The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-09
BY GEORGE KIRKSEY United Press Staff Correspondent

uGOkNNE NAhbkASGG United Press Staff Correspondent)
 New York, April 9.-.(UP)-Pitch- ing wins pennants-especially Ma. tional league pennants-and that: why the Cincinnati Reds will hold the winning ticket again.
 The Reds have the best pitching staff in baseball with three potentia 20-game winners in Paul Derringer Bucky Walters and Gene Thomp- son. They won 68 games between them last year and can be reason ably expected to equal or surpass that total this season.
 Although the Reds are the cur. rent worlds champions, they have never been called great team as ball clubs go. But they are sound solid team without a vital weak ness. They lack power but they don't need terrific punch because they don't waste runs. They have the kind of pitching and defense that can operate on a one, two or three-run margin all day long They won 4l games by a 1-run margin last season. No lucky ball club can do that. There is every reason to believe that the Reds will continue to win those close, tight ones right down the line in l94l.
 As the clubs get ready to go to the post the Reds look like a more formidable outfit than 0 year ago Their pitching staff has more depth Beyond the "big three" of Der ringer, Walters and Thompson, are Jim Turner, Whitey Moore, Johnny Wander Nicer, Monte Pearson and Elmer Riddle.
 May Surprise
 Wander Nicer looks as If he's on the way back. The once brilliant southpaw may easily be the sur- prise of the season. In seven games this spring he has worked 28 in- nings, allowed 10 runs (three un- earnetl), permitted 20 hits, walked % and struck out 25. Manager Bill McKechnie is counting on him as 0 starter and only wildness can keep him from being winner. Pearson the former Yankee looks good and hasn't complained of any physi- cal ailments. McKechnie Is going slow with him and anything he does will be so much velvet. Joe Beggs, the erlief star, shouldn't be overlooked in the Reds pitching pie ture. He Is the National leagues top fireman.
 Absence of Billy Myers, who went to the Cubs, hasn't hut the Reds infield. Eddie Joost is playing shotr so well there seems little doubt that he'd have won Myers job anyway. The Reds outfield pe- sents @ minor problem and catcher Ernie Lombardi's fling ankle has caused some concern Jimmy Glee- son, obtained from the Cubs for Myers, has given the team added outfield punch, but Ival doodman's spring illness has upsett he outfieid alignment. Lombardi looks as fl he'll be able to open the season.
 Cards Are Tough
 The Reds aren't going to breeze to the pennant. They are going tc get stiff opposition from two and maybe more quarters. The Cardinals must be reckoned with. Billy South woth has put together Q hustling running ball club with more punch than possibly any other club. II the Cards infield of Mize, Cespi Marion and Brown holdus up, St ieuis is likely to furnish the Reds chief opposition.
 If the Reds folded, the Dodgers could win the pennant if everything clicked. The odds, however, seem against 1t. The Dodgers have toe many question inalss-young Pete Reiser in center second base, the pitching staff beyond Wyatt and Higbe, and Joe Medwick's come- back. The logical move to tighten up the infield seems to be foi Manager Leo Durocher to play sec- ond base but thus far he has brushed off Lary MacPhail's at. tcmpts to bring about his shift In addition, this clubs harmony doesn't appear to be of champion. ship class.
 Don't sell the Chicago Cubs short They may start slowly but Jimmy Wilson has the makings of a tough Bill Lee and Hank Leiber in the fold. The Cubs two rockies, Lou Novikoff and Lou Stringer, look like the goods and are going to add verve to @ team that just went through the motions during the past two years.
 Pittsburgh might be dangerous il Frankie Fisch comes up with any pitching but none is in sight. The Giants have grown old and their efforts at rebuilding have beer arther feeble. The Danning ex- pertinent was an unnecessary fiasco The Bees have a good infield and may be tough to beat on occasion but have no serious run-makinl power. The Phillies are to be pitied