Evening star., 1955-05-02
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV BY FRANCIS STANN
How D'you Spell 'Joded'?

THOSE YOUNG DETROIT TIGERS no longer are on top
but they close enough after three weeks play justify
the contention that Bucky Harris club big surprise
the American League. The big surprise? Well, hardly
far as the dean of big league managers concerned.
There was this morning in Florida six weeks ago when
the Tigers in the early musceexing stage Sitting
of the dugous in the Lakeland ball
park Bucky asked by visitor:
"If couple of your pitchers get hot can you
take it alp"
Il don't think So" Harris replied with characteristic
candor but I'm counting fourth place and maybe little
bit higher"
This was the fellow who got the hook in Washington
because he allegedly aded He did sound like
jaded that day but rather who at least
highly optimistic To finish higher than fourth the Tigers
will have to supplant at least of the three avortes
Indians, Yankees and White Sox
SOME OF BUCKY's OPTIMISM must have rubbed off on
his young because they been behaving they
will be pennant threat in the future this
On paper his pitching staff is unmpressve and nobody
like Schoendienst is playing second bench
strength suspect too but nonetheess the Tigers have
10 of Is, or twice many games as the Senators.
In Lakeland it must be remembered, Harris had
to moan Ferris Fan the soreegged first baseman acquired
from Chicago in trade couldn't even walk without pro-
limp Ray his third baseman who drove home
IS last year. had bad There exciting
requirements for either of these key
Harris felt alarm he kept it to himself His Tigers
ubated young the most part and their way
up And when interviewer asked if he wasn't giving
away awful lot to Cleveland New York and Chicago in
the of pitching Buckys only concession was grudging
ITO the Indians, yes he acknowledged "but is
other club the others, may not look bad by
comparison Very few people have heard OF some OF our
pitchers, but let's wait few months
IT IS TOO EARLY go overheard on Harris pitching
staff, but things to be looking up. Billy Hoet
widely heraded when he up bonus boy but who
had only tbs record last has pair of games
Veterans Steve Groek and Ned Carver have five victories
between them. boy up from Buffalo, Frank Larry has
couple of wins and Aber 11game loser in '54 has
q victory.
Too, off what the Tigers have showing to date it
Is evident that Harris need place dependence
Boone to drive Al Kane, two removed
from Baltimore high school, has been hitting twice
Boone's average taking the lead in stroking
He larger youngser by 20 pounds than last and
Kalines distance suggng reflects his gain in
But what Harris really has going for him of the
two best shortsops in the American League Harvey Kuenn
and recall his words How sweet it isl" Kuenn
ex-collegan who up with cantmiss tag and had
1t made from the beginning Those who watch him every
day Kuenn just beginning to reach his peak extensively
and defensivey.
CHUCK DRESSER HAS INHERITED Bucky's old short
stopping headache but during his 18 Washington
Only IN the very beginning which in the md92O did
Harris have opgrade shortsop here that Roger
Peckinpaugh.
Cecil Travis who played as much or more shortstop as
anybody during Buckys second from l935-42
bad but the rangy Georgian hitter than fielder
And during his third really
Ing. Pete Runnels the best of lot that from
mediocre to bad and the Senators
were more than tepid threat to finish in the first division
Only Chico Carrasquel of the White Sox challenges
kuenn in the American League and is generally suspected
that over the long haul the Tiger will ouht the
Aeld 1t times hard to visualize better shortstop
Carrasquel but if Chico is brilliant than
not more consistent Carrasque indeed enigma his
boss General Manager Frank Lane.
when we play club that has ordinary shortsop"
Lane frankly admits Carrasquel also ordinary.
when we played the Yankees during Rzzuos heydey,
when play Detroit that Carrasquel invariably gives
the damndest fielding performances you
some horses Nashua, for instance"
iS
ground seems safe enough. Harris will keep what he's got