Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-08
WIN, LOSE OR
NAV By FRANCIS sTANN


THE TIME is NOT YET RIPE, perhaps for the Balti-
more Orioles to win pennant During the spring Calls
themes in Florida Paul Richards grim Texan who man
ages the Orioles wouldn't mention the flag except
to virtually 1t TO the Yankees But the orioles
may be ready to fly higher than at any time in their
American League history.
Not from Richards but from other managers-Casey
Stengel Harry Craft AL Lopez Bill Norman and Cookie
Lavagetocomes high praise Of the orioles "They have
the best pitching STAFF in the American League" Craft
says fatty.
There two ways to look at the Senators opening
game rivals tomorrow Leave out the pitchers and Rookie
Centerheder Willie Tasby and you collection of
rereads from just about every other club in the AL and
some from the National as we'll
Put the pitchers by themselves and Richards has
rst-divison club that might bump the Red sox out
of group that could include the Yankees, White Sox,
Tigers and Indians or Orioles
BY NECESSITY, RICHARDS has been sort of old
clothes man. The bonus babies and farm system gradu
ates are not yet SO numerous run the likes of Chico
Carrasque Bobby Avla Billy Gardner Bob Nieman Gene
Wooding and Billy Klaus out of action but some are
on the way I'VE don't hit much" Richards predicted in
February and March, $50 wen have to do with pitching
and defense"
One other asset Richards didn't mention was the SPA
cious Baltimore park, great equalizer in that it nuies
the superior ongbal power of such as Mantle williams
Cerv Severs and Berra Most Of the Orioles are singles
hitters.
One of the Baltimore catchers Myron Ginsberg, was
chuckng the Illustration the big htters last year.
especially when the veteran Arnold Portocarero pitch
ing Portocarrero won is games for the Orioles with
minimum of stuff" but excellent control He'd groove
it for the muscle men, and 400 feet in centered Jim
Busby would run back few feet and catch it, Some Of
the language around home plate pretty hot"
WILLIE tasty, NOT BUsBY will be playing center
held for the Orioles tomorrow and perhaps for years to
come Willie is 1.-THE, 26year-old outfelder who cost
the Orioles only $780, making up for lot of the bonus
money that went down the drain His minor league
dentialS read very we'll.
TaSby hit 1922 for Louisville last year hitting % home
runs and driving in 95 runs Richards enertanS doubt
as to Wies ability to play and this strong recommen-
dation, coming from him. AS one who even outpatoons
Stenge Richards won't even the with Neman
IN the outf1eld With his 1926 average Nieman the
Orioles best hitter last and might have the
batting title if line drive by Terminate Bob Boyd hadn't
injured his hand and sidelned him for six weeks.
Nieman will be spotted and so will Woodlng another
odtmer This goes too for Avila, heretofore second
baseman but rightelder tomorrow Il have to jugge"
Richards frankly II couldn't very we'll play Woodlng
and Nieman at the time account of their lack
of speed"
You couldn't go far to suggest that Richards
would prefer juggling his troops to having solid who
can play day. but neither does the prospect of pa
looming to bother him.
BACK TO THE PITCHING. no other factor came close
to being significant in the sixthplace finish of the
Orioles last season. only games back of the fourth place
Indians. Baltimore scored fewer (521) than any
club in the majors but the Orioles had the second best
See WIN, LOSE, OR DRAW, Page E-3