excellent company in the event the
world champions did a Brodie.
But this observer either is made
of sterner stuff or has become
slightly added by the sun and,
besides, he distinctly thought he
saw vision last night. If it wasn't
genuine crystal ball he was
gazing into at the time it at least
was better grade of crystalware.
Sees Flag for Dodgers.
Yankee Stadium Tin this far
fetched futurama was packed to
its rafters for an entire World
Series, shattering every known base
ball attendance record and de-
moralizing the subway service of
the Nations greatest city.
What a vision! What a double
vision, in fact: it could mean only
one thing, folks Those Brooklyn
Dodgers, those Flatbush fusilliers,
had won their first flag in 81 years.
They had agreed to play all the
series games in the Yankee Stadium.
(Oh, yes, the Yanks won out in the
American League yesterday be-
cause of the limited capacity OF
Ebbet's Field.
The dream, unfortunately. didn't
disclose how the Dodgers got there.
1t made no attempt to explain what
happened to Cincinnati's great
pitching staff or how the danger
GUS st. Louis Cardinals were beaten
off. But those are details that
Manager Leo Durocher will have to
attend to himself. This observer
can't do everything.
Strain Apt to Curb Reds.
One possible clue to what hap
pened to the Cincinnati pitchers
lies in the very fact that the Reds
won a record total of 43 games by
a single run last season. That
means that Bucky Walters, Paul
Derringer and the others were under
a terrific strain in nearly every game
they pitched.
Such a strain, if continued in
definitely, is bound to take its toll.
Something is certain to snap even.
tually. And there is no reason to
believe that the champions will
have any more punch this season
than they did last, even with the
addition of hard-hitting Jim Glee-
son in their lineup. Catcher Ernie
whose bat has won many
a game in the last two years, still
is forced to swing gingerly because
of his weak ankle. Eddie Joost,
the clubs new first-string short
stop, does not hit the long ball
that Billy Myers did the last two
years.
Brooklyn Ready to Go.
Derringer still is at his home re-
covering too slowly from being
struck in the groin 10 days ago.
There is no certainty he will be
ready to start the season.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, Is
ready to go, stronger at several
spots than it was a year ago and
brimming with confidence. Joe
Medwick is hitting as of yore and
young Pete Reiser looks a sensa-
ton in center field. Peewee Reese
is one of the games greatest short
stops already.
The Dodgers, like IA other big
league clubs, do not have the pitch
ing possessed by Cincinnati. But
any outfit that has a pair like Kirby
Higbe and Whit Wyatt to carry
the load will get along
Anyhow, a man can dream, can't
he?