The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-11
REAL LOW-DOWN.
ON '43 DODGERS,
INDIANS LOOMS.
Washington Senator May
Prove Real Dark Horse
in American League
BY PAUL SCHEFFELS
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
New York, May IL CUP-The
major leagues square off In their
first set OF ;ntersectional games to-
morrow-Western National League
teams playing In the East and
Eastern American League squads
parading through the West and
the 12-day program should go a
long way towards providing a true
yardstick OF both pennant races.
AS set, there has Eren no actual
yardstick by which the measure the
respective values Of the two defend
in6 champions the New York
Yankees and st. Louis Cardinals
since all clubs have not played each
other. Now several points are due
TO be cleared up, the most important
OF which are;
Whether the Dodgers are likely
to dethrone the Cardinals this year
or have merely been padding their
averages on the Giants and Phillies,
weak sisters OF the circuit this year
2-Whether the first nesting be-
tween the Indians and Yankees will
prove Lou Boudreau's Cleveland club
a real contender or just a fash In
the pan.
3-Whether the loss of Terry
Moore and Enos Slaughter has actu-
ally Debated the Cardinals batting
punch 10 dangerous level.
4-Whether the Senators fine
early showing Is true indicator OF
contending ability or Just a feverish
spring burst that will fade before
the tough lads from the hlntsr-
land.
YankS Two Up
The Yankees, who open az Chi
cago for three games and then stop
Off at ST, Lou.o. Detroit and Clevc-
land In that order, have q two
game lead after winning 10 OF 10
games. Their brilliant early stand
proved only that thc Red Sox who
dropped seven Of eight 10 the Bomb
ers, are definitely out OF the
threatening" class and that Ernie
Bonham and Spud Chandler, both
Of whom have won three, will prob
ably be the two best righthanders
In their loop.
Brooklyn faces q real acid test In
l4-game home stand at Ebbets
Field against the fed Western
ers, since the Dodgers twogame
edge In the National League Is In
dicatiW; Of only how little COM
petition the Braves, Phillies and
Giants actually provided. The
Do1Onra ham uyn,, 10 aud Loot oIv IA
half dozen OF their wins coming
over the Phillies, four over the
Giants and two over the Braves.
T'hier flrst-place berth may only b:
the result OF cut-throat competi-
ton which has been prevalent
among the runnerup Cardinals,
Cubs and Pirates.
Particular attention will be focus
ed on the Yankees, Tigers and In
dams. The Tigers In third place.
are IN exceptionally exclusive COM
pany for club that on paper looked
barely god enough 10 finish sixth
They found an unexpectedly soft
touch In the disappointing Browns,
who contributed four decisions to
the Detroit cause, but Manager
Steve O'Neill has been getting good
pitching from rookie Stubby Over
mire, Virgil Trucks and Dizzy Trout
Harder Hurt
Boudreau received an une%pect-
eddy serious blow when veteran Mel
Harder suffered n fractured ankle
last Saturday that will keep him
inactive for Mt least two months.
Laughing Lou has been handling his
hill veterans adroltly and has relc-
gated rookie moundsmcn 10 q Sec
ondary role.
Another club that Will b, IN the
spotlight u great deal Is the sur
prising Senators. Not alone Is Wash
ington one of the top drawing cards
In the majors but has been near
the top all along and may have n
20-game winner In Alex Carrasquel
who has notched four wins.