Evening star., 1955-07-25
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAV By FRANCIS sTANN
-Four With Achilles Heels

LET'S FACE IT men, the the American League
has great fourcub scramble for the
hasn't single solid ball club They've all got Achilles heels
but it beats a runaway like the National Leagues.
Although they two yesterday the Yankees recently
have been the tredes looking of the contenders coming
back to the of the field They haven't beating
the havenots notably failing to pick up ground In
City because too many hters haven't been hitting that
good pitching got lost somewhere.
There evidence that again the Yankees are pancking
Correspondents travelling with the club report players
touchy and sullen Casey Stengel always platooner
is plaooning his patoons If it for Tommy
Byrne of all pitchers, and Elston Howard -outeder
partcatcher they might be close being
club
YOGI BERRA, OBVIOUSLY overworked is hitting in the
Andy Carey 26O Bauer and Irv Noren in
the 250s Joe Collins in the 23Os Billy Hunter in the
and Eddie Robinson less despite his amazing
accomplishments Only Mickey Mantle-and Just barely-has
been 300-batting regular
Senge learning that Bob Turey quite the auto
matte 20game winner he cracked up to be. He's 1-8
after great start and lately he's been blowing SO
leads Bob Grim last rookie with 20
wins, is the disabled list Ed Lopat is under 500 and
Whitley Ford has fallen below expectations Caseys
relievers, Jim Konstanty and Tom Morgan, have let him
down.
there were more depth to the White sox you'd have to
hk their chances They're outng every club in the Amer
League except Detroit and they're tops in fielding
They're hungry and they're hustng but the
weak and the pitchers thin August when the White
began to fall apart last year and next month will be the
danger period again. perhaps especially if double
headers pile up.
All, YES, THE INDIANS This to have been an easy
repeat year for the Tribe to hear Clevelanders
from the pitching staff the defending champs bear
close scrutiny They playing lame Ferris Fan and such
castos Bobby Young and George Strickland in the in
feld-With consistent use of Sam Dente.
Ralph Kner apparently has lost out regular, with
batting average in the 25Os and only "a driven
and the Indians not too proud recently take
the much-traveed Hoo Evers off Balmores hands
promptly showed his gratitude toward the cear-dweling
Orioles by beating them 80, pinch hitter Saturday.
But by hanging in there and winning IS of their last %
games the Indians prove they dangerous Their strength
pchngis the kind that will be needed from here out.
In dash the stretch in August and September the
commodity AL Lopez figures to have in abundance is
pitching depth 1t may be only question Of whether his
above the rest of the club, which is only the
sixth best hitting outfit in the circuit.
PROBABLY THE SENTIMENTAL choice next to the
suffering White Sox is the Boston Red Sox Like Chi
cago, under Marty Marion they operating under new
Mike Higgins and surprising nearly everybody
by keeping close.
Aside from remarkable Ted Williams there is nothing
sensational about the Red Sox They merely fifth in
batting and fielding and only Frank Sullivan is what you
might call big winner far They suffered tragic loss
when the promising young frst-baseman, Harry Aggans
died not long ago OF the four chief conenders BosonS
lineup quite possibly would be the most difficult for fan to
rattle Off
Boston is lust another ball club to all outward appear
and weak-amed Billy Goodman playing second base and
Grady Haon National League casto third But there's
than meets the eye first glance Sammy White may
be the best catcher in the American League he CAM
match BerraS bat And this young Billy Klaus plugged
the shorstop gap, is reminding fans with long memories
of Bondy Ryan, who sparkplugged the Giants
in 1888
But Williams course the big guy the one who ha
made difference. If Higgins had The Thumper from thu
start might we'll be top oday-possby stay