The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-05-07
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 United Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, May 2 - U.P) - Lit- tie Mel Ott, popular manager and right fielder of the Giants, was changing from ball togs to civvies in his cffice. He had about as much privacy as show-window manikln. The baseball writers wanted to know what he thought about the National League pennant race, now that the opening phase of the cam- paign was completed.
 Modest Mel said, T can tell you more about the race after we play the western clubs. Yes, we've done all right against the other eastern clubs We're leading the league; and I'm convinced thas our club is i'm proved considerably over last sea- son. But I expect rough going when the western outfits begin moving in on us Tuesday. Cincinnati tackles us first"
 Ott was in excellent spirits. His Giants had just won the opener of a sunday double-header from the Braves, thanks to ninth-inning home runs by Phil Weintraub and "Schnozz'' Lombardi And rain had washed out the nightcap, but not before Johnny Fucker had stretched his hitting streak to IT straight games.
 Ott was pleased with the Giants performances against the Braves, whom he tabbed the most improved club in the east Including Sundays victory, the Ottmen have beaten Boston six times in seven contests. Against all eastern opposition, the New Workers have won 12 and lost four. This is much better than last season. when the Giants registered only eight victories and nine de- feats in the first phase Of play.
 Manager Mel continued, flor me personally, the big difference be- tween the two seasons is that 1 know what I've got this year. Last season l didn't know that. l had to do lot of experimenting with new players, never knowing what to ex- pect. Now l know what I've got" He grinned wryly and added, but l don't know yet what those western clubs have"
 The diminutive, brown-haired pi- lot emphasized that any impressions he might have formed of the west ern outfits were based merely on what he had read in the papers. The Cardinals would be tough again despite the loss of Stan Musial and Walker Cooper. The Cubs were of to the kind of start one would ex- pect from a good club, and they were gtting better pitching than last season. Pittsburgh was having tenn porary tough luck, and was far stronger outfit than it's early show ing indicated. "As for Cincinnati, he said, the Reds are always tough and they've always got good pitching
 Where were the Giants most im- proved?
 Our pitching seems much bet ter he explained, "Feldman, Mun- go and Young Hansen are a big help. And Ace Adams has done fine relief work except in one game against Brooklyn. Another import. ant factor is Lombardi's improve. ment. He reported for training or tune very unusual for him. And he! Tn good physical condition for tht flrst time in several seasons As, Fucker has started like a ball O. 1re. In addition to his hitting, he. been playing a grand game in tn, outfield-making plays he couldn even attempt last season. Oh, I al most forgot our infield. Those thre, youngsters - Reyes, Kerr and Hau mann are really clicking now. Las year our inf1eld play lacked spec, and certainty"