The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-04-14
BROOKLYN BUNS LOOK GOOD BUT
 WON'T WIN FLAG
By FRANK ECK

BEAR MOUNTAIN, N. Y.-The Brooklyn Dodgers will not win the pennant this year.
 That, of course, is not news, bu' the zest with which Manager Lee Durocher is going drought daily ln- field drills at second base ordinar- fly would lead all and sundry to be- lieve that the beloved Buns will be in there battling, National League 'umpires to the contrary notwith- standing.
 Durocher may not crash the llne- up even for an inning but loqua- clous Lippy is getting ready-Jus' in case.
 Its not what a guy wants to dc but how he feels," said the 39-year- old pilot after counting only two regular infielders during the first week of camp drills at this ideal spot. And I feel wonderful"
 T lost 20 pounds after the USO tour of the Italian battlefront and it's heen long time since I've felt so good. I weigh I'll pounds, just about what scaled with the St. Louis Cardinals 10 years ago."
 It was then brought to Leo's at tention that a .200-hitting infield- CT might be valuable asset this season, to which Durocher replied:
 "YoU bet" and he wasn't think ing of Belmont.
 Seriously speaking, though, the Dodgers do look good. However, they will have their troubles. An over abundance of versatile fielderS puts them in the same category with ..too many cooks spoil the broth
 If Howie Schultz, 6-foot-6lsinch first baseinan, goes into the armed forces and rookie Ed Stevens of Mon- treal fails, Outfielder Augie Galan will play first.
 And if Bill Hart, who hit .283 for New Orleans, Hunks his studies at third, Frenchy Bordagaray may be brought in from the outfield to play the hot corner. Outfielders in the infield give away runs and place an extra burden on the hit ters. It's akin to using star full back up front.
 Tommy Brown, 17-year-old Ccney Island lad with goodly supply of natural talent, is set at short. He played 46 games with the seventh-place Dodgers last year and everyone likes him. He's built like Slats Marion of the Cards And he's still growing g-and learning, learning now to bring his arm down on throws to first.
 That, in itself, is good news for those fans occupying the seats be- hind first Locks like the. won't reed to wear a first sackers mitt after all.
 Eddie Stanky, the stocky bundle of perpetual motion, has mortgage on second base. He was sick abed with pneumonia during the winter but he's coming around.
 Durocher is counting on Stanky even though Leo may be forced to play second himself during the Ap- Til games Another choice would be to use Luis Olmo on second as Lippy did last season. That move, however, affected the Puerto Rican's hitting, as Luis is certainly a bet ter hitter than his 258.
 The National League batting champion, Dixie Walker, is fixture in right field. This Southern gen. tleman's .357 paced the majors in 1S44 and whether that, with 34 years weighing heavily on him, means anything, it remains to be seen.
 Goody Rosen, Morrie Aderholt, and Elmer. (Red) Durrett, the lat ter one of the Marine heroes of Guadalcanal, will be carried as ad- ditional outfielders.
 Mike Sabena, who had trial with the Boston Braves last Spring, will be retained as infield insur- ance. After hitting 299 in 39 games at Hartford where Del Bis sonette taught him how to hit left handed, Sabena played 61 games for Indianapolis last year and batted .317 He's slick on ground balls, too.
 Brooklyn pitching is question. The ace last year was Curt Davis,