Evening star., 1947-04-09
Suspended for 1o47 in MacPhaiIFeud
|0ssie Favors Pierefii
In Search for Fifth
Starring Hurler
BY Burton Howkins
stor s.aff Correspondent

Sfof Sfuff 1offe9ponosnI
CHATTANOOGA. Tenn. April q.
The Mats are converging on
washington with 3 nth pitching
berth as unsettled rs Russian rela-
tions with the United States. Bobo
Newsom, Sid Hudson, Early Wynn
and Mickey Haefner are starting
fixtures, but where the nth regular
hurler will coma from Is banning
Manager Ossie Bluege.
Thur far Bluege has been inclined
to favor little Marino Pieretu as
his NTH starter, but Pieretu has
been displaying q tendency TO
tighten up in action. He has been
too eager to make good, hampering
his effectiveness.
'sI've been telling Chick to take It
easy said Haefner, probably the
most cold -blooded pitcher In base-
ball, abut that's something you have
to develop. Pieretti will just have
to learn there's no excuse for being
nervous out there on the mound.
They hit you or they don't and
that's that.
Can't Fool All Batters.
Long ago I learned that you
simply can't throw that baseball by
every batter. There are some pretty
good hitters in the major leagues
and some of them get fancy salaries
for hitting. You're going to fool
some of them some Of the time, but
the good batters can't be fooled all
the time.
1.-THE trick is to concentrate on
the fellow who follows the man
who gets hit. The good hitters
are going to get those base hits oc-
.casionally and there's no sense
worrying about it. I just pitch the
best know how and II they hit
me there's nothing I can do
about it,
Pieretti has been straining to
make the grade over such candi-
dates as Ray Scarborough, Wal
ter Masterson and Milo Candini.
Despite an inclination to be ner-
vous, Chick stilI retains the lead
In a battle for that fifth starting
job.
Says He's Trying Too Hard.
$50 far I just haven't been able
to conquer that nervousness,
Pieretti admitted. 'T wish Mr..
Bluege would step up to me and
say, Chick, you're looking all right.
I'm going to start you this sea-
SON. Instead I feel that have
to pitch no-hit ball every time
I step on the mound and ! sub
consciously tighten up"
1--WE got better stuff than I've
ever had" Pieretti continued, "but
I'VE been trying too hard. try
to make every pitch too good and
because of it I've been a little wild.
I know / can pitch and pitch well,
but I can't blame MIR. Bluege Tor
having his doubts about me-"
Bluege actually has been i'm
pressed by Pieretti's labor. He has
a wonderfully improved curve ball"
Ossie said, "and I'd say he's going to
be our fifth starter but he has to
learn to remain calm. All he needs
is a bit more poise and the job
Is his"
Others Not in Top Form.
Scarborough has been ineffective,
chiefly because of damaged wrist,
while Candini's pitching has been
spotty. Either could take over as a
starting pitcher, but at the moment
Bluege Is leaning toward Pieretti. a.
diminutive San Francisco truck
driver and accomplished accordion
player.
Rained out last night at Birming-
ham, the Mats were to battle the
Phillies here today, with Mickey
Haefner slated to pitch for Wash
ington. The Mats and PlMllies will
collide tomorrow at Charlotte, then
meet at Greensboro on Friday.
Washington and Baltimore will face
at Griffith Stadium on Saturday.