Evening star., 1956-03-21
BASE BALL
BEA 7
A Time for Patience
BY BURTON HAWKINS y

FORT MYERS FLA MAR 21-This is time to
appraise the Senator'S After nine they've compiled
5-4 record which seemingly would indicate they could
hold their major league surroundings Actually it
demonstrates nothing of the sort has shown merely that
against inferior pitching frequently rookie
opposition that the Senatorsalso using patched hneups
haven't been embarrassed consistently
Senators haven't exercised enough to provide even
the rashest observer with concrete opinion Pernaps n
most distressing item about the club is that there hasn't
newly player to captivate the magnatlon
Karl Olson has job in centerdeld, but 1t isn't
due to any spectacular action So far he hasn't made
body gasp with his hitting and has been ordinary out
fielder but bout with pneumonia shortly before Journey
ing here could have delayed progress.
It's Olson for the Senator'S for they haven't any
body else equipped to play center Inadequate arms, in
sufficient speed rule out the remainder oson will make
you forget about Jim Busby" says President Cal Griffith
Maybe, but not yet
OLSON HASN'T BEEN pulling the ball. For right
handed hitter this sconcertng 1t was partially with
Olson mind that the fence moved couple of puts
closer to the plate Griffith Stadium The Karl has
been hitting to rghtcenter generally, would nuify the
fences advantage for him.
But as we were saying it's early The big Swede has
been sitting the bench at Boston for three He
needs major adjustments. The only he'll develop is to
play steadily the bright sde he appears to be more
formidable hitter than when he arrived several weeks ago
despite that collar in four tries against the Phs yesterday
Dick Tettelbach batted 309 with Denver last season,
proof he can belt Tripe-A pitching But what happens
when the personabe Yale grad is faced with succession
of Fords Lemons Wynns Scores Turkeys Hoefts Pierces
etc., whom he'll be seeing starting April II?
The young has misgivngs about it himself. He
struck out IS times last year. admittedly lot for spray
hitter in the minors It's indication there's chnk
in his batting Unless it's corrected polished major
league pitchers will shoot him full Of holes
THE SAME APPLIES to Herb Plews, another rookie
being tested at second has been adequate
occasionally brilliant a1ed. His hitting is suspect and the
few games the Senators have played haven't erased the
doubts
On the other hand, they may be young men on their
way up year could have been the first step the
ladder to better things Could be they'll develop as steady
major leaguers.
Neil Chrisley an outfeld candidate plucked the
Red Sox hasn't with any degree of consistency yet He
lost Is playing winter baseball and may be starting
slowly.
Lou Berberet undoubtedly is capable catcher who'll
deliver long shot awhile but that .265
at Toronto last is enough to make wonder
And hoping grab the No. job from Clint Courtney
WELL Courtneys to date is hits in II tries
including home run and two doubles.
AMONG THE NEW additions that brings us to the
pitchers Bob Weser potentially is the sandout of the lot
with speed and terrific curve, but also with wldness
wipe out the effectiveness of both He definitely could
be his to ardom but only he locates the plate
more consistently.
If the Senators give up him because of wldness
and restrict him to bulpen duty chances they'll kill
his chances He needs steady work. all of which
fans and management to suffer- but if he's to be slick
pitcher eventually he'll have to be employed regularly
Dick Brodowski, Tex Clevenger, AL Curtis and Connie
Grob won't make with their SwftnesS But for
another observers along the way have
fit to recommend them. Hasty judgment in their cases
could rebound They've been glmpsed only in few innings
each. Under the circumstances Of trying to make major
league club they're UNDERSTANDABLE unrelaxed.
THE FELLOWS WHO HAVE created stirs are Harmon
Klebrew and Garland Shif1ett. But Kilebrew is
afeld and woefuly short experience Shet pitched in
a league low get in organized ball, last
year. It's demanding perhaps expect them
help this
patience of fans Maybe If they string along with the
youngsters, they'll be rewarded time If fans adopt the
attitude that it's fun to watch kids improve they could
In for an interesting
But first division? No. Sixth place would represent
respectable improvement And what happened to that resou
ton not to appraise the Senators?