Evening star., 1956-03-12
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,1A,.u
Opening Day in St. Pete

afternoon and opening Grapefruit League
climbed their rocking chairs the roomng
house porheS and from the green benches the streets
to toddle into AL Lang Field until not seat empty The
silver heads of the citizeny cleaned in the bright the
town teams, the Yankees and Cardinals, met.
In front of the New York dugout Casey Senge posted
his lineup with piece of adhesive paper His pitcher
Maury McDermot late of the Washington Senators Casey
losing time in taking look at the southpaw he
described before obtaining him. as "a secondstrng pitcher
couple of sports writer's spying McDermott sitting on
by himself asked him how he felt making his first start in
a Yankees uniform.
"All right" Maury replied impassively.
of the visitors pointed to the Of bats in front Of
the dugou bats bearing the brands of Berra Bauer Mantle
McDougald, Collins and Carey
should think would be nice to have those guys
your sde" he said to McDermo "Or will you miss VAL
dvielso and Groth and Paua?"
For the first time Maurys solemnity took wings He
threw back his head and laughed.
JIM TURNER THE YANKEES pitching coach, looked at
his watch and called out:
"Maury, you've got II minutes"
1T only need is minutes" McDermott said catching the
warmup ball Turner tossed to him. Hepbegan peel of his
jacket and look for catcher.
"Jim," asked dugout visitor, "have you put in much
work McDermot since he eported9 Youknow correcting
flaws and so forth?"
why he's been game winner, hasn't hep" Turner
said. "Those guys don't want instruction Then, If Jim
felt he was too sarcastic, he added
Seriously McDermot can pitch if he But to
pitch for the Yankees he will have to tend to business That
goes for all the rest too.
"on this club" continued the old mlkman, you throw
every pitch purpose that pitch
wrong That can't be helped But better not happen
too often"
AS McDERMoTT BEGAN to lob the ball to catcher,
Turner asked a sports writer:
Have you talked to McDermott since the trader"
"Twce," came the reply.
"What did say?" Jim asked. I'm not interested in
what he says about year Washington mean what
did he say about pitching for the Yankees? Does he notice
any difference in the way this club is run?"
Frankly said the other, "Maury hasn't done much
talking Some of asked him how pitching for the
Senators and he mentioned that Washington lost lot Of
by last season Then got to talking about
Cal Griffith trading Porterfield SchmitZ and McDermott
"He didn't anything about the spirit Of this cubP"
Turner interrupted
mot me-" the visitor replied Maury pointed out that
he Portereld and schmiz had 50 of Washngtons 50
games and that hard to by last year, but
that's all"
TURNER SEEMED DISAPPOINTED. well" he said, "just
being with the Yankees does not guarantee pitcher that
he'll get lot of We get involved in few onerun
games ourselves Only there's difference"
whats that?"
1--WE win EN-" Jim said. "We expect to win EN- Ted
Williams predicted McDermott will win II or 18 for didn't
he? Did he say how many he thinks Maury will ose?"
"No," the reply.
"It had better not be very many Turner warned eve
like it when pitcher has 1873 record We do not like
1912 record"
Bob Turley lost 13 for you," Jim reminded.
80 he did," Jim nodded won IT, lost 13. 1t is good
thing s1 cushion early in the As it is
Turley very nearly lost his turn"
McDERMOTTS PITCHES BEGAN to hiss his arm
loosened and Turner watched approvingy Hes got the
am he said "Te rest is to him. One thing do when
you join the Yankees behave yourself else Our
ssss but they do not like it when player does not
keep in shape They figure that who doesn't stealing
World Series money from their pockets and they will let
him know it."
The one talking with Turner asked.
"You say the Yankees win the close expect to
win EN- Yet four other American League clubs led the
Yankees in batting"
Look up the double plays" Jim suggested. 1--WE led the
league didn't we Look up the club pitching We led that
too-rght? Now look the home The formula right
there-pchng plus the double play plus the home rum
1t game time McDemot returned to the dugout for
towel. Turner called him
"Maury he said, take it SLOW Just the fast ball and
change up you curve, don't throw it hard For three
innings just your fast ball ought to do"
McDermott nodded wordlessy and proceeded to spin
out three scoreess innings Looked like real
pro. Or. Turner might have put it, Yankee.