Evening star., 1959-10-01
WIN, LOSE OR
'UKAW By FRANCIS s1ANN
One Vote for Coco Club


Series opens today is the most symmetrical and probably
the fairest of all baseball Fairgrounds But the Los
Angeles Coliseum, home of the Dodgers, draws proper
raps. Who ever heard of screen only 25l feet from
home plate which is what the Coliseum offers in lefted?
There's nothing that be done about it, of course,
but George Ke for one, has the notion that it will help
the White Sox than the Dodgers. Remember
George Kell? He was outstanding third baseman as
well as an American League batting champion.
Kell, who now is doing some broadcasting, took his
first look at the Coliseum the day the Dodgers cnched
the pennant the Braves. Il wish had about 10
years of drawing bead at that fence Kels instant
reaction. 'We came along too early but don't be
prised if the White Sox benefit by that short
than Los Angeles.
1T moves up those little hitters like Luis Aparico
Jim Lands and Bubba Phillips plus Smith and Sherm
Lolar They hit that with line drives Even
Nellie Fox, batting left handed spray the ball that
far"
WALT ALSTON WAS TALKING about the Coliseum,
too, and the Dodger manager admitting that his
club doesn't win because of the oddba layout eve don't
hit as many home the other clubs Aston said
Actually the doesn't lot of freak hoers.
It's too high az feet) and ball must go up quickly.
What it does invite is lot of singles and doubles balls
that otherwise would be caught"
When Aston talks of 250-foot singles, however, he
either doesn't know the White Sox very well. he
thinking about the average team Not many of the Sox
are going to stop at first base after hitting the
And certainly not Aparco, Lands and Jim Rivera The
Dodgers haven't encountered anything like the COCO Sox
Actually, of course, Aston has pretty good book
the SoX. We've been scouting them for time" Walt
admitted when the Dodgers arrivedh yesterday Andy
High particularly has watched them The book he gave
me on the Chicago club is very complete.
Naturally, everybody talks of the SoxS speed They
point out that Aparcio stole bases and Lands can
run just as fast Well think my catcher, Johnny Rose
boro can stop them"
ROSEBORO ASTON BELIEVES is very much under
rated His arm is as accurate and as quick as that OF
any catcher I've ever managed" Walt claimed. THAT
includes Roy campanea and I'm not taking any credit
away from Campy."
American Leaguers virtually are unanimous in pick
ing the White Sox Even Frank Lane, the Cleveland
general manager. who had sad IF they wn it'll be the
worst team to be in seres is leaning toward the
AL Lopez club Not just leaning little Bit either but
way They'll beat the Dodgers easily" Lane now
intones.
"You know what the Sox going to do?" Kel asked
"They" answering his own question "will ouhustle the
Dodgers They outhustled every club in the American
League, and they'll do the thing to Los Angeles
As matter of fact, amazed at both the
Dodgers and Braves in the playo games They acted
If they didn't give a darn whether they won or lost
especially the Braves They played like it the first
exhibition game Of the spring. They dead and
don't think it was because of weariness"
-
GETTING BACK TO the point Alston was making
RoSeboro may be all the catcher the boss thinks he is
But even If the 26-year-old backstop from Compton,
Calf does cut down the stealing OF Aparico Lands
Co., there nothing he do about preventing the COCO
guys from running on the Dodger outhelderS
Not many of the Dodgers seem to move from first to
third very WELL but the sox it's taken for granted
And the Los Angeles outhelders with the exception
Ron Fairly, are not outstanding throwers.
Wally Moon, who may be the most valuable Dodger
of ALL has improved defensvely and looked pretty
good he cut down Eddie Mathews third base Tuesday
Duke Snider has slowed up quite bit and doesn't get to
balls as fast as in earlier Norm Larker the other
regular, is weak defensvey and lacks even an average
arm. The other outheders besides Fairly are Rip Re-
pulsk and Chuck Essegan neither of whom oustand-
ing on defense.
On paper it does not stack up asa series that will be
replete with long ball hitting Pitching and base running
probably will be the determining factors The Dodgers
have the pitching but do the White Sox Assuming
the pitching is stando that leaves base running and
here you've got to give the edge to the American Leaguers
For what it's WORTH they get the nod from this corner
1t could wind up in five games hardly more than six