Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-28
WIN, LOSE OR
GNAW By FRANCIS sTANN
At This Point Hope

Casey
pushing the panic button but at this point of the young
there hope the the American League
A year ago the Yankees of their first eight
games, Keeling off half dozen in Today they
playing less than 500 ball and aren't even in the first
division.
Yankees who fresh from losing three in to the
Orioles in New York Now the Yankees in the West
opening against the White Sox who have been tough
despite lacking more long ball hitting
Stengel may be starting to think that he was right
last August when in t of depression he declared that
his 1858 Yankees didn't belong among the best three of
his previous 10 clubs They the pennant comfortably
but they couldn't play 500 ball for the last two months
Casey was ,tnoIhed to some extent when the cham
pions woke up in the nth game OF the World Series II
guess just got careless the genius consoed himself
THERE STILL ARE I4l GAMES for the Yankees to
play and they have too many solid ball players to
out of contention But Gil McDougald is aling and
of the other veteran Bombers aren't producing and
Ryne Duren hasn't proved that he is than
season wizard in relief.
Except for the Yankees and the dismal Tigers, the
American League running to form the
moment Cleveland away nicely until the White Sox
dumped the Tribe in Sundays double header One
solid hitter in the Sox lineup could cause things to look
up in Chicago.
The Orioles who looked SO abject the opener against
the Senator's living up their billing as the club
with the solid pitching They haven't much of anything
ese perhaps but from kids like Mlt Pappas to old folks
like Hoy Wilhelm the neghbors up the road getting
the job done on the mound
Wilhelm the 36-year-old knuckle baller is practically
certain of sharing" record this with his catcher
Gus TriandoS Big Gus just doesn't bat down Wlhelms
butterflies with the experiences say Rick Terrell
when catching Dutch Leonard and TriandoS is far
in front in the matter of passed balls But giving
it try and Wilhelm is winning
DETROIT CONTINUES TO BE an enigma and by now
Bill Norman may be wondering how much longer he will
remain manager Norman was given mild vote of con-
hdence recently by General Manager Rick Ferre but
every schooboy knows such vote could be prelude to
dismissal.
Considering Roy sievers and Albie Pearsons dismal
start at bat, the Senators haven't done badly Rookie
Bob Allison is looking very good in the outeld and
mon Klebrew and Reno Bertoia have done their jobs
the infeld 1t is ShortStop that is major worry plus
maybe the bull pen The Senator's may be needing the
Dick Hyde OF last before long, and Paul Richards
of the Orioles is correct they may Cal Grhths
SStence that Billy LoeS can't help Washington.
Manager Richards talking of the nulifed Loes-
Vito Valentinetti deal opening day when reporter
Said We'll, you almost got rid of Loes"
That's all right" Richards snapped. mo matter what
Griffith says of his arm, he's still the best relief pitcher
in our league"
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST surprise in the National
League so far has been Los Angeles, the DID, old ex-
Brooklyn Dodgers who supposed to be washed up
Ron Fairly Don thinner and John RoSeboro hitting
for Walt AonS troops and things have got to be better
this coming May IL than last year the day. when
the Giants Swamped the Dodgers l2S dump them in
the cellar.
1t was the first time since 194S that Dodger team
had reached that low As it was Angeles rallied to
finish SEVENTH and that the time Dodger team
finished season badly since 1914.
AS usual the National League race is more tightly
punched than the American, with only the Cardinals
looking pretty much outclaSSed This not unexpected
by tourists who watched the RedbirdS in Florida They
didn't look Solid nor did the Philes but at times the
Dodgers looked Just about hopeless.
The top clubs in the National League mostly are I'D
there due to hitting rather than pitching which is sup
posed to be American League style The Dodgers Braves
Giants and RedegS have been scoring heavily with Gin
cnnau Just OF beating Warren Spahn less two days
running
The Pirates are trying to overcome a tremendous
handicap We picked EN-. For that matter the Yankees
too