The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-27
ATLANTA AIS RYAN.
FAILED TO MAKE
POST.
One.Eyed SOuthpaw on
Pitching staff; Mize a
Question Mark

UNITED Press star COFrespOndent)
Mlamiy Fla, March TIT Mel
OFT has one OF baseball's toughest
Job In attempting 10 rebuild the New
York Giants into one OF the domi-
nant clubs In the National league.
The club OFT took over this spring
was only O shell OF the pennant"
winning team Of le3GsS7, II was
worn out physically and mentally
and most Of the players seemed 10
have lost the urge TO win,
But OFT, q hero among his own
players, has torn the club apart
outside the pitching stan only two
regulars besides himself remain In
their jobs---shortStop Bllly urges
and catcher Harry banning. OFT Is
not going about his job blindly, His
goal Is 10 build q power club, Gone
are the days when the Polo Grounds
played for one or two runs and set
up O defense to hold their rivals at
bay.
OFT has had rough going this
spring, getting oil sorts OF bad
breaks. Johnny Mlze, the slugger
bought from the Cardinals, calno up
with O recurrence OF his shoulder
trouble. Bill Werber, bought from
tho Reds 10 play third, hurt his
knee. Connie Ryan, the Atlanta
rookie, failed 10 All the second base
gap. And 10 throw q bleak curtain
over the entlr6 outlook the Giants
dropped II out OF the flrst 10 major
league exhibition games.
But the Giants have hit bottom,
From now they'll get better because
they have some guys who can hit,
Hank Lelber MiSe, OFT and banning
prmolse TO give che Giants more
punch than they've had In years,
OTIS main worries are second
base, where Ryan's failure has hurt,
and the pitching siaff, which isn't
downright bad but Isn't anything 10
shout about. Fiddler Bill McQee,
o failure last season Is In fine shape
and Is likely TO stage q comeback,
He might easily DO the ace, or the
new crop Ten Sunkel lefthander
from Syracuse who's blind In one
eye looks best. Dave Rosie @ Mil.
waukee lefty, and Hugh East, who
copied 10 and lost 10 at Jersey City
look like they'll stick. RUDE Fischer,
who won seven and lost ~ AZ Jersey
City, has shown possibilities.
Back frcfn last years stan ore
Carl Hubboll, Haly Schumacher, Bob
Carpenter, Clltf Melton and tho re-
lief men, Ace Adams and Johnny
WLtig, OFT plans 10 let Hubbell pick
his own spots. OFT believes that q
few more runs will increase Sehu-
inaeher'S annual u Or i3 victories 10
close TO co.
Otis intention OF building tho
Giants into O power team was con.
tirmed when no shipped outneldor
Fucker TO Jersey City. Rueker hit
1888 last year and moro 40 hits
(0nly Peto Reiscr Stain Hack and
lDany Lltwhller getting more) but
oil but 40 Of them were singles,
many OF the infield variety. OFT
also dumped Sid Gordon and Jim
Maynard az Jersey City and brought
In outhelder Howard Moss who hit
.34e last year NJ IT. Smith. Moss Is
gockor, driving Ia 1913 runs and
hitting "a homers.
The Giants outheld will lineup
with Willard Marshall, the % year
old surprise package from Atlanta,
IN left Hank Leiber, bought back
from the Cubs, In center, and OFT
IN right. Babe Barna, who hit "A
homers at Minneapolis, and Moss
will DO the reserve men.
Until OFT gets o second baBeman
the Giants infleld will DO unsteady,
RyVn'S failure and Nick WItek'S
unreliabllity In the field leave q
Dig gap az second. MiEe who IL
gradually nursing his shoulder back
70 normal, has the call over Babe
Young at first, urges is set at short
ana Werber at third. Young, who
drove IN i04 runs last year (second
only 70 Dolf CamiliI), Is too valuable
10 sit on tho bench and may be
traded II his draft status Is re-
classified from It's present IA, Dicl.
Bartell, who led the Giants In hit.
ting last year with 1903, again will
be the handy man.
Hank banning, with q new lease
on life now that he's out from under
Bill Tcrrys thumb should have q
big year aS the No. catcher, RAY
Berries O feeble hitter but fine re-.
ceivcr, hABSbeen bought from Jersey
City 70 uiiderstudy banning,
TOMORROW-The Chicago Cubs