Evening star., 1942-03-19
Indians Morale
High, Boudreau
Eyes 4th Spot
Mound Problem About
All Now Botherine
Youngest Pilot
BY GAYLE TALBOT.
Associated Press Sports Writer.


CLEARWATER. Fla, March 10
After having worried himself sleep
less most of the winter, Lou Bou-
dreau, the new boy" manager Of
the Cleveland Indians, has discov-
cred to his obvious astonishment and
delight. that he didn't have a thing
to worry about.
You explain it. The same sullen,
hard-bitten crew that made life
miserable for Oscar Witt two seasons
ago and which failed to respond to
Roger Peckinpaugh last year sud-
denly has decided to play baseball
for smiling 24-year- ex-colle-
gian. There is harmony in the
Cleveland camp Roy Weatherly
probably is in the best shape of his
career and is full of vim. The tough
part is that it has come too late.
Its the greatest thrill I've ever
had" says Boudreau, who will be
the youngest regular in his teams
lineup. "I didn't know how some
OF the fellows would like taking
orders from me. I'll admit I wor-
ried plenty. Any one would have
in my position. And then we got
here and started training and every
worry disappeared. They are hus-
ting so hard for me that I scarcely
know how to express my apprecia-
ton. I still don't quite understand
it, but it's great"
panlrao,, Euae Ea,~&L DIoaa
1t is unfortunate the same spirit
didn't prevail in either of the last
two years when the Indians ap-
peared to have everything except
the will to win Bobby Feller,
greatest of present-day pitchers. is
in the service; Hal Trosky, slugging
first baseman, is on the temporary
retired list; Gee Walker, star
right fielder, is running his drug
store at Orlando, Fla, and appar-
emily is deadly Serious about refus-
ing to accept a salary cut. Instead
of a pennant contender, Cleveland
is Just another ball club.
I'm setting my sights for fourth
place" Boudreau said. If we finish
that high III be satisfied. I can't
see much hope of breaking into the
first three against the Yankees. the
Red SoX and the White SoX. They've
got those places sewed up, I'm afraid.
The White Sox can finish up there
on their pitching staff alone. Once
you get staff like that going it will
carry you along by itself"
With Feller gone, the Indians
staff consists, broadly speaking, Of
a couple of left-handers named Al
Al Smith and Al Milnar-and a
hope for the best. That hardly
seems sufficient.
Infield Appears Strong.
Sticklers for accuracy might claim
catchers than anything else since
Rollie Hemsley was sold to Cincin-
natl, but they would be splitting
hairs. Gene Qesautels, who hit POI
in 66 games last year. still remains,
and there is a rookie from Min
neapolis named Otto Denning.
The team has one of the better
infields. with Boudreau, himself. at
short, Ken Keltner on third, Ray
Mack at second and robust 190-
pound newcomer named Les Flem-
ing. up from Nashville, taking
Trosky's job at first. Fleming looks
the works at bat. He hit Ala for
Nashville last year and drove in 103
runs. Disquieting point is that the
Indians also have couple of rookie
outfielders from Nashville named
Oris Hockett and Charles Workman,
who clouted .359 and 1884. respec-
lively. That is an awful lot of hit
ting on one club.
jeff Heath. whose great feat of
hitting $40 and driving across 1873
runs generally was unappreciated,
is back in left field, and Weatherly
looks set for a good year in center.
The third job. if Walker doesn't
report. probably belongs to Henry
Edwards, a 6-foot. 190-pound rookie
who blasted the ball at a 1854 rate
last season for Cedar Rapids.