Evening star., 1961-03-27
WIN, LOSE OR
DkAW By FRANCIS s1ANN
The Stond-Pot Twins

ORLANDO, Fla, Mar. 27.-The prophets disagree
the Minnesota Twins the washington Senators
Some contend this is up-and-coming club, strong
frst-dvision threat. Others feel the Twins thplace
finish last year is high they likely to go.
One Twin veteran who shall be nameless, canddly
summed up Calvin Grffths old Senators this way we've
got two pitchers After Pete Ramos and Camo Pascual
we've got no big edge any club"
1t is inevitable that the Senators based at
Pompano Beach will be compared with the Twins which
Is unjust The new Senators assembled within two
hours in the American League Offices just little
three months ago. The Twins, except for geographical
locale date back to 1901. If comparison must be made
at this time it follows that the Senators must suffer
Most baseball men concede that the Washington
and Los Angeles clubs will win between so and IS games
the Senators win 55 they must lose 107 Last year the
Twins 1881. At the pace the expanded
162game schedule they would be about 1886 These fig
ures, correct, that Griffiths troops will finish
about 81 games ahead of the Quesada A.C.
AT THIS TIME the new Senators have no pair Of
pitchers to match Pascual and Ramos Earl Battey
behind the plate. Here is 220pounder with rifle for
an arm and spreading reputation possibly the best
catcher in the league.
Harmon Kiebrew at first base hits the longest home
this side of Mickey Mantle No second baseman
the Washington roster makes the double play like Billy
Gardner Zorro Versailles has yet to play in the
majors but the Quesadas would bid high to get him for
their Shortstop.
Jim Lemon leftfied has hit the 100 batted-in
mark the in the last two Lenny Green
in center the clubs top hitter in 1860 with
294 Allison in right was 1885 rookie the-year
but a disappointment sophomore
Cookie Lavagetto would like to find spot in the
lineup for Don Mncher who part Of the White Sox
payment for Roy Sievers last spring Hes been leaning
on the ball. Cookie says but I'm not moving Kilebrew
off first base He's happier there than at third base It's
tough Mncher, but that's how It's got to be-" This
leaves third base to Reno Bertoia
FOR A BIRTHPLACE club the Twins are an uncom-
monty standpat outfit and this be traced to lack Of
depth. And Lavagetto's first-ne not without
flaws.
If anything happens to Battey the Twins will be badly
hurt There is little behind Bertoa, Versailles and Gardner
to play the nfied and not much in the way Of out
fielders.
The seasoned pitchers aside from Ramos and Pascua
uninspiring lot named Kaat Kralck, Lee Sadow-
ski Moore Gel and Stobbs The ast-named IL games
last and baseball men doubt he do that well
again.
Pascual the big stuff" pitcher the guy with the
good fast ball and change Of speeds But he's BRITTLE
something always happens to thwart him. Klebrew has
hit 73 home in his only two regular, but
Harmon never has come very close to 800 and rival man
ayers VOW that smart pitchers can get him out
Gardner will be "a in July and by Lavagetto's own
admission hes off to slow start and being overweight
hasn't helped"
4+#+
LEMON is NO GAZEILE in the outfeld. He is past
SO and it's secret that he disgruntled about his
salary terms when he beatedly signed. Green
country mile in center but has Allison has speed
and can throw but he was not as good hitter in as he
in SO. .....
Ramos has got to be the hardest-workng pitcher in
the major leagues He pitched 216 innings during the
winter in the Cuban League and off and hid from
the rest with 1877 record in CastroS hdeaway. Pedros
record for the last three years is mpausibe in that in
the AL and Cuban League he has pitched 449 396 and 400
innings for total Of 1885 innings Of AS
per season.
His only flaw is that he doesn't win big In six years
and Pedro's only Is now-he shows 67-92 record and
only he above .500 He 1910 in 56 when,
ironically, his ERA was his worst 5.27
THE TWIN WITH THE POTENTIAL is Versailles, an
other Cuban who is only TO- He magic glove and
despite his $50 pounds is showing signs Of becoming
hitter.
"He makes two mistakes q game and then
cancels them out with Of the damnedest plays you
ever saw" Lavagetto says. We've got to go with him
for his arm, his speed and his glove"
Zorro-his real handle is Zoilo4-is something Of a
coorfu character already Last spring when he reported to
the Twins, then the Senators, Versailles modesy pro-
claimed himself at least the defensive equal Of the peer
less Luis Aparicio Of the White Sox
needler unsheathed his verbal weapon. You're as
good Aparico?" he demanded. DO you know what
saw Aparico do? One day in Chicago hitter drove
line drive to deep lefeld The outfeder lost it in the
sun. Aparcio, who was playing short, caught 1t with his
bare hand by jumping and crashing into the fence"
"Aparcio, he deed that theeng?" Zorro asked
That's what he did"
NOR. EsyD's e." the kid s'ted go to Charleston