The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-04-23
This Sporting World
Croniv1 Speaks Up
By JOHN A. cLUNEY

the Yankees are in Boston Wednes- day and Thursday, the detailed opinion of Manager Joe Cronin about his teams chances for the pennant this year are timely this evening. For 10 years, Cronin has been trying to hurdle the Tanks, since young Tom Yawkey tried to "buy" pennant, having spent more than &S,0O0,000 but has yet to see his Red Sox in a world series.
 Cronin considers Cleveland In- dianS the "sleeperS" of the Amer ican League nip and tuck race for the flag this season. AS cheerful as possible, under the circum- stances, he will not say the Red Sox are anything near a sure bet for the pennant, for that would sound silly against such teams as the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians. The best he will say is the A. L. race will be a knock down, drag out affair this year, and you can tell the world we will be in there but good"
 Tn what may be his last year as Boston Red SoX manager at an in- itial cost of $2SO000 CYawkey paid Joe'S father-in-laW, Clark Griffith here is the square jawed Irish mans views on the l946 American league scramble:
 Detroit, New York, Cleveland and Washington are going to be the guys we have to beat this year if we eX- pect to win the pennant," declared Manager Joe Cronin just prior to the camp-breaking of the Boston Red Sox at Sarasota, Fla. Even at this early date, don't believe that I will be far wrong in naming those four clubs as red hot contenders for the i946 flag Of course, everyone is picking Us to win the pennant and l hope the experts are correct but we are going to have a fight on our hands all the way"
 Skipper Joe had seen only these four American League clubs when he made this statement but he had seen enough to give pretty good lowdown on the setup,
 New York hasn't much pitch ing but take look at that infield and outfield. Power and a great defense. That will help the Yankee pitching. On the other hand, De- troit has great pitching but not much of an infield or outfield de- fenSively. However, with such guys as Trucks, Newhouser, Trout, Hut cainson and Overmire on the mound, the Tiger situation, as compared to that Of New York, will be reversed. The pitching will make the felders look good.
 "Cleveland'S showing in the South sort of gives the impression that the Indians are going to be the sleeperS of the league. They have four great pitchers in Teller Gromek, Embree and Reynolds; their infield Is going to be great defenSively. George Case is going to add speed to their outfield. l think Lou Boudreau has been nlayanN 'possum' in the South. l have great respect for that club.
 washington will have both good hitting and good pitching. Those old knuckle ball pests will be out there again and Sid Hudson and Walter MaSterson are going to be back. Heath, Travis, Lewis, Spence and Robertson can murder all kinds of pitching.
 T haven't seen the Browns but just look through their roster and you will find that they will have Q dependable club that will be sound all the way.
 "As for ourselves, we still have three positions which are doubtful first base, third base and right field. But around such guys as Ted Will Hams, Tex Hughson, Johnny Pesky, Bobby Doerr, Dom DiMasgio and Hal Wagner we should be able to mould e club that will hold its own with the rest of the league.
 our pitching looks pretty good Dave FerriSs, Jim Bagby, Bill But land, Earl Johnson, Mickey Harris, Larry Powell and Joe Dohson should prOVlde F4ukIlSOI Wltil PASlaVy VI AASAP' And that new kid, Mel DeutSch, ap- mars to be the real Mccoy. Every AAster who has faced him in the South says he IS plenty rough on the mound.
 T can't quite figure why all the writers have picked us so consistent ly as pennant winners with the Yanks, Tigers and Indians in the same league. Once again, keep your eye on New York's power and de- fense; Detroit and ClevelandS pitching and WaShington's slugging and you will see that the race looms as a knock down and drag out affair. But you can tell the world we will be in there. But good"
 (Ed. Note: notice the team he names first? That's MY team, Steve O'Neills Detroit Tigers, who have already twice beaten Cronin's sleep CTS, with Bullet Bob Teller on the hill in one of the games).