Evening star., 1952-03-05
Predicts Staff
viii Get Better
Start This Year
Few Rockies Among
Harris String Likel,
To Stick With Club
By Burton Howkins
Ster Staff corsspendent

Mats that pitching won't cure,
Clark Griffith declares, and he's
lof the possibly biased opinion that
the remedy win be found In the
group Of 25 pitchers being IN
spected by Manager Bucky Harris.
Il don't cale what anybody
saya" Griff snorts. ''this isn't q
bad ball club. All we need is bet
ter pitching and Improvement
around second base. I think wen
get both from among the play
ers we have now. so I'm not anx-
ious to trade"
Figures aren't supposed to lie,
but Grin throws out the record
In discussing the outlook for his
pitchers. "Sid Hudson was lost
to us for the first two months last
year. didn't pitch . ball." Grif-
nth says. I'VE didn't get Bob
Porterheld until late in June.
Mickey Harris Looks Better.
Don Johnson lost his fast ban
after awhile and didn't finish well
probably due to gaining too much
weight. We didn't have Glenn
Elliott. Mickey Harris seems
stronger than ever and he mirht
make q good. starter for us.
Wen be starting q lot stronger
This year-and I don't know that
some OF the fellows we had with
us at the finish will still be around
this season. We have q fine bunch
OF rookie pitchers and they might
grab some jobs"
Prospects for the rockies
though. appear dim at first glance
There's a large group here but
unless Harris shakes up his pitch
ing stan considerably, few of the
newcomers stand q chance of re-
manning. Barring brilliant exhi-
nitions Of new talent, Bucky prob
ably wiA string along with much
the same staff he had at his com
mand last season.
Pitching Staff Limited to IL.
II Bucky carries six infielders
f1ve outfelders and three catchers
nell have to slice his roster to IL
pitchers by May Is. At the mo-
ment ne has IA pitchers who have
seen service in the majors and all
though some Of their records
wouldn't indicate that's a recom-
mendation. 1t gives 'em an edge.
Virtually assured Of sticking
are Porterf1eld. Elliott, Harris
Hudson. johnson. Tom Ferrick.
sandy Consuegra. Connie Mar
rero. Julio Moreno and Joe
Haynes. The 11th member NAV
come from group consisting of
Dick Starr. AL Sima, Dick Wei
teroth or Bob Ross-awaiting an
Army call or from q crop Of III
greener pitchers.
Excluding Elliott. who wasn't
around. the Mats 1852 potential
starting staff had q combined 27-
40 record last season. but Griffith
chooses to ignore that item
"Shucks. Porterfield could be a
20-game winner" Grifith saws
and he won only nine games last
year" ~
Hudson Confident.
Hudson also Is hoping for a
comeback. I'm feeling better
than ! have in six or eight wears y
Sid says. "and I've been throwing
overland for some time now and
haven't felt even the slightest
twinge."
Missing now is the pain which
checked Sid'S overland throwing
changing him first to a sidearmer
tnen an underhand pitcher. The
oone spur in his shoulder isn't
Dothering him and Hudson IL
optimistic. =
We have a lot Of potential soo
nitters on this club" Griff con.
tlnued. "Yost. Runnels. vernon
Coan. Noren, Mele and Cannes
Clyde Kluttz hit .313 last year
and Cass Michaels batted over
800 q couple Of years aeo. #
tney play up to their capabilities
we could have fan.
KunneIs Expected to Imurove
tunnels was green ct short.
STOP last year as he figured to be
Hell improve. Michaels looks
like q different player. Mavhe
they'll be q better Combination
around second base and tiohten
our defense"
Harris tentatively has sched-
uled Bob Ross. Sonny Dixon and
Harley Grossman to pitch against
the Athletics here Saturday in
the opener Of the exhibition
schedule. Ross had q 4-6 record
with Kansas City and the Mats
last year. while Grossman won 10
and Jost 2 for Charlotte and Dig
on had . l4-13 record with Chat
tanooga.
Johnny Rigney. director Of the
Chicago White Sox farm system.
paused here yesterday to watch
the Mats drill but didn't propose
any deals and left town immed-
lately after the workout.