The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-03
BY GEORGE KIRKsEY United Press Staff Correspondent)

N~~~~v~S ~"~Sg Se"sS SvssS~r~sseS~"sW Lakeland, Fla, April 3-(Up)- The only gang of ball players in Florida, or anywhere else for that matter, who hope and pray they look lousy are the Detroit Tigers. Any sports writer who'll pick the Tigers to finish fifth Is welcomed and fet- cd In the Detroit camp.
 Buck Newsom, Hank 0reenberg and Go. remember how terrible they looked last spring and how the sports scribes wrote them right out of the race and into fifth place. Then the Tigers exploded in every- ones face and won the flag. Well, around here they are all hoping lightning will strike twice in the same place.
 Truth to tell, the Tigers do look lousy, but far be 1t from me to re- legate the Bengals to second divi- sion. They have too much power and e fair amount of pitching. And this may be the age when 1t doesn't take great infields to win pennants.
 The fate of the Tigers may be wrapped up in Hank 0reenbergs draft number. If he goes (and no- body knows what may happen), then the Tigers may fall upon evil days. The Tigers without Greenberg are like ham without eggs. The grape- vine circuit insists that 0reenberg will 90 before June, but there Is no definite information to substantiate that assumption.
 The main change in the Tigers is Manager Del Bakers plan to play Eric McNair, rescued from base- bells backwash during the winter. McNair hit only .227 with the White 6ox last season and was through with that club. Desperate for in- flelders, the Tigers signed him and now, Baker says heIl be Detroit's shortstop.
 McNair in condition and the right mental frame of mind might help the Tigers. However, he is likely to have quite Q job wrestling Rowdy Dick Bartell's job away from him even though Bartell hit only .2S3 last season. Some of the pitchers on the club think Bartell should be out there again. Both McNair and Bartell were bothered by sprained ankles during spring training. York At First
 Rudy York at first, Charlie Geh- ringer at second and Pinky Higgins at third round out the infield. Geh- ringer has looked good this spring and put all ideas out of his head about retiring. He says he'll never be as bad in the next 10 years as he was last season. However, Frankie Croucher will be around just in case.
 Counting 0reenberg on hand and playing left, the rest of the outfield will be Barney McCosky, tremend- ous ball player in center, and either Tuck Stainback or Bruce Campbell in right. Stainbaok and Campbell may alternate against left nd right hnded pitching. The rookie star in camp Is Ned Harris, Q fast, hard hitting youngster who batted .3l2 at Beaumont If Qreenberg goes, Har- ris Is sure to get an outfield berth and he may crowd his way into the picture anyway.
 Newsorn Best Pitcher
 The first line of pitchers includes Buck (Ol' Bobo) Newsom, School boy Rowe, Tommy Bridges, Johnny Corsica, Hal Newhouser and Floyd 0iehell, the kid who beat Bob Teller In the deciding game last Septem- ber. Archie McKain and Al Benton are the relief men. The two top youngsters are Virgil (Tire) Trucks and Hal White.& They both have plenty on the ball. Trucks can make It if he doesn't 60 wild. sizzy Trout, wearing the new contact lenses, Is struggling to win Q berth.
 Birdie Tebbets and Billy Sullivan will do the bulk of the catching Ed Parsons, who has just recovered from Q broken finger, will be the No. 3 backstop.