Evening star., 1952-04-13

to the pitching staff. They may
again take shot at the pennant
but it's unlikely the time is ripe
for the Sox to go all the way. They
needed an early-season winning
streak of IA in a row-11 on the
road-to make their 1851 bid.
Different Red SOx.
In contrast to recent Springs,
the Red Sox no longer are rated
1-2 in the American League. Bob
by Doerr has retired and Ted Will
liams shortly will be gone. Lou
Boudreau, one of the seasons new
managers (others: Stanky and
Hornsby of st. Louis), has a mix
ture of young and old but the Red
Sox still figure to have enough
class to round out the first divi-
sion. They still have Vern Step
hens, Billy Goodman, Dom Di-
Maggie and Johnny Pesky, plus
pitchers like Mel Parnell, Maury
McDermott, Ellis Kinder, Bill
Wight, Ray Scarborough and Walt
Masterson. Two additions who may
be important are Pitcher Randy
Gumpert from Chicago and
Catcher Gus Niarhos.
Detroit is a fading ball club
Once past George Kell and Jerry
Priddy in the infield, and such
pitchers as Virgil Trucks, Art
Houttemann, Dizzy Trout, Tee
Gray and Freddie Hutchinson
the Tigers aren't much. They are
"a heavy-footed, light-hitting team
that figures to put a tremendous
ban on the pitchers.
There's Hope for Mats.
The Mats, provided no key play
ers such as Irv Noren, Eddie Yost
Gil Coan, Sam Mele, Mickey Ver-
non, Cass Michaels and Pete Run.
|nels are lost for a period of time
might well move up. Bucky Harris
says Washington is IL games bet
ter than in 1851, when the Mats
finished seventh. With Bob Por.
terfield, Don johnson, CLYDE
Kluttz and Runnels available from
the start, Harris could be right
And if he is, Washington coulC
squeeze by the aging Athletics ano
the revamped Browns. who art
asking a great deal of a number
of rockies. Big Nat weaknesse:
are dearth of right-hand hitting
and an inferior bench.
Brooklyn is hoping that Glen
Labine and Chris Van Cuyk will
take up the slack left by New.
|combe's departure. The rest oi
the club is set. The Dodgers have
the best all-around catcher ir
baseball in Roy Campanella ane
no fault is to be found in the in.
field of Gil Hodges, Jackie Robin
son, Peewee Reese and Billy Cox
The outfield, too, is the best-bal-
anced in the league with Duke
Snider, Carl Furillo and Andy
Pafko on hand.
Giants Pose Problem.
The Giants pose a problem
How much will they miss Eddie
Stanky. whom they permitted tc
manage the Cards in exchange fol
Max Lanier, an ancient southpaW
and Chuck Diering, light-hitting
outfielder? Can 35-year-old Bot
Elliott, recently acquired from the
Braves, play left field acceptably
until Irwin returns? How much
will the imminent departure OF
Mays hurt? These are questions
that can be answered only after
the raising of the curtain.
The Giants still have a fine
pitching staff. headed by Sa
IMaglie, Larry Jansen, Jim Hearr
land Dave Koslo. On paper il
rates about Brpoklyn's, but moi
tabove that of the Phillies, who
could take it all after a disappoint.
ing 1851 season. The Phils have
Robin Roberts, perhaps the
leagues best; Simmons, back from
lthe Army; Bubba Church, Russ
Meyer, HOWE Fox (from Cincin.
InatD, Jim Konstanty and others
Including Rookie Steve Ridzik
who pitched a no-hitter this
spring.
Pills Batting Questionable.
Where the Phils are suspect i
at bat. With the trading of And,
Seminick and Dick Sisler to tn,
Reds. the 1850 champs must lool
to Del Ennis to provide that Ions
ball. No other Phil, except thu
laging Swish Nicholson, is much il
the power department.
The Cards are looked on b,