Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-05
WIN, LOSE OR
ANAV By FRANCIS STANN
A Picture No Briqhter
IN COLORADO SPRINGS ear

IN COLORADO SPRINGS early next month the big
rush will be on for Billy Martin fiery nonconformst who
wanted by about every American League club except
the Yankees The Yankees could Martin. But they
can't very well dker for the guy after having traded him
to Kansas City last summer
Sure the Senators would like to have Billy They need
the aggressveness of the fellow Maybe Martin isn't big
hitter the smoothest baseman in the business
but add all of his tangbes and ntangbes and it spells
out winning ball player.
The Washington Ball Club probably won't get Martin.
Cal Griffith had his crack at Billy right after Martin,
Bauer, Mickey Mantle Yogi Berra, Whitley Ford and
Johnny Kucks threw ball in New York night club last
May &c. The Yankees asking for Roy evers and the
Senators thinking in terms of Martin Pitchers Ralph
Terry and Jim Coates and Infielder Woody Held
SINCE THE DEAL FELL through Severs, as home
rum total bases and batted in champion of the league
has become untouchabe Manager Cookie Lavagetto said
at the close of the Severs the only Senator
who would not be traded
That means that Grifith and Lavagetto have nobody
to bring player of Martins established prowess Wash
ington. Pete Runnes value has declined after his 231
at the plate Even after the 1856 season. when Pete
Sported his only 800 (310) there great demand
for him despite his ability to play AL around the ined
Eddie Yost? Well, Eddie is 31'years old and he's
been for dozen years He has yet to hit 300 His 252
last just about matched his lifetime average There
was time when YoSt would have brought, helped to
bring big player covey of promising farmhands.
Now his appeal down to club like the White Sox
They need third baSeman badly in order to battle the
Yankees for the flag.
THE BLUNT TRUTH is that Washington isn't very
likely to be much buster at the trade mart this winter
than 1t year ago. when the Senators stood pat
another lastpace club. Griffith finds himself with left
fielder Severs, and adequate but hitting short
stop in Rocky Bridges.
Most of the rest of the cast suspect not definitely
lacking The catchers Clint Courtney Lou Berberet and
Ed FITZGERALD, just average There is weakness at
first and second bases And thirds the outeld falls
short OF big league standards Lavagetto too needs
pitching
On paper the two best pitchers are the Cubans Pete
Ramos and Camilo Pascual. Both young enough to
improve. the evidence is that other clubs are
cycling this pair suSpciouSy Ramos while he had 1916
record that doesn't sound bad considering the club he had
going for him. is throwing up too many homerun pitches
Ramos set record for gophers last season. Pascual
pitches the in open defiance of Grhs wishes
that he abstain from winter ball.
FOR GRIFFITH the outlook Is even darker II possible
than 1t year ago. The farm system still isn't pro-
ducing Harmon Kebrew who hits for distance when he
hits will be up for another try But whether he will make
1t remains to be
If Killebrew plays at all it will have to be at third
base which happens to be the only position Yost handles
we'll thing that isn't helping the Washington clubs
learned that Harmons dscoverer the late Senator
man Welker of Idaho exaggerating when he vowed
that Kilebrew could with Mickey Mantle
Maybe the good Senator simply meant that he could
run the field with Mantle.
In Colorado Springs the Senator brass will try,
usual But the usual lament is inevitable "A they want
to offer u.s." Griffith undoubtedly will say "is Junk"
That the byword last year. And the year before
~ and before. A