The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-03-16
THERN GAMES
Give SOME HOPE
TO WASHINGTON
Senators, Wrecked By U.
S. Have Best Record in
Grapefruit League
BY PAUL sCHEFFELs
UNITED Press STAN COrespOndent)

NOhAVeU EEeSS StsM GVESSPOmueHbD
New York, March is - (Up.) -
Spring training may be bore to
baseballS' veterans and the exhibi-
ton game schedule a tedious grind
to both old-tiIners and rockies but
1t has been like a tonic to the Wash
ington Senators, "ugly ducklings" Of
the American League.
Clark Griflth's club wound up in
a tie for sixth place with the st.
Louis Browns last year and this sea-
son, its inf1eld riddle by the loss of
four third basemen to the armed
services, its pitching STAFF headed by
a 32-year-old veteran and Its out
field without q 800 hitter, was rated
as 100-1 ShrotS. But after is days
Of grapefruit league play, Washing
ton led the parade today with a
gaudy 1857 average.
Cubs Perfect"
Technically, the Chicago Cubs are
In first place with percentage Of
1000 in three games but the Bruins
have beaten a minor league club
and yesterday divided their squad
into two teams which registered a
pair Of victories. The senators have
scored all their triumphs at the ex-
pense Of major league opponents
six Of seven games-and have lost
only to the New York Yankees.
OF course, the Senators cannot be
seriously rated as a pennant posi-
bility or even a choice for the first
division of their spring victories but
the clubs ability to win so often
after their infield defamation by the
departure Of the clubs leading hit
ter, Cecil Travis with 1853, Buddy
Lewis (29D, and rockies Hills
Layne and Bob Morem, undoubted-
ly must send 1t up notch or two in
the future book.
Not as surprising as the Sena-
tors surge but equally impressive
has been the record Of the st. Louis
Cardinals-popular choice to win the
1912 National League flag who
rank third with seven victories, three
defeats and a percentage of TOO. All
the Cards decisions have been over
major leaguers, too.
Not So Bad
Connie Mack's perennially helpless
Philadelphia Athletics have COM
piled the next-best mark-7-4-. 1886
but their record Is qualified by two
factors. The Mackmen have won six
Of their seven victories against min
or leaguerS and In addition, made
one Of the earliest starts In the ma
jorS, their spring training getting
under way in mid -February.
Next comes the Champion Yam
KEGS, whose record Of f1ve victories
in nine games has been disappoint-
ing but not surprising because Man
ager Joe Mccarthy has been unable
to field lineup Of regulars because
of his many hold-outs.
Bunched at the 500 mark are four
clubs, the Brooklyn Dodgers, ST.
Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phils
and Boston Braves. The Dodgers
have broken even in 10 games, five
against the Cuban All-Stars and the
remaining teams each have won one
and lost one.
The New York Giants, striving Il
fashion an explosive attacking team
from a club used to playing close
to the vest" have found the roae
rocky, winning only three games ane
losing five.
Boston's Red Sox, without the bat
ting punch Of Outfielder Ted vii.
liams, and the Cleveland Indians, 81
far uninspired by New Manager Lol
Boudreau's college spirit, are brack
eted at 1888 with two victories ant
four defeats. At the same percent.
age but with a record Of a single
victory in three starts, are the Pitts
burgh Pirates.
Major League opposition has belt
ed the Cincinnati Reds for five loss
es in seven starts while the Chicago
White Sox and Detroit Tigers, eacl
unable to win a game, bring up thu
rear. The Sox have lost two anS
the Tigers three.