Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-10
Stewart, Stone,
ScE1nlitz Face .
=.
Champs Today
Senators Consider
Holding PorterfieId
Out of First Series
By Burton Hawkins
Star Ssoff Correspondent

OF the senators left-handerS to-
day and that may be the pitch
ing pattern Bucky Harris will
follow against the champions all
season.
Bob Porterfield. the American
Leagues top winner last year
with % games, normally would
be given the honor of pitching
the opening game against the
Yankees April Is. but Harris ad-
mitted today that there's some
doubt Bob will get the assign
ment.
Porterfield isn't the type to
brood about missing the opening
game and Bucky could be doing
him a favor by withholding him
against the Yankees. who ad-
miniStered five of Bob'S 10 de-
feats last season.
II haven't made up my mind
yet" Bucky said, ''but it could
be Maury McDermott and Chuck
Stobbs against the Yankees in
our first two games at Griffith
Stadium. That would leave Por-
terfield to pitch our third game
at Boston, where left-handed
pitchers have it tough with
right-handed hitters shooting
for that short leftfield fence.
Bob figures to have a better
chance there than any of our
left-handerS."
Left Handlers Have Edge.
Harris is convinced left hand
erS have bit of an edge in
trying to beat the Yankees.
Mickey Mantle is dangerous
from either side of the plate, F."
Harris said. "but we're giving
him a little the worst of it when
we fire a left-hander at him
at Griffith Stadium and make
him swing right-handed. Sure,
he hit one all the way over the
bleachers early last season, but
that was the only homer he hit
in Washington all year.
Left-handers may give the
Yankees power hitters a rougher
time. Yogi Berra. Irv Noren,
Gene Woodling, Joe Collins and
Eddie Robinson - their left
handed hitters-figure to hurt
you more than Phil Rizzuto. Gil
McDougald. Hand Bauer and
Jerry Coleman. their right
handed hitters. along with Man
tie.
II don't know if that plan will
stop the Yankees" continued
Harris, but it seems to have
some logic. If our left-handed
pitchers can check their left
handed power hitters We'll have
a pretty good chance against
them"
The Senators meet the
Yankees in four of their first
five games and Harris possibly
will employ McDermott and
Stobbs against them exclusively
in the break from the barrier.
An open date following the game
at Boston would give both left
handlers three days rest before
the Senators move into New
York for a two-game series.
Harris will try Bunky Stewart,
Dean Stone and Johnny Schmitz
today, and he's hoping for quick
affirmation that his strategy has
merit.
Get . Look at Terry.
The Yankees will retaliate
with Jim Mcdonald, Harry
Byrd, their recent acquisition
from the Athletics. and Ralph
Terry, whom Manager Casey
Stengel has labeled "the greatest
pitching prospect I've laid eyes
on since I've been in baseball"
All are ght-handers.
Terry. a 6-foot-3 native of
Big Cabin. Okla, is 10 years old
and weighs 1875 pounds. He was
decided to the champions when
Commissioner Ford Prick ruled
on a hassle between the Yankees
| and Cardinals over ownership
of the youngster.
He'll have to be farmed out"
Stengel says. "but there's a kid
you're going to hear from. He's
the quickest young ball player
at learning how to do things
right that I've ever seen. At the
rate he picks things up he's not
too far away from the majors
right now. He hasn't pitched a
game of pro ball yet, but he's a
real pro-"
Beaten by the Athletics and
White Sox. the Senators are
seeking their first win, but Har-
ris isn't annoyed at the slow
start. He's looking over swarm
of rockies and permitting them
to weed out themselves. Several
already have demonstrated they
aren't prepared to advance.
Pitcher Connie Marrero and
Outf1elder Angel Scull checked
in yesterday and Bucky is eager
to glimpse Scull in action. He's
had glowing reports on the
Cuban Negro prospect, who is
among swarm of players seek
ing the right-field job.
The manager will have to wait
a bit, however. Scull got into
the camp at Orlando too late
last night to make the trip to
Orlando.
Bucky also is anxious to see
If Carlos Paula, another outf1eld
candidate, can continue the hit
ting he displayed against the
White Sox. Paula, also a Cuban
Negro, Is a muscular right
handed hitter who could be an
exciting performer if his debut
was an indication of his true
ability. He dashed out two sin
giles to grab attention and Har-
ris hopes he remains in the
SnOtlipl1t.