Evening star., 1960-12-07
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ;, FRANCE, ,r.pu
.One to Argue With Success

TO TAKE UP BASEBALL as it's played on the field
"a radical departure from emphasis on smoke-hlled
caucus rooms and k-headed magnaes-t turns out
that Ralph Houk the Yankees field manager intends
to junk Casey Senges style arguing with sue
cess, but Houk VOWS he's going to try it his way.
The platoon system which brought the Stengel-
managed Yankees 10 pennants in dozen years. plus
seven world championships, will be draSticay modified
Houk says. Ryne Duren strictly bupen pitcher under
Casey, will be starting pitcher. Yogi Berra always
SengePs clutch catcher will play the outheld most of
the time.
The World War II Ranger makes it all sound logical
but Houk had better win Stengel puzzled most ball
players including his but he the most success
fu manager of his time. The way Houk quotedain
St Louis was mnot trying to rap doubt
Casey had lot of luck with that tpatoonl system But
4 believe in set lteups, wherever possible and don't
intend to shift players around particularly the ineld"
q 4ss(
E BECAUSE HouK REFUSED to give up Catcher johnny
6anchard In deal he missed getting Johnny Antone
from the Giants The Indians did get Antonel who cost
Them Harvey Kuenn, but Houk processes to be too
chagrined .r -
I don't think that we must make move in the
player Market Ralph has said I'VE face the new year
with the club which the American League pennant
and, but for bad break, might have won the World
Seres too We are not trying build up to pennant
status because we already have it."
Houk, who a catcher stood In the shadow of Berra
doesn't sound he intends to have Yogi catch very
often Statistics show that Yogi hits better as an out
fielder" Ralph is saying Privately Houk also might
is not what 1t used to be.
AS an outfeder Yogi is deceptive He looks like one
OF DSneys dwars in left field but he makes the plays
Even with his limited experience, baseball men feel
that Berra is more adequate eftelder than say Jim
Lemon and few others
THE DUREN EXPERIMENT will be watched with
interest. Stenge couldn't see Duren as starter and
converted him into reliever couple of wears ago
Ryne was the best short relever in the business coming
INTO the game in the late innings Between his blazing
as na and the poor eyesight that kept batters loose
ne Kept ammng the door the opposition with strike
outs.
But Duren lost his touch last year and Houk admits
H. Wnen managed him at Denver" Ralph remembers
ne qua an outstanding job as starter know he hasn't
lost MS fast ball. His big difficulty has been control
Maybe with more work he'll get the ball over
another thing, Duren in relief couldn't afford TO
oo WIN MS Shoer curve and change-up too much. He
can throw that stuff bat very often with runners
on the bases and the ball game riding every time he
throws "
year." O"Np''' '"''
Durens record 3-4 and his earned run average a
Heolocre 4So SO what has Houk got to lose?
Houk MAY NOT have the color Of Stengel but who
mas! lnere are times when Ralph appears dour and
oleak IN comparison with Casey he is word and
o!ce tne novelty OF Houk has off, so viii the cluster
OF newsmen in the Yankees dugout probably fall off,
But Houk has many champions. Youngsters like
loy huoeK and others who served under the man the
minors swear by him. Phil Rizzuto, who played under
o'ehsel ana was a teammate of Houks, out few
Gays ago and predicted that Ralph will do as good
Job, or better, than Casey
Gene Woodling of the Orioles, who roomed with Houk
lor seven years as Yankee told Sporting News cor
respondent THE players will work for Houk . he isn't
AFRAID to step into Sengels shoes don't want to take
anything away from stenge but know that with the
same callbre of players Houk will do as good job as
Casey did" 80,
Woodling, Yankee was in a position to know
Wnat happened to Don Larsen that made him valuable
pltcner 1or couple of when the Yankees
couldn't handle Don" Gene remembered "they sent him
70 Denver where Ralph managing Houk never
threatened to fine Larsen if he broke training but he
salo ths to him, Your private life your own But If
you ever come into this ball park ready to pitch I'll
kick the hell out of YOU
houk meant 1t, too. And it after that Denver
Series" ~
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