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Show : T WILL be Interesting to nots 1 what will happen when baseball I returns to a more normal way oi life. We took up this somewhat 1 twisted matter with Bill Dickey, the Yankees' new manager. man-ager. "This has been I one of the strangest seasons I've ever ' run across." the loose-Jointed "Arkansas "Ar-kansas Traveler" I said. "Suppose, for example, we had known back in i" ; ; i s ; . i Florida during our BUI Dickey training season that i the Yankees were going to get good pitching. That was supposed to be our weakest spot because so many of our men were troubled with bad arms. We would have been picked ! as one of the surest things of the i year, rated well in front. I "But suppose we had known that after six weeks of play our team ! batting would be around .240 with ! such fine hitters as Joe DiMaggio ; and most of the others hitting be-I be-I low .260. Then, we would have been picked far down the list. Hard hitting hit-ting has been the Yankees' main factor in winning ball games, but i as a team we haven't been hitting a half lick." "You don't think this hitting weakness will last?" we asked. "I certainly don't," BUI said. "No pitchers are going to keep such hard hitters as DiMaggio, Keller who has been our best Stirnwelss, Etten, Llndell, Henrlch, Gordon and the others bottled up much longer. Those fellows can hit. They are naturals. I happen to know that Joe DiMaggio was banking on this season being his best year. I've never seen any one work harder, or try harder or train harder. His ! fielding and his home-run hitting ! have been exceptional. I don't believe be-lieve this slump In hitting can last. "We may have more trouble with our pitching, with so many really good pitchers bothered with bad arms or backs, but we are due to get much better hitting and we'll have to get it if we are to win again. We can't win the pennant the way we're going now." Dickey and the Rod Sox We asked Manager Dickey what he thought of the Red Sox and the : chance the Yankees and other American League clubs had of clos-' clos-' ing the gap. "I'll tell you exactly what I think of the Red Sox," Bill said. "I never ; like to underestimate an opponent. In my opinion, they have a first-class first-class manager in Joe Cronin, who failed in the past because the winning win-ning material wasn't there. Cronin isn't going to lose any pennant for his club. Joe will do his share. "The Red Sox have the strongest 1 team they ever have shown. They I have a fine infield and a strong outfield. out-field. They have had the hitting j and the pitching and I honestly i think that so far they have out-hus-! tied the rest of us. "In Pesky and Doerr, the Red Sox have a great mid-infield combination, combina-tion, both on offense and defense. Pesky today is a greatly improved j ballplayer. He means a lot to that club. Cronin certainly has a much stronger pitching staff than anyone looked for last March llughson, Harris, Ferriss and Dobson are about as good as any manager could ask for. I "This doesn't mean," Dickey said ! with a grin, "that I am picking the j Red Sox to win the pennant. I think we can catch them, but I know we can't wait too long. They are too good to be given any big lead, and I believe the Yankees are just beginning be-ginning to realize this. They have been strong on both offense and de-I de-I fense and they've fine spirit. "What about the rest of the league j so far?" we asked. "You can't overlook Washington " he said. "This is a good, steady consistent club all along the line You also will see Detroit get much better pitching than the Tigers have known thus far. Their pitching has been like the Yankees' hitting-too far below normal to remain that way. When their pitching gets as hot as it can get. and they begin to hit nearer their stride, you'll see a big change." Dickey, who has the full support of Larry MacPhail, and who has enjoyed so many years of training under Joe McCarthy-the manager B.U ranks far above all others in has to the job of making good. With a cool head and a stout heart with which to work, he doesn't expect to Pck up all the needed managerial details m a few days or in a few weeks. Bill has the complete affection and respect of his players, and it Is Z Pinion that he win make (ew mil take, n directing up to the hilt the matenal he has at hand. lAke th.r great catcher-manag,.rsBilI Cardan and Mickey Cochrane for ?van,plehe has been in the best pat to know what , e J" j staff that still is uncertain 1 Lr.KD T' beUer tha" Larry MacPha.1 and Bill Dickey that the Yankees need one or two more ball Mayers to carry anything . mS ven chance to overtake Bo.ton |
