Evening star., 1960-02-27
CookieHopes
S|uggers Will
Bounce Back
Optimistic Over
Killebrew, Allison
Reguining Punch
BY BURTON HAWKINS
Star Star Writer


plicating the situation, so he
is eliminating Harmon Kille-
brew and Bob Allison from his
list of lamentS. Those Sena-
tors Sluggers weakened Woe
fully in the second half last
season, but their manager Is
taking the optimistic approach
They became too eager" !"
Cookie said of Killebrew, q
.2ll hitter after the first ALL
Star game. and Allison, a .22e
sufferer over the same period
They have the intelligence to
rebound and I'm confident they
will"
Lavagetto feels the reason
for their sag is the fact that
both lost their strike zone.
Even when Harmon was
slumping," Cookie said, pitch
ers were afraid to give him a
decent pitch because the
danger of him pumping one
out of the park always is there.
I guess he got tired of waiting,
got too anxious and swung at
bad pitches.
Got to Pressing
1T was much the same case
with Allison" Cookie con-
tinued. When he was red hot
he had that good stroke and
was hitting to all fields. Later
he got to pressing and wasn't
particular about picking his
pitches. but both boys have
balance and I'm confident
they're smart enough to solve
their problems"
President Cal Griffith echoes
Lavagetto's sentiments in re-
gard to Killebrew. but he ad-
mitS concern about Allison
Bob currently is one of six
unsigned Senators. desiring
$4,000 instead Of the $4,000
he has been offered.
I'll admit I'm a little worried
about Allison" Griffith said
He got so he was trying to pull
everything to leftfield. Maybe
the fact that he needed only
one more homer to tie TED
Williams'S rookie mark was in
the back of his head, bun
while he was straining for that
home run he was hitting into
double-plays.
allison got down to a 29-
ounce bat" Cal continued
That's the weight Of a Little
League bat. but he still wasn't
getting around on the ball
Most players use a 80 or 33
ounce bat, and I can't think OF
any except Allison who has cut
down to 20 ounces"
Lavagetto, who restricted the
Senators initial workout yes
terday to little more than two
hours, says Killebrew and ALI
son are among six Senators as
sured of regular duty. The
others are Outfielder Jim
Lemon. First Baseman Roy
Sievers and Pitchers Camil
Pascual and Pedro Ramos.
There's a job open in the
outf1eld." Cookie said. Sec
ond base. shortstop, catching
and pitching are unsettled. I'm
hoping Ralph Lumenti or Jim
Kaat will show enough to give
me a lefthanded starter. Don
Lee and Fred Buckbauer will
get plenty of opportunity to
make the grade.
IF Dick Hyde can rebound
to his form of two years ago,
giving us a stopper in the
bullpen. I might make a
starter out of Truman eleven
ger. Bill Fischer and Russ
Kemmerer aren't so secure as
starters that they can't be
challenged. We need help from
the youngsters and they're
going to get a chance.
CatcherS Have Chance
II haven't given up on Reno
Bertoia at second base. He'll
be playing there in exhibition
games along with Billy Con-
solo. I'll also use Console at
shortstop with Zoilo Versailles
And I want a further look at
Dan Dobbek in centerfield. He
looked good, what little I saw
of him. late last season.
"As far as catching is con-
cerned. it's wide open. Both
Clint Courtney and Hal Nara.
gon are slow, they aren't the
best throwers in the world and
they don't bat across many
runs. Steve Korcheck is q
solid catcher with great spirit
and wonderful aggressiveness
Ife he can show he can hit
only a little bit he can win a
regular job"
Griffith trimmed the Sena-
tors unsigned to Lemon, Alli-
son, Bertoia, Ramos, Infieldel
John Schaive and Pitcher Hal
Griggs yesterday by signing
Catchers Courtney and Nara
gon and Pitchers Clevengel
and Jack Kralick. He hasn't
heard from Bertoia and Griggs
since mailing their contracts
weeks ago, and one teammate
has heard that the 30-year old
Griggs is considering giving ur
baseball.
NOTES: General Manager
Frank Lane of the Indians
seeking either PaScual NJ
Ramos, phoned Griffith yester.
day. but Cal says he isn't likely
to make a deal of any descrip.
tion until he sees what progress
some of his younger player.
make in exhibition games.
Naragon occupied himself prof.
itably during the winter by
selling executive gifts to large
firms. Clevenger quit work.