| Show I Chicago IS Cubs WinField Win WiH Field Fied Tougher Team I This Is another of a series of ot 16 articles written by the major league managers for the Associated Asso Asso- A. A Associated o- o Press under their own bylines giving a preview pre of their 1951 teams and sizing up theother the theother theother other clubs By ny Frank Frisch Manager of ot Chicago Cubs Cub CHICAGO Feb S UP At VP-At At th the risk of going out on the limb Im I'm going to predict a first division di slon finish for my Chicago Cubs this thi year Im I'm not going to be satIsfIed with fifth place I agree with all these opposing managers who think we are going to make it rough on them next summer Im I'm glad they know It II will save me the job of telling It il to them Not that I expect to win wm the pennant mind you But no nc clubs is going to get fat at on us us- us like the Giants did last year Ill I'll tell you why Were We're going to be a young oung club- club world conditions permitting We Ve finished seventh last year because we played out the string on our youth movement We Ve could have done better Maybe finished a place or two higher but only at a sacrifice sacrifice sacrifice sac sac- of oC rushing our kids whom we knew we had to develop this year Not ot Jittery We Ve didn't get jittery despite the mistakes our kids made even evenin evenin evenin in the face of serious injuries that sidelined men like Preston Ward Vard Phil Cavarretta Hal Jeffcoat Walter Valter Dub Dubiel el and Warren Hacker for long stretches Now were we're ready to go higher with that extra experience under our youngsters youngsters' belts Take our infield Preston infield Preston Ward Vard 23 at first Wayne Vayne 25 second base Roy Smalley 24 shortstop Bill Serena 26 or Ransom Jackson Jackson Jackson Jack Jack- son 24 at third If I can keep that unit together for the next couple of years it will become the talk of the league Not a bad outfield either I dont don't think you will find many outfielders outfield outfield- ers in the business who outclass Andy Then there is Hank Sauer who slammed 32 homers and drove in runs And dont don't forget Jeffcoat who was out with injuries most of last year In addition addition addition addi addi- tion Ive I've got Carmen Mauro a good young prospect and Frank Baumholtz who is coming back backor for or another chance after leading the Pacific Coast league in hitting last year ear Need ced Pitching Pitchin Sure the Cubs could use someI some more pitching But who cant can't It I was our biggest problem last year I However I sincerely believe we will be stronger there this year They tell me that Bob Schultz a left-hander left who won 25 games in inI Nashville last year ear really has it itI I I look for him to stick slick Then theres there's Cal Hes He's been up before He should be ready now after wl winning nin 20 at Los Angeles A couple of other newcomers who tho should help us are arc Omar Lown and Eddie Chandler We Ve drafted them from the Dodger or- or or or- We Ve aLso abo bought Chuck Connors and Dee Fondy a n couple I of oC first basemen from the Dodger organization for protection against I the possibility of losing Ward Vard to the armed forces Of or course this picture can I change overnight as in ill the case of i the other clubs But as things standI stand I now Id I'd say Brooklyn and Philadelphia Philadelphia Phila Phila- I delphia delphta are going to fight it out Ifor for the pennant I dont don't concede a a thing to any of the other clubs i 1 |
