Evening star., 1951-03-01
Noren Confident
He'll Improve in
Second Season
Eddie Yost and Cubon
Contingent of Eight
Due to Arrive Today
By Burton Hawkins
S,or Stoff CORRESPONDENT

ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. l.-1rV
Noren, who last season developed
into the Mats brightest rookie In
decade, is determined to carry
on from there and says, 81 don't
see any reason why I shouldn't t
improve over last year-in fact,
I'm confident I will"
Washington's most valuable
player last season when he batted
.295, drove in SO runs and hit IA
homers, Noren justified his $40. 900
price tag with a fine first year,
but he says he'll be disappointed
if his production isn't greater this
season.
II led both leagues in assists,
but for the first time since I've
been playing ball my arm didn't
feel right last year" Irv said to-
day. Il can throw better than I
showed. I thought I was a cinch
to hit 800, too. but in the last
couple of weeks I tapered off. I
was just tired, I guess.
Pressure OFF Now.
"The pressure is off a bit now.
Last year I was straining to make
good. Now I know the ball parks,
know how to play the hitters and
the pitching won't be strange to
me. I think as the result of what
I learned last year I'll be of more
help to the club this season. -
Coach Clyde Milan, whose base
stealing feats weren't so far be-
hind Ty Cobb's at the peak of
his career, is Noren fan. He
was the finest base runner, for a
rookie. that I've seen in many,
many years." Clyde said.
"Too many fellows are content
to take tiny leads off base" con-
tinued Milan. "Noren studied the
pitchers, learned how much of a
lead he could take and exer-
cised fine judgment against all
of them. Many times he took an
extra base because of it.
"Noren may take a little time to
get going in training. He's a
free swinger and those fellows
always look bad starting out.
Goose Goslin was the worst look
ing hitter you've ever seen in
spring games. but he got squared
away by the time the season
opened.
Natural Hitch in Swing.
"Irv has a double hitch in his
swing that isn't going to be COR
rected and shouldn't be. It's his
natural style and he does all right
with it. but it will probably take
time for him to get his eyes on
the ball"
Out three weeks last year due
to an appendectomy. Noren just
missed becoming the first Wash
ington player to bat in 100 runs
since Cecil Travis knocked in 101
in 1941. Noren's was the best
rookie performance by any of the
Mats since Sid Hudson won II
games in 1910. his first year.
Noren made Clark Griffith look
good on the biggest player ex-
penditure the Mats president ever
made. 1t may have been just
the shot in the arm needed by the
club as Griff was getting weary
of dishing out comparatively size
able sums and getting little in
return.
Paid 100000 for Hittle.
Griff shelled out 100000 for
Lloyd Hittle and got pitcher
whose fast ball fooled few and
whose curve practically was non
existent. A few years before that
he gave up $4,000 for Jimmy
Pofahl. a shortstop with a weak
arm and a weaker batting average,
Eight Cubans and Third Base
man Eddie Yost were due to
arrive today and bring the Mats
squad to its full strength of IS
Yost agreed to terms yesterday
$15,500 base salary with a $500
bonus if the Mats home attend
ance reaches 100000. He told
Vice President Calvin Griffith he
would try to be here today.