Evening star., 1951-04-16
Pitching Chief Worry
|0f Most Managers
AS Season Begins
By the Assoeioted Press


game in each circuit. A complete
|eight-game slate is on tap for to-
morrow.
my only worry is pitching,
says Manager Casey Stengel o1
the defending champion Yankees
who help the Mats inauguate the
American Leagues 51st season In
Washington today.
"It all depends on Allie Reyn-
olds. If his arm comes around in
the next 10 days. we'll be in fine
shape and should win again. Until
/ know about him, I won't be able
to line up my starters"
Bucky Harris, Washington pilot
believes his club is better than last
year except for the pitching.
TITS up to my pitchers" he said
IF Sid Hudson, Gene Bearden,
Bob Kuzava and my two Cuban
righthanders come through. we
may push into the first division"
Sewell Likes His Staff.
Luke Sewell of Cincinnati is
one of the few shippers who has
no visual pitching problems. He
had Ewell Blackwell d7-15), one
of the best in the business. all
primed for today's opener be-
tween the Reds and Pirates in
Cincinnati. Another bumper
crowd of $4,000 was slated to
watch the lanky righthander take
on Cliff Chambers d2-l5). Pitts
burgh southpaw.
Pitching is my strong point,
Sewell says. "Show me a better
starting five than Blackwell, How
ard Fox 11-8). Ken Raffens-
berger u4-19. Herm Wehmeier
(10-18 and Will Ramsdell g.
IA. I don't know how we'll fare
but we're an improved club"
Billy Meyer, Pittsburgh pilot
thinks his club can get out OF
the basement provided we get the
pitching and Ralph Kiner works
out at first base" His starters
include Murry Dickson. Vernon
Law. Will Werle and Rookie BOZ
Friend.
Steve O'Neill Confident.
All other managers will have
to wait another day to get their
first official indications as to how
their pitching will hold up. They
are all leading with their aces
Steve O'Neill openly declares his
Red Sox have the best chucking
in the American League.
"The Yankees may have the
best big three in Lopat. Raschi
and Reynolds" he argues. "but
I have the best top five in Parnell,
Wight. Scarborough, Nixon and
Taylor"
Parnell (18-10). is the choice to
oppose Vic Raschi (21-8 at
Yankee Stadium in the opening
clash between the Yankees and
Red Sox before SIS, 900 tomorrow.
Despite four such fine starters
as Bob Lemon, Bob Feller, Early
Wynn and Mike Garcia. Al Lopez
of the Indians still has pitch
ing problem. There isn't a left
handler on the front-line crew.
At that. he is much better off
than Red Rolfe, genial Detroit
manager who still hasn't come up
with anyone to replace Art Hout-
teman, his 19-game winner now in
the Army. Rolfe also must wait
for final Judgment on Virgil
Trucks, his lame armed right
handler.
1t will be UP to Hal Newhouser
d5-13). the old stopper" to get
the Tigers off on the right foot
He will be opposed by Lemon
(23-1D. the majors biggest win
ner last year. About $4,000 were
expected to attend.
Carver VS.. Pierce.
Billy Pierce t12-16) and Ned
Carver 13-18). pair of efficient
Ihurlers with losing ball clubs last
season, were to oppose each other
before $4,000 in st. Louis as the
White Sox and Browns clash.
"1f We get a.. couple of more
pitchers to- go with Pierce. Box
Cain and Joe Dobson, we'll take 9
back step for nobody" says Pau
Richards of the White Sox.
Our team will go just as far al
the pitching" says Zach Taylor o1
the Browns. It would be cruel to
ask Zach What pitching?"
The same can be asked Of
Jimmy Dykes. whose Athletics
take on the Mats in Philadelphia
in the first night game opener ir
the American League. Bobby
Shantz (8-14) is to oppose Wash
ington's Conrado Marrero.
Don NeWcombe (19-1D anc
Robin Roberts GOLD pick ur
where they left off last year al
Brooklyn and the Phillies clash al
Ebbets Field before some 10000
Newcombe was the loser and Rob-
erts the winner when the Phils
nipped the Dodgers in the flnaI
Iflag-deciding game last October
Leo Durocher is another o1
those lucky people who is happy
over his pitching. However, he
knows that Sal Maglie I8-4 ano
Jim Hearn 11-4 must do II
again if his Giants are to win the
pennant. He plans to pitch
Larry Jansen (19-13, his most
dependable hurler, against Bos-
toms Vern Bickford (19-14).