The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-02
WOLVES WHISPER NAME
 AS NEW PILOT
Browns Beat Cleveland Siy Times; Ott Has His
 Troubles, Too
BY PAUL SCHEFFELs United Press Stan Correspondent


 United Press Stan Correspondent
 New York, June 2.-(UP)-To4 day as the major leagues resumed activity after a one-day schedule break, there were only two honest to-goodness performer pilots in the big team. But unless the Cleveland Indians break their losing habit. Manager Lou Boudreau may become plain shortstop Boudreau, leaving Mel Ott as the lone player-mentor
 A player-manager was standard equipment back in the days when the National League was in its in- fancy. Rosters were small and in- comes were modest then. A mana ger who did nothing but manage was an undreamed of luxury. Today. however, the complexities of the game have multiplied SO that dug out directors have become almost necessary personnel.
 Officially, Joe Cronin of the Bos- ton Red SoX and Leo Durocher of the Brooklyn Dodgers are also on the player-manager list. But both have virtually retired. Leo is almost certain never to see action again. while Cronin will leave the dugout again only if rookie John Pesky Is called into the army.
 Both Ott and Boudreau have beer having a stormy time in their frs Joust with managerial duties. Bu Lou'S club has been wallowinp around 50 helplessly that he may become full-time player sooner than expected.
 Surprise Start
 The 24-year-old Boudreau grabbed hold of the completely dedated h. dians this year with considerable authority. His team broke from the barrier with surprising burst that included 13-game winning streak. But today the Tribe is within a whisper of falling into the Ameri- can Leagues second division.
 Cleveland has lost three in 8 row, II out of 13, IS out of their last 28 and has had to call on 13 pitchers m the last seven games, while col lapsing into a tie for third, just two games above the fifth-place St, Louis Browns. The Browns have found the Indians particularly easy picKlngS, winning six games from them this season, more than they have taken from any other club in the circuit.
 Boudreau's headache was aggrav- ated by the loss of pitcher Bobby Teller and the retirement of Hal TroSky. Even so, the wolves have already begun to whisper that Burt Shotton may take over the reins and leave Lou to his shortstopping.
 Ott. at B, took over almost as Herculean a task of rebuilding when he assumed the managership of the Glants-a team which, for the first time since 1903, had finished in the second division for three successive years. The team had fallen apart in the field and at the plate and need- ed player-replenishment at almost every position.
 Where Boudreau can at least boast of a few good hitters, Ott - whose Giants are now tied for fourth ln the National League, game and a half out of fifth = has had but mediocre luck. No surprise winning streak has frightened his load of misery. The Giants have been kay oed regularly by the three top clubs, the Dodgers, Cards and Braves, dropping 16 of g contests to these teams.
 An old baseball axiom says that when great player takes over the managership of ( ball club, he be- comes a second-rate player and a third-rate manager. In the case of Ott and Boudreau, it apparently hasn't affected their playing but their managing - well?
 East vs. West
 Resumption of competition in the major leagues today finds the east ern clubs of the National League in- vading the western cities and the western American League squads ill the east.
 In the senior circuit, New York plays at Chicago, Brooklyn at Pitts ourgh, Philadelphia at Cincinnati and Boston at St. Louis Ca night game). The American League pro. gram has Chicago at New York, Cleveland at Boston, St. Louis at Washington and Detroit at Phila- 1elphia. The latter two are night games.