Evening star., 1956-03-31

Cause for Joy
Continued From Page A-12
la reliefer. Last year his. record
was Q and 3 and his ERA STA.
He blamed the reversal on the
elbow condition. pulled ten
don.
The Braves, with Florida
thining behind them, tonight
open a series Of one-night stands
that will carry them to Milwau-
kee by April IA. They meet the
Atlanta Crackers, a farm club.
here.
TAMPA, Fla, Mar. 81 R.-
Walt Aston. Brooklyn Dodgers
manager, limited today that
Charley Neal has just about
Isewed up the second base job.
II certainly like what I've seen
him do" Aston commented. He
added that he was considering
Jim Gillian, regular second
baseman last season, as a left
fielder.
Neal, q .214 batter with Mont
real in 1855, is an excellent
fielder.
| SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Mar. 81
l(P.-Manager Paul Richards
took stock of his Baltimore Orioles
yesterday during an of day in
the Cactus League" schedule
and rated Catcher Hal Smith
as the most improved" player
on the team.
mot only is he much better
receiver" Richards said, "but he
also is hitting the ball more con-
sistently." Smith, obtained in
the big trade with the Yankees
before the 1855 season, is hitting
1866 in preseason games.
AS for the overall outlook,
Richards said: "If we could come
lup with two steady, reliable
pitchers and another infielder,
we'd be able to give any of them
Ia battle"
PHOENIX, Ariz., Mar. 81 up.
Pitcher John (Windy) Mccall,
who had only a 6-5 record last
season, has impressed Bill Rig
iney, New York Giants manager.
Hes been the biggest sur
prise on the staff to me-" Rigney
said. $50 far he hasn't done
anything wrong"
TAMPA. Fla, Mar. 81 (P).-
Manager Birdie Tebbetts of the
Cincinnati Redlegs says he has
not yet decided whether to carry
a pitching staff of 9, 10 or II
linen.
The question is an important
one for the pitching-poor, hit
ting -rich Reds, who are slated to
break camp here next Tuesday.
One of those who won't be
with the Reds is rookie Charley
Rabe, promising lefthander who
was optioned yesterday to Ha-
vana Of the international League.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, Mar.
81 (P.-Mike Gonzales, former
St. Louis Cardinal coach, figures
the club should finish In the
first division this season.
! Gonzalez, who now owns a
winter league team at Havana,
lis here on a weeks vacation with
his wife and son. He said yes
terday the club looked good at
third and second base and in the
outfield.
Nobody going to beat Brook
Ilyn," Mike said. THAT helluva
club. Great bench, too. But
this team is young and come
soon. You see."
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Mar. 81
l(R.-Johnny O'Brien and Curt
Roberts are waging such a hot
battle for second base with the
Pittsburgh Pirates that Manager
Bobby Bragan might have to
two-platoon them during the
season.
Both are good fielders and
both are currently hot batters.
Roberts is leading all Pirates
with a 1874 average, and O'Brien
is next with 1923.
TUCSON, AriZ., Mar. 81 (P.-
The Chicago Cubs return to the
exhibition grind today after en-
joying a day off as a reward for
being in excellent condition. The
Cubs meet the Indians.
Manager Stan Hack gave all
hands a full days rest yester-
day saying: II believe we're in
the best physical condition at
this point in the spring training
program of any Cub team I've
ever had"