The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1960-04-15
ChisOr and Giants
Are Penndnt Picks
BY LOU FABR0
Times Sports Editor

Times Sports Editor
Like professional baseball managers, sports writ
ers are an optimistic lot when the soft, sweet breezes
of spring sweep gently over the United States.
While baseball shippers like to tell everyone their
respective clubs are improved and might or are
'ikely' to capture the flags, sports scrlbes are equal
ly brave in predicting for their readers which teams
will win the major league races.
AND SO, RUE TO FORM, we'll brave the UNI
known and pick the teams we think land therefore
hope will wear the 1860 championship crowns.
After consulting our charts, porting over statistics,
checking the player trades and Tipping a coin, we see
a 1860 World Series clash between the Chicago White
Sox and the San Francisco Giants.
Before any readers rush out and bet their bubble
gum money on these two teams, we'll be falr ana re-
mind you all that last year we picked the New YORK
Yankee S and the Milwaukee Braves. Ii you were
around last season, you know the Yankees we're lucky
to finish Is games behind the American League cham
pion White Sox and that the Braves we're nosed out IN
a post-season playoff by Los Angeles.
Now, let's get back to 1860.
LOOKING AT THE AMERICAN LEAGUE first, it
shapes UP as a battle between three teams. the White
Sox. Indians and Yankees. Two other teams-the ORR
oles and Tigers might figure in the tussle but
chances are less than even that they will.
OF the three top contenders, only the White Sox
appear any stronger than last year. And last year, the
Chisox won the flag, finishing five lengths IN front OF
second place Cleveland.
The Sox again will feature a "go-go" offense
but they also will e more power. The added
power will be supplied by Minnie Minoso, Gene Freese
and Roy SEWERS, all picked up IN trades. Inc three
clouted a total of SIS homers last year, or more than
half the combined output of the 1859 SoX. Ted klls-
zeWSki, who was around for only 30 games last year,
will be available all season, barring the unforeseen.
OF COURSE, THE GREAT lNFIELD combination
of Nellie. Fox and Luis Aparicio is still intact and the
Sox still have speedy jim Lands and Al Smith to pa
troll the outfield.
AS for pitching, the Sox appear to have the best
in the American League with Early VIM, Bob Shaw,
Turk Lown, Dick Donovan, Billy Pierce, Gerry Staley,
ct al. The weakness on the hill is age. Wynn, the old
est is 40. Shaw, the youngest, is 27.
How about the Indians and Yankees?
Well, the Indians look strong, but no stronger
than last year. Cleveland has a ~top-fllght lnfleld,
thanks to the addition of Johnny Temple at second
base. The Indians probably have the best hitting in
RS a DIFFERENT STORY in the pitching de-
partment. The Indians mound corps is, at best, rei-
able. Now that 19-game winner Cal McLish is gone,
the Cleveland pitching staff is lean in experience Herb
Score is still a question mark The Tribe just doesn't
seem to have championship pitching.
AS for the Yankees, some feel that the New York
empire is c~rumbling. II sure looked that way last
year when the Yankees occupied the cellar for a spell.
Sizing up the Yankees this year, it's a story of
eff" If Mickey Mantle, Bob Turley and Ryne Duren
return to 1858 form, If Moose SkoWron stays healthy,
if Yogi Berra has one more good year, if Casey Stengel
can land a starting pitcher through a trade, the
Yankees might do it. Because the whole picture is so
"iffy," it looks like another third place finish for the
Bombers, despite what they say in Las Vegas.
GOING DOWN THE LINE, Baltimore looks like
a fourth place team; the Tigers fifth; Athletics sixth;
Senators seventh and the Red Sox last.
While the American League looks like a strictly
threeteam race, there appears to be some real good
ozark horses in the National. Among these are: Pitts
burgh, Cincinnati and st. Louis. For a relatively sure
thing, you have to stick with the big three namely,
the Braves, Giants and Dodgers.
We pick the Giants because they bolstered their
Uitchinp-fhp one hp weakness which cost them the
pennant last year.
SAN FRANCISCO S YEA led the National
for IA days. only to blow the lead at the end by losing
seven of IFS last eight games. The Giants thus finished
third, four games behind the winning Dodgers.
The sad end for the Giants was strictly due to lack
OF pitching during the crucial last weeks. TO avoid a
repeat, the Giants picked up pitchers Billy ODell and
Billy Ices through trades They'll be part of a solid
mound staff composed of Johnny Antonelli, Sam
Jones, Jack Sanford and Mike Mccormick. This hurl.
ing staff should do it.
With a tough pitching staff, the Giants appear to
be on their way. Their hitting is awesome and the
fielding should be great, especially with ex-Cardinal
Don Blasingame at second.
WE PUT THE DODGERS NJ A in the
"also.ran" class because, overall, they don't appear to
be any stronger than last year.
Both teams have great hitting. Both have rugged
pitching. The Dodgers hold the edge in the fielding de.
partment. In choosing one for second place, we side
with the Dodgers because the Braves hurting doesn't
seem to be as impressive as in former days.
For fourth place, we pick Pittsburgh, st. Louis
fifth; Cincinnati sixth; Chicago seventh; and Philaiel
phia last.