Evening star., 1963-03-20

Tribe to Sturt
Three Rockies
By MORRIS SIEGEL


TUCSON Arz, Mar, 2O-Yesterday left Birdie
Tebbetts in Phoenix where he recalling how he had
solved couple of old money problems with the Red Sox
his old employer
Today Birdie was cornered the home lot where
there current problems all dealing with the Ceve-
land Indians for whom he works now
For the last seven years the Indians have operated
the theory the quickest to improve losing ball
team Is to fire manager 1t hasn't worked. Tebbetts
is the sixth occupant Of Clevelands No. wigwam spot
In the last seven years.
Now the Indians have another idea. Perhaps suspect
ing some of the talent the manager had equally de-
lnquent they also fired traded number OF players
The results won't be definite until September but at the
moment everybody seems happy
TEBBETTs BEGAN HIS Cleveland managerial regime
spectacularly II not boldly Last January he announced
Tony Martinez who became % only two days ago, would
be his regular shortsop The scouting reports on the
handed Cuban had been excellent Besides, Brde
himself had seen Martinez play seven times
That's awful quick judgment, naming the boy short
stop after having him play only seven gameS,
reporter said.
"Ive known kids who got 100000 bonus who weren't
watched in seven games" Tebbetts snapped
George Strickland Tebbetts' new third-base coach
who occupied similar post with the Twins last year. was
brought in as conSultant on Martinez Strickland Ior-
Cleveland shorteder agreed with Skipper IeoOeVS
that Martinez was ready.
~ saw him several times at Reading in 1851" Strick-
land said 81 thought he ready even then He's an
unsua player. Nothing fashy, but makes all the plays
Reminds you a lot Of Chico CarrasqueL Appears slow'
doesn't throw hard but to get the ball 10 the
base before the runner Great range too
MARTINEZ is JUST one part of the order Teb-
belts is preparing to introduce at Cleveland this year
Two other rockies Third Baseman Max .lvis, 25 and
Centerfelder Vic Davaillo, "a, are also regulars.
Those three" Tebbetts suggested "have got great
chance to be championship-type players. That's how
much we think Of them"
Was Cleveland trying to bring off the thing
Minnesota did last yearget two rookie infelders into
the starting lineup?
More than they did" he replied "we1l go with three
Our two infielders Av and Martinez have more quaf-
cations than Rollins and Allen, the Minnesota boys had
last year They the Job by default Who else did Min
nesota have-Billy Martin, valdivielso?
Martinez / knew about. Alvis had heard about
Funny thing about Avis. We worried about his
hitting. Now we aren't. We know that he can Now
we're asking can he fieldG That's the best kind Of
problem.
THERE'S DAvALILLo now" Birdie said as a bronze
youngster, only inch taller than Albe Pearson
stepped into the baters box. He lined few batting
practice pitches into rghtcenter for hits Balls look like
they hit by big man, don't hey2" Tebbetts asked
They did
when we started I was the least impressed with
Davalillo Now he's the who impresses me most At
this stage of his he's better than Vada Pnson was
He's the best player I've in Arizona this spring.
The Interrogation shifted to Woody Held last years
shortstop and home-run threat Next to Joe Adcock,
Held, who broke in outfieder, is CleVelands best
ng-ball hitter
Held is our key man." Tebbetts explained IF
can't find place for Held this team, we've got he'll
luva ball club" The indications Held will play, prob
ably at second base in place of the patsyhtng Jerry
Kindal.
GENE GREEN, WHOM the Senators sent to the In
dams along with Dick for Jim Piersa in trade
Washington regrets passed by the dugout.
What about Green?" Tebbetts asked Tebbetts
smiled II don't know. He wants to play every day.
Where? He can't catch, he can't play first and he's
lousy outfelder. But he swing that bat.
I've made up my mind to manage only "a players
and just let Green alone.
Look at that kook out there now, praccng bunting
The way he tap those fences when does he think I'll
ever put him in TO bunt?"