Evening star., 1941-04-14
FIourishing Campaign Looms
With War Tension Creating
Great Need of Relaxation
All Clubs Stronger Than Lost Yeor,
Managers in Big Leagues Agree

Vi ldSI SEASON.. IleeSOn Is LOOKING
good, both at the plate and in the
field. AS for the other clubs, I
pick 'em just as they finished last
year"
Leo Durocher, whose Brooklyn
Dodgers are one of the chief threats
to the Reds, asserted, Cincinnati is
the team to beat. After all they're
the champs 1t always has been
my policy not to predict where my
team would finish. However, I will
say that in my opinion we are
stronger than last year and better
conditioned. Higbe has helped our
pitching staff and Joe Medwick is
going to be one of the top hitters
in the league"
Cards Girded for Fight.
The rebuttal of Manager Billy
Southworth of the st. Louis Cardi-
nails was, The Cards generally are
strengthened have good reserve
strength and have built up the
pitching corps. There will be room
in the first division for us. I think
the National League generally will
be stronger"
Jimmy Wilson, the only new man.
ager in the league since last fall,
declared, This Chicago Cub team
is the dark horse of this National
League race. That's my firm con-
yiction. Well have a hustling team
and think one of the most inter-
eSting clubs in either circuit. 1t
looks as though we're going to have
more power than some of the oppo-
sition looked for"
One of the surprising statements
came from j. Thompson Doc) Pro-
thro, who picked his own Phillies to
finish sixth after three years in the
cellar. He thinks they will beat out
the Boston Bees and New York
Giants. Better balance, excellent
pitching and their ironclad defense
should lead the Reds to the third
consecutive flag, but they can't af-
ford to relax anywhere"
Terry Sees Giants Seventh.
Billy Terry wryly promised his
Giants would finish seventh after
explaining that he had seen only
three other National League clubs
in action this spring. Il don't know
whether there will be any more
trading, but I'd like to pick up an
other infielder. I need one" he
added.
Casey Stengel of the Bees said he
believed Boston would be stronger,
but that he still wasn't satisfied with
his club. There are two doubtful |
positions, catcher and center field.
If we can strengthen there we will |
give everybody plenty of trouble.
Well have a hustling club and may
frankie Frisch described his Pi-
rates as an interesting" ball club
despite several possible weaknesses.
Il know the Pirates are an ag-
gressive club, but when it comes
to predicting where they will finish |
I would not even try to make a
guess. If our defensive strength |
would tighten a little it would be
great help and, of course, the pitch,
ing should be stronger" ss"
Chisox Full Of Fight.
The secondary struggle in the
American League should prove en-
in the view of the man
ayers whose clubs will be involved.
Jimmy Dykes of the Chicago
White Sox said his outfit would be
"a little stronger than last year and
as scrappy a team as there is in the !
game. 1t will have to be because I |
Iook for another dingdong race"
Joe Cronin said he was satisfied |
with the Red Sox as a whole If a
couple of young pitchers, like Mickey |
Harris and Woody Rich, come
through as we hope, We'll be able to |
take care of ourselves. This time |
We don't have any pennant pressure"
Fred Haney of the st. Louis
Browns was optimistic. This is the
first year we really have started |
with a sound foundation. We still |
have a lot of work to do, but I think |
the Browns definitely will be an
ball club.
II feel this year is an open race
and any club has q chance. We
are aiming for the first division
and how high we will reach will
depend on the improvement of our