Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-23
WIN, LOSE OR
y DNAV By FRANCIS STANN
Ed Mathews: Defensive Ace

BRADENToN, FLA. MAR 22.-The more looks
at the Milwaukee Braves the better their chances Of
repeating in the National League SEEM Even Fred Haney
without making production of it, admits that his club
has confidence, DEPTH pitching and hitting.
II don't think couple of my men-Hank Aaron and
Eddie Mathews-have reached their peaks, Haney
said quietly Aaron of course only "a and has been
up only four years But Mathews has been playing for
six years."
"And still hasn't reached his peak?"
II don't think So" Fred said He's getting to be
smarter hitter and at third base he improved 70 per cent
just last year. lot of people, including newspapermen
who have been the beat for long time, still rave
about Eddies defensive play in the World Series
Last year saw him make those same plays thou
sand times in practice Wait until start batting practice
and I'll show you something"
WHEN IT WAS TIME for the Braves to hit the 26year
old Mathews went to third base For 40 minutes he ded
fungo groundes leaving the field only to take his cuts
in the cage.
"see what mean?" Haney said. Eddie never did
that until last year. He always had bat in his hands He
invariably the hitter in pepper Now he's
defense minded. He's proud of his new ability and
can't blame him.
don't mean that Mathews misses his share of batting
practice. He still swshes that good bat He'd better
need those 100 runs he knocks across every year.
Actually Haney probably has more good players, most
Of them young, than any club In the majors, with the
possible exception of the Yankees For example, there
Is pitchers the Milwaukee roster at the moment and
the doughty little manager faces problem.
"Its really pleasant problem he admitted. because
it's going to be pretty hard to separate about half dozen
of them Which ones do keep which do send back
to the minors? You know what I mean"
IN SHARP CONTRAST to his managerial days with
the hopeless old St. Louis and later with the
Pirates Haney refuses to search avidly for phenom
during the first weeks of spring training.
II try not to look at the fellows and to rate them
during the first three weeks" Fred explained "Its
little different managing these days Some of the squad
nla hall in he
Some Of the rockies have been in shape for time
as result of early schooling The others report after
lazy winter and are way out of shape.
II don't know about other managers, but know that
have weakness If get good early impression of
ball player I'll retain it, when that I'm not
using my best judgment. That's why don't want to
rate players until after three weeks.
There three stages to spring training. For most
players mean First is the stiandsore stage Second
is the period spent in working out the soreness player
wants to throw and the ball doesn't do anything He
wants to run and he doesn't go anywhere
Then all of sudden, they throw and run, and that's
the time to look at what you've got No, gentlemen of
the spend the first three weeks just getting
know the boys-to study their attitudes"
y
EVEN ON BALL CLUB boasting such adept and
distance hitting people Mathews Red Schoendenst
Joe Adcock and Others Aaron stands out. Haney calls
him zone Of the three best htters the National League
and very possibly the best Of ALL"
Hank has been playing professional ball for six
years now counting season in the Northern League and
another one in the Sally" Fred pointed out land only
for his first year up with he below 300 The young
man carrying lifetime average of 313 the batting
championship in 1857 and led all htters last
runs home runs and baed in I'd say that pretty
good lot of you reporting fellows must agree You
voted him the most valuable player"
as there any truth to the report that Aaron doesn't
like TO play centeried? That he prefers rght?"
Nav" Haney snorted "It doesn't make any differ
ence to Hank. When lost Bill Bruton last year. Hank
was glad to play center
TN far 7 ooto blob vt Aora
OF our young pitchers shaggng iesn rghteld and
came with two Of the darndest catches you saw
Somebody yelled to Hank There goes your ghtheld ob
"'Thats all right Hank yelled back I can always
play center
"1t doesn't make any difference to Aaron. This game
'oeS too easy to him to worry about where he plays