The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1951-04-12

Bluefeld, Quebec and Hagerstown
Dutch Dorman's squad looks the
best of any of them. But even at that
there are lot of question marks in
the Hagerstown squad that will prob
ably not be correctly answered until
after the Interstate league season
opens.
The trouble here is, not so much
the boys who are in camp and as
signed to the various squads, but the
boys who are not here.
For instance. The final makeup
of the Hartford team depends large
ly on the help they can get from
Milwaukee and Atlanta, neither of
whom are training here, the team
that Dorman fields on opening day
in our league will depend somewhat
on what help we can get from Hart
ford after their final squad is made
up.
Right now, Lou Tufano (whose
mental attitude is quite different to
what it was last year, is playing cen
terfeld on the Hartford squad, and
Seymour Niles, promising, right
handed, rookie pitcher, has also been
transferred from the HagerStown to
the Hartford squad. That does not
mean, of course, that they will make
the team, but since the Braves break
camp on Saturday and head toward
home, and Hartford remains here un-
til about April 49, Dutch will not
know until the Hartford team ar
rives in Hagerstown to play two ex-
hibition games with the Braves on
the 21st and 22nd, just what Hart
ford'S manager, Tommy Holmes,
plans are-to hang on to Tufano and
Niles, or leave them in Hagerstown.
Jimmy linn, the second baseman
that Gene Raney bought last Au-
gust and who spanked the Braves in
their comeback, is another big ques-
ton mark. Boston took him at the
end of the 1850 season, under the
terms of their working agreement
with Hagerstown, and assigned him
to Hartford. linn, however, is not
satisfied with the contract offered
him and although he is working out
with the Hartford squad he is still
unsigned, and his status will also
remain in doubt until Hartford
breaks camp.
lam citing these cases just to show
you how impossible it is, at this
time, to even hazard a guess as to the
lineup of the Hagerstown Braves,
even on opening night.
There are, however, some players
whom l believe will definitely be on
the squad, and here they are:
Pitchers: Andy Bush, Dick Car
michael, Gerry Levinson, Carl Hro-
vatic Harry Whitney and Sammy
Cooper all righthanders, and Don
Weiderecht, lefthander. There is
also possibility that Bill Allen,
who is working out with Evansville,
might wind up with Hagerstown.
ShOrtstOp: Tommy Lind, who is a
much improved player. He has fill
ed out quite a bit, looks really fit,
covers his territory we'll and is look
ing much better at the plate.
Third Base: Joe Roddin, who will
handle balls that Tedesco couldn't
get glove on. While not a long
ball hitter, he is consistent and
should hit between .29O and 300 in
our league.
Outfeld: Pete Perrin will be back
in leftfeld. Pete is working him
self into condition, seems very sat
isfed to be back, and is hitting the
ball hard and far. George Owen will
start in rightfeld. He too, while not
too consistent at the p.ae really hits
for distance when he does connect
The centerfeld spot. of course, re-
mains in doubt. Vince Pizzitola is
holding it down now, but his status
is doubtful. If Hartford leaves Tu-
fano behind when they leave Hag-
erstown on the 22nd he will take
over, and then, of course, there is
the question of Don Phelps, whom
Hagerstown bought last winter from
Macon, George. Phelps has not
come to terms yet and is still at his
home in New York. The Hagers-
town front office will try to come to
terms with him as soon as the team
gets home and if they are successful,
then Dutch is almost certain to use
him somewhere in the outfeld. He
hit .285 with the class A Macon
team last year.
Now for the other places.
Catchers: Very much in doubt.
Ray Fletcher, who won't report
anywhere until he completes his
physical instructor course in May,
under +ha ct COLLAGE orooray,o will