Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-06
WIN, LOSE OR
DNAW By FRANCIS s1ANN
Hottest Team in Florida

CLEARWATER, FLA APRIL 6-As the Phiies folded
their tents and stole away they the hottest club
Florida The Cardinals had the best overall record
the Phlies had gained respect with straight
including two the Yankees and General Manager Roy
Hamey chortling.
This club been downrated" Hamey said because
people consider Old They remember the KEY mem
berS from 1850 when they the pennan they
just kids at the time Take look at their brthdaes:"
Del Ennis, usually the big oattedin man. is good
example Hamey was thinking. Del has been up long
time This is his 18th People consider his length
OF service and those odd driven say
Well there's one guy who must be his way out.
They don't realize that Ennis is only 80 years old.
It's the same with the others still left from 1850
team-Robin Roberts and Curt Simmons Willie Jones and
Stan Lopata. Granny Hammer Richie Ashburn They're
all under 30"
ANOTHER SORE POINT with Hamey is to hear the
question raised After Roberts what have the Phs got?"
That's silly, Roy complained. We're supposed to
60 any place because we don't have the pitching But pitch
ing is exactly what has been keeping the division
year after year. This is not runscorng club 1t wins
account of its pitching"
Because Roberts perennial 2O-game winner Hamey
insists the other pitchers overlooked "A 2Ogame
is fine and wouldn't trade Roberts for anybody" said
but it's those r. IA 6game winners that pennans
Il prove il by the Yankees added Hamey, used
to be assistant of the American League
champs Did they have 2O-game pitcher when they
the pennant last year? They did Whitley Ford
Bob Turey IT, Tommy Byrne l6. Those guys like
Don Larsen, who won 9, bring home the pennants.
Il prove it by Cleveland couple of years ago they
had three 2O-game winners-Eary Wynn Bob Lemon and
Mike Garcia. But they didn't win"
THE PILLS INFIELD is looking pretty nashy at this
point thanks to couple Of experiments that might already
be pronounced successful Gambling that 35year Andy
Sennick handle of the catching Manager Mayo
Smith handed first basemans mitt Stan Lopata
weeks ago and told him to forget the mask.
It's worked, Lopata may not be a Hal Chase on first
base but he plays it better than and it's heavy
he swings. In game the other day Stan hit drive
dead center that cleared the 40toot wall exactly
from home plate. Nobody eIse-neither Mantle Ku-
szevSki Snder Post-ever did it before.
What's going to be tremendous difference" Hamey
insisted is making the double play We do it
year. Remember, moved Granny Hammer from short
where he belongs to second Then got
second Of the good rest
al short And on second we've got this kid Ted Kazansk"
Ted doesn't have to hit, Hamey said "as long he
gives us that tough double play We can carry him he only
bats 200 The Giants pennant with Davey Williams who
didn't hit better but couldn't play second like Kazansk
HAMEY WAS INTERESTED in knowing why Chuck
Dresser hadn't been pitching Chuck Stobbs this spring
there anything wrong with Sobbs?" he wanted to know
"Why?" came question.
Well Hamey said his is on the waivers list
along with four five others And If there's anything we
need, it's etthanded pitcher We start and stop with
Curt Simmons"
The Pills so desperate they've been looking over
Max Lanier the onetime pitcher the Cardinals and
Giants who is 40 years old and has of baseball
quite spell.
But isn't the answer" Hamey admitted Even So
wen do all right Simmons didn't help us last year because of
his sore arm leaving us without ehander At Curt
throw all right now, says SO we're that much
better off,
1T IRKS BOTH Hamey and the bench genius, Mayo
Smith, to hear the Pills referred to club that should
finish as low as sixth or as high fourth
Whats wrong with our finishing second9" Hamey asks
Last year would have finished third ahead Of the Giants
II Lopaa and Jones hadn't been hurt the end We
beat the Giants.
ITS going to be rat in the National League
There's very little difference between Milwaukee and the
Cubs
"One question" he asked. "You asked what's wrong
with finishing second What's wrong with finishing rst?"
Ilamey sighed
Brooklyn" he replied.