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Show Cubs Rank As Best Long Shot By GEORGE KIRKSEY NEW YORK, Jan. 20 (UP) The Chicago Cubi are definitely In the dark horse class approaching the 1941 season. They may continue to hang around the edges of the first division or they may develop into one of the big surprises and get Into the thick of the National league fight. From a pennant-winner In 1938, the Cubs have taken a terrific tumble. They finished fifth last season with .487, their lowest percentage per-centage in IS years. . At times the team was a striking example of misdirected energy. The Cubs seemed to be a bunch of boys pulling pull-ing in all different directions. Constructive 'Moves The first move to get the Cubs all pulling their oars in unison was the hiring of Newsman Jimmy Jim-my Wilson, Cincinnati coach and world series hero, as manager. Then Wilson's first and most Important Im-portant move was to plug the Cubs' gap at shortstop. He picked Billy Myers, shortstop of the world champion Reds, as his man and gave up Outfielder Jimmy Gleeson, Shortstop Bobby Mattick and another player to be named later. Wilson has been criticized severely se-verely for going so high for Myers, who hit only .202 last season, but In two years with the Reds Jimmy learned plenty about the Cincinnati Cincin-nati shortstop's team value. If Myers comes through for the Cubs, the club is on its way back into first division. Three other shortstops short-stops are listed on the roster Len Merullo from Tulsa, Harvey Storey from San Francisco and Bob Sturgeon Stur-geon from Jersey City. Other Bad Spota Perhaps Wilson's two other toughest problems are catching and first base. Al Todd, who was In the bad graces of the Cubs' last regime, is the team's best veteran backstop. However, Wilson hopes that Clyde McCulIough, presently a holdout, will take over the No. 1 job. McCulIough hit .324 for Buffalo and is a product of the Yankee farm system, having been bought by the Cubs from Kansas City two years ago. Other rookie catchers coming up are Charley George, who hit .335 for Nashville. and Bob Scheffing, who hit .268 for Rochester. Bob Collins, last year's third stringer, is a holdover. hold-over. Wilson has four first base possibilities possi-bilities Rip Russell, who was laid low by appendicitis last season; Ed Waltkus, a fancy fielder from Tulsa; Phil Cavarretta, who never prospered under the Hartnett regime, re-gime, and Zeke Bonura. They are listed In about the order of their chances. It's Russell's Job if he can prove he deserves it. Billy Herman will have to step to hold his second base job. Lou bt ringer, who hit .263 for Los Angeles An-geles and is touted as one of the greatest fielding second basemen ever developed in the Coast league, Is definitely Herman's successor, but he may not quite make it in 1941. Stanley Hack, the league's best third baseman, will continue at third. Best Outfield The outfield Is the Cubs' strongest strong-est link. Lou Novlkoff, the sensational sensa-tional Mad Russian who belted .363 for Los Angeles to lead the Coast league, is ticketed for left field, with Hank Lelber In center and Bill Nicholson In right That Is likely to be the league's best offensive of-fensive outfield. Augle Galan and Dom Dallessandro will.be the reserves. re-serves. Wilson has a way with pitchers, and Is likely to step up the claw of the Cub pitching considerably. Claude Passeau, Bill Lee and Larry Lar-ry French are expected to be the "big three." Lee had a bad year In 1940 and If he comes back It'll make a tremendous difference. If Dizzy Dean can still pitch, he'll be a winner for Wilson, whom he Idolizes. Clay Bryant, who's been nursing a sore arm on and off for some time, is the Cubs' biggest question mark. |
