The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-08
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY


 United Press Staff CorrespOndentl
 New York, April g. = (UP) = The New York Yankees, a new stream. lined outfit loaded with speed and power, will win back the American League championship this season. And there's a chance they might win 1t by such wide margin that the old, familiar cry, break up the Tanks" will resound again.
 Whether the Tanks just get uns der the gun or win going away will depend on two things: CD pitching and @ Bill Dickey. Thost are Manager Joe McCarthy's biggest problems. There is every reason to believe that the rebuilt Yankee pitching staff will measure up. With Dickey, who has caught over 100 games season for 12 years, it's just a question of whether Father Time has caught up with him.
 Glass to Burn
 Everywhere else the Yanks are terrific. The New Ineld of Gordon, Priddy, Rizzuto and Rolfe bows to none. Priddy and Rizzuto, who work as smoothly as q pair of ballet danc- CTS around the Keystone sack, are likely to be the sensation of the sea- son.
 The Yankee outeld is likely to bo the leagues best with Keller in left. Dimaggio in center and Henrich or Selkirk in right. Keller's hitting has been one of the Tanks brightest spots. He definitely is headed for 8 big year.
 The Yankee pitching staff shapes up with Ruffing, Russo, Gomez Breuer, Bonham, and one of the rockies in the first line. Ruffing and Gomez have looked great. Bon. ham has been bothered by back ailment but is slowly rounding into form.
 Cleveland is the team the Tanks have to beat. With the champion Tigers likely to lose Hank Greene berg to the Army and the Red So4 still having trouble finding pitchs ing to match their power, the In. dians rank next to the Tanks.
 There is no question but that the Indians have the pitching to win the pennant. The question is do they have the spirit and the punch? With Oscar Witt gone, along with such highly temperamental players as Ben Chapman, Johnny Allen and Frankie Pytlak, the Indians are turning over new leaf under Roger Peckinpaugh. But there are some old scars left from the tribes rebels Ion of last June. The boys still talk about 1t and they may hear more than they want to about it from tlle rival dugouts during the season.
 But the Indians have Bob Fellefs baseball's greatest pitcher, and he ie certain to keep Cleveland some- where close If the team shows any punch. Gerald Walker is expected to take up some of the slack in the attack but help must come from some other direction too If the In- dians hope to match the Tanks run-making machinery. Clevelands second base combination of Bour- deau and Mack is another one Of the clubs strong departments.
 Hopeless?
 Frankly, the Tigers cause looks hopeless, with or without Green- berg. With Greenberg the Tigers can generate lot of power but the team still looks shoddy defensively and the pitching certainly is no better than a year ago. Rowe and Bridges may not be as good, and Corsica and Newhouser may not yet be ready to replace them.
 The Red Sox have made some progress toward improving their pitching staff but they have other problems which are likely to keep them from being serious con- tender. Frankie Pytlak probably will help their catching but Jim Tobor's department, Ted Williams broken ankle and Joe Cronin's age combine to keep them from making a serious pennant battle. However. the Red Sox's chances look better than the defending champions.
 As usual the White Sox are uil- predictable. They always play bet. ter than they look on paper, but they seem doomed to second division. The Browns may furnish a surprise. If they get any pitching from the vet- erans they bought during the winter (Allen, Caster, Galehous, Oster- mueller), they can lead the second division.
 Washington will have to battle to save seventh place with Buddy Lewis heading for the Army and Day now The Athletics haven't shown anything to indicate that they can do more than throw 8 couple of scares into the Senators.