Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-19
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Robin Roberts: NV Problem
By FRANCIS STANN

CLEARWATER, Fla, Mar. 19.-After winning 157
major league games in seven successive seasons Robin
Roberts finds himself plagued by the question do
you think you can come back?" He hears many times
every day from the wandering press the Phes
camp is very popular spot
There are more newspapermen from New York than
from Philadelphia Now that the National League has
vacated the Big City, the PhillieS because of their
proximity have been legally adopted They
are beginning to refer to them the New York Phes
Roberts is news because after half dozen years in
which the big quiet pitcher 20 or more games plus
lS-game season in 1885, Robin dipped to 1922 record
IN ST. Anything permanent along these lines probably
would be disastrous for the Philles.
"A lot of people seem to think need another kind
OF PITCH Roberts says. Il Just don't happen to
think fast ball. curve and change-up enough could
be wrong. Anyway, it's my problem"
FROM 1850 THROUGH 1885, the one-time Michigan
State bonus baby pitched than 800 innings season
Five Of these he led all National League workhorses
Logically he is asked if he thinks that much work
hurt him.
mo, don't" Roberts says. "If your arm feels good
as mine did all those seasons lot of pitching won't hurt
I'm not sure what happened last year. Maybe I'm not
very fast any more. Maybe I made some bad pitches
But like said, it's my problem"
When the matter is carried to Mayo Smith, the
Phes manager puts it this way: Roberts is not fast
as he was in 1885, when Joined this club but he's
smart pitcher and has too much control be dependent
on fast ball. think he back Right now
he's one of my four starting pitchers, you bet on it.
speaking of his fast ball, of the best games
ever saw Roberts pitch against Cincinnati in So
don't believe he threw than four five fast balls
just a few, anyway, to keep the htters honest"
Il remember that game" visitor remarked "He
had that big kluszewski for one, all tied up Roberts
looked like rghthanded Ed Lopat"
That's right" Smith said apprecatively, "a right
handed Lopat."
MORE AND MORE the Phillies are beginning to take
on stature Smiths pitchers impressive and If Stan
Lopata can catch most of the season. and if Wally Post
can play back to his good seasons at Cincinnati, the
Philles have got to runs. Post you may
remember hit 40 homers for the Reds in IS and SO So
Lopata hampered by injuries half of last year but
S. when he played las games, he hit 80 home runs.
How high do you think you fnish?" Smith was
asked Gould your club be second2"
YES provided everybody plays up to his ability and
we have no serious injuries" Mayo said Last year
didn't have shortstop in the spring Now we've got
Chico Fernandez to open the season. We didn't have
Post and we didn't have Lopata in good shape.
"And then, Of course, there's Roberts. The fellow is
only 81 years old I'm reasonably he's got lot Of
winning games left"
SMITH DOESN'T TALK pennant voluntarily but he
didn't dismiss the possibility of flag when the subject
was brought up. There awful lot Of good ball
players down there at Bradenton he sad referring
the world champion Milwaukee Braves "Then you've got
the Cardinals and the Reds and the Dodgers know the
Cubs Giants and Pirates better.
II saw club something like ours win the pennant in
y See WIN LOSE OR DRAW. Page G.