The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-09-07
SPORTS of TIMES
Big odds
ripped Jets
BY LOU FABRO
Times Sports Editor

When the final out is recorded and the 1861 Interna-
tional League pennant is lowered for the last time at Jet
Stadium, it can be said that the 1862 Jets played as well as
could be expected, considering the circumstances.
To emphasize the point, We'll repeat what we said here
a year ago when the Jets were en- route to Columbus first
league championship in 20 years. Our comment then-and
1t still stands-was that Larry Shepard is the finest Co
lumbus manager seen here in many seasons.
SHEPARD, OF COURSE. won't win manager-of-the
year honors as he did last year. This distinction usually is
reserved for the manager of the championship club.
And we might interiect here that Manager Ben Geragh-
ty of 1862 championship Jacksonville certainly deserves the
honor when you consider his team was picked to finish
near the bottom. Even when the Suns broke into fast lead,
most observers around the league felt Jacksonville would
fold. But they didn't.
Getting back to the Jets, it's not difficult to figure out
what caused their 1862 hameout. In fact, we cited the key
factors in our sizeup of the team early in the season. At
that time, we noted that odds were very much against the
Jets in their quest for a second consecutive crown.
FIRST OF ALL, THE JETS lost too many key players
from their championship team. Half of these players are
grazing major league rosters. What really hurt is that prac-
tically the entire 1861 mound staff, which was the key TO
the Jets championship sprint last year, was lost
Biggest loss from the mound corps from the entire
team in fact-was old (42-plus) Diomedes Olive, who was
voted the international Leagues most valuable pitcher last
year. The big, popular Latin with the flashing smile set a
team record by appearing in Sc games, mostly in relief
pitching roles.
To fill the gaping holes left in the team, the Jets had
to rely on about a dozen players who had very little or no
Triple-A baseball experience. This inexperience really show
ed al the start of the season when the club stumbled, 1loua-
dered and Topped into last place.
IN JUNE, HOWEVER, II JETS began to jell and
started their upward climb toward the frs division. AS
they head into the season Windup, the Jets rank third IN
fielding (they were last in 1861 and sixth in club batting -
the same as last year. Long-ball hitting improved, however,
as the Jets did top last years total of 1876 homers.
The big difference was in pitching, which could be de-
scribed as fair and spotty. A reliable relief hurer was a ma
jor problem until Bob Priddy caught fire and gave the Jets
the kind of fireman needed to back up a shaky mound
staff.
Compromising the pitching problem was the iammed-up
schedule, caused by squeezing the same number oil games
154 of them $780, in a shorter period of time. And playing
three consecutive doubleheaders is downright ridiculous out
that's what the Jets did twice in the past two weeks.
AS WI NOTED EARLIER, SHEPARD need not offer
n apolopies for the teams 1862 showing. II he hadn
been operating with two strikes against MN ali season long,
the lets no doubt would have Jared much better.
One of the biggest treats enjoyed by Jet tans mas peeh
the sparkling play of $175,00 infielder Bob Bailey rlayihg
either third base or shortstop, Bailey played his territory
like a SITS, 900 infielder should. And his big bat spelled
the difference in many games. His an-round performance
stamps hin as the teams most valuable player ana a sure
fire major league star.