The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-24
RED SOX FLAG
 HOPES ACAINIS
 UP TO PITCHERS
Uncertainty of All But Grove Makes Boston
 Unpredictable
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY United Press StaR Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
 Sarasota, Fla, March 24.-(UP)- The Boston Red Sox will go just as far this season as their pitching car- ries them.
 With one of the most lethal at tacks in baseball last season, 1t took the Red Sox until the final day of the season to climb into 8 tie for fourth place.
 One pitching ace on the roster last year might have given the Sox the American League pennant in- stead of the Tigers. The situation is almost the same this season. The BostonS do not have a single top- notch, sure-fire moundsman. Man. ager Joe Cronin brought 2l pitch CTS to camp to try and build an en- tire new staff after junking most of his veterans during the winter. He does not know yet whether he has a pitching staff or just a gang of throwerS.
 Needs 20 Games
 There is hardly any limit to the amount of money Cronin would give for @ pitcher who could win 20 games this year. He might have such a man on his staff, but 1t may take the whole 194 1season to find him. At this writing Lefty Grove, "Or Man Nose" himself, must be rated the clubs No. pitcher. He has just turned 4l and will be lucky to pitch once week.
 Fooled 50 often by spring morning glories, Cronin is careful about what he says of young Red Sox pitchers. Here's the way Joe rounds Up his pitching talent in few words: Grove, once 8 week; Rich, looks better than 1859; Dickman, good heart; Fleming, hard worker; Harris, more polished; Dobson, good assortment: Hash, over his backache and other wor- ries; Johnson, looks good; Ryba, maybe another Sam Jones; Wagner, should win; Wilson, has the stuff to be @ winner; Judd, good stuff; New some, minor league record good; Rutland, over sore arm and throw ing good; Hughson, fast.
 
 There's no way to rate his staff. Just as guess, the big five might be Rich, Ryba. Dickman, Johnson and Harris. The latter two are lefties. Rich looks good. He's a side- armer like Grover Cleveland Alex ander and may be headed for star dom after going through sore arm siege in 1889 and 1940. Ryba, who is 36, won 24 and lost 8 at Rochester last year and may turn out to be the staff's workhorse. He knows how to pitch and is willing. Dickman has been on the verge of becoming a winner for two years. Johnson and Harris are definitely southpaw com- CTS.
 The Red Sox tied the Tigers for the club batting championship last year, were first in triples and sec- ond to the Tanks in homers and to the Tigers in doubles. The batting order bristles with extra-base power with only leadof man Dom Di- Maggie and catcher Frankie Pytlak minus long distance punch.
 Improvement is expected in the catching department with Pytlak handling the first string job. Happy over his transfer from the Indians, Pytlak is hustling. If the Red Sox would absorb a little of F'rankie's spirit, a real pennant threat might develop.
 Cr0nin At Short
 Last years infleld of Jimmy FoXx at first, Bobby Doerr at second. Cronin at short and Jim Tabor at third remains intact .Cronin has giv- en some thought to reetiring or shifting to third, but likely will stay at short. Tabor, despite cracks about his scatter" arm, is better ball player than generally believed The Red Sox slump late last season dates from the time he was stricken with appendicitis His power at bat can- not be laughted of and the only throw with which he has serious trouble is the double play toss to second on slow hit ball.
 The Red Sox outfield is not to be sneezed at with Ted Williams in left, Dom DiMaggio in center and Lou Finney in right. Williams hit .344 last season and definitely is a threat to win the batting title. There is no better outfielder in base ball than DiMaggio. Finney was the leagues ninth leading hitter last year with a 1920 mark.
 Infield reserves are Skeeter New some, formerly with the As, and Odell Hale, ex-1ndian. Pete Fox from the Tigers and Stan Spence will handle the outfield utility jobs. Johnny Peacock is the No. 2 catcher <,,urCxyc, NAy vnNKEVS