Evening star., 1951-03-29
Only Sam Mele
MOT al His Best;
Meet Red Sox
Beurden and Harris
Oppose Mel PorneII
And Willard Nixon
By Burton Hawkins
By Burton Hawkins
Stur Sfaff Corresnondent

ORLANDO, Fla. Mar. 29.-
Barring rain and unforeseen oc
cu;rences there1l be no more opel
dates for the Mats before they
open the American League season
with the Yankees in Washington
April Is. Eighteen games art
scheduled during the intervening
18 days, nirie of these with thu
Cincinnati Reds and only three
with minor league clubs.
The Mats were slated to look a.
some pretty fair pitching today a!
they played host to the Red So,
at Tinker Field. Mel Parnell, the
left -hander from New Orleans WHIT
is the only member of last year..
group of Boston starters sched.
uled for the same role this season
was to share the hurting job with
Willard Nixon, a lright-handel
who is billed as No. S on Steve
O'Neill's pitching staff.
Gene Bearden and Mickey
Harris are due to work for the
Mats. Bearden took quite a past.
ing from the Red Sox the last
time the two teams met although
the Mats managed to win. 6-5
Harris, the 1850 relief ace, hasn'i
done much to date. but always
enjoys working against his ole
teammates.
Mele Still Bothered.
AS the Mats plunged into theil
ambitious chore. every player or
the club appeared to be in gooe
shape with the exception of San
Mele, who still is nursing sore
arm. Mele has been playing de.
spite his ailment. but his arm i.
showing no improvement, he says
II was told to throw and that the
soreness would disappear" sale
Sam. That's all right with me
I like to play-but the soreness i!
still there
Mele explained that the arm
hurts only when he attempts {
long throw or tries to get the bal
away quickly. I'm glad to b.
playing because I need the hitting
practice" he said. LAS long a.
I'm in the lineup I'm going t
throw the best 1 can. no mattel
how much it hurts. If I don't, tht
Opposition is going to take an ex'
ira base on me all the time ane
when that happens I won't bt
around"
Keller and Pierce Go.
The Mats sliced their squac
again yesterday. sending Catcher
Hal Keller and Pitcher Jim Pearct
to Chattanooga. At the same time
they acquired Pitcher Ed Davi!
from Charlotte.
The club was able to retair
keller In its farm system since
other clubs waived on him. Tht
Mats can't send down Catcher
Frank Sacka because Jersey Cit!
has put in a claim for him.
A highlander. Davis is being
taken on the recommendation o.
Scout Mike Martin. "He has cour'
age and he'll get the ball over tht
plate" said Mike. Pearce's fail
ure to acquire control cost him hi
major league berth, for in two
outings he was wild and we'll
battered.
Meanwhile, it was indicated tina
Gene Verble and Willie Miranda
reserve infielders, will stick with
the club but Bucky Harris is hop
ing they'll be decorating the dug
out. He's depending on San
Dente and Cass Michaels to snal
out of their slumps.
Will Stick With Regulars.
GAS it stands now, we'll keer
Verble and Miranda" the Mats
manager said, "but the fellows Tn
relying on to come through fol
me are Dente and Michaels
They're both capable of playing
good baseball and certainly art
better hitters than they've shown
It's up to them to deliver"
Bucky likes Verbles aggressive
attitude and Gene probably will
replace Dente should Sans SLUMP
continue. Despite his .167 hitting
however. Dente will be given full
opportunity to be the regulal
shortstop and the same applies tt
Michaels, hitting .152.
Miranda has clinched a berth
strictly on his defensive ability
and Bucky is hoping he'll display
batting improvement. A notori'
ously light hitter, Miranda battee
.298 in the Cuban Winter League
and oave tho Nate hnSsec tho idoe