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Show 8 Major League Pennant Races nalysis o THE FLY SWATTER Chicago White Sox Get Nod in Tight American League By IRA EERKOW order of predicted finish.) (Ii CHICAGO: It U hard to conceive how the White Sox hitters can b as feckless as last season, when they batted .225 as a team, nintn in the league, and were ninth in runs scored. (But they've surprised before.) Tommy Davis, obtaiiied from the Mets, will provide a lot of punch. As will Louis Aparicio and Ken Boyer, also newly acquired. Their pitching is tops in baseball, with people like Gary Peters, Tommy John, Joel Morten, Bob Locker, and Hoyt Thia is the White Sox' Wil-bek- n. year. DETROIT: Superstar Al Ka-lihas never played in a World Series in his 14 seasons. He has gotten close, like last reason when fiie Tigers finiAed in a tie for second with Minnesota, one game out He'll be finger-rai- ls They are away again. strong behind the plats (Bill Freehan), strong on the mound (Earl Wikon, Denny McLain, etc.) and strong at bat (Kaline, Willie Horton, Norm Cash). But weak In the bullpen, some glaring holes in the infield and a lack of depth. BALTIMORE: Orioles The were untouchable in winning the 1966 pennant. But 1U season they were often an easy touch, The pitching staff, primarily, let them down. It bad more sore arms than an mfirmary with Army recruits. But they still have the power, with Frank Robinson, Boog Powell and Brooks Robinson. With Dave McNally, Wally Bunfinishing ker Mid sixth. Jim Palmer attaining Sunday Hercld 16 , V v spike-woun- worthy. Now, Longborg will start slowly due to a winter skiing injury. Carl Yastrzemski and George Scott will again be highly effective. But they won't be able to carry off another coup without good pitching. OO Prominent Scribe Urges New Baseball Renovations - AUTO CONDITIONING jja I A SPRINKLING SYSTEMS Designed and Installed CRAGHEAD diXT PLUMBING-HEATI- NG 56 North 2nd West DIAL 3 Ch oice fears Automatic Oakland Athletics rave championship aspirations. But baseball is kidding itself. The pervasive feeling of excitement you used to get with Opeiung Day is missing. I mean, when the biggest story comes out of spring training was how the penalty for applying spit to a baseball was changed progressively from throwing out the pitcher to calling a balk to calling the pitch a ball, how are you going to warm up to the traditional umpire's shout of "play balL" Lacks Personality Baseball lacks personality. The best player in the game today is virtually unknown to the kids who collect bubble gum cards. His name is Roberto Clemente, and he plays in the outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has four batting championships to his credit and Sears Can Tapper with Pour Spout Trans. Sealer transmission Itakt tH Mzi fcalpi future he has batted over .300 the last eight seasons consecutively. But the biggest fuss is still made over Willie Mays, who is close to 37 years old and has deluded the Giants into thinking that his slump of last season was a momentary relapse. And Mickey Mantle, who is on his last legs at the age of 36 and really doesn't merit his spot in the regular line-uexcept that he can still pull people into the park. When an attractive new face does come along, like Mike Epstein last year, baseball doesn't know how to market it. The men who run the sport blow smoke rings smugly behind a facade label 1 "national pas time" and shudder at anyone who makes echoes that will shake the Establishment There is no dynamic leader ship on top. A commissioner who was a general has been on the job two years and hasn't produced a single memorable idea or innovation when the game is crying for attention. p, DURABLWmS JACKET 'tTH fCCCQ. WtrESTEfl d The game itself demands re vision to fit h with the pace of the times. When a progres sive thought is suggested, like Eddie Stanley s idea of using designated pinch - hitters and keep a pitcher or some other regular in the game, it's treated like a desecration of Abner Doubleday, who didn't invent baseball hi the first place. Pro football changed its rules to stimulate the forward pass and broaden its appeal. Pro basketball injected a time ele ment, the clock, to its action. Baseball's up speed biggest move was making the fielders bring in their gloves line-u- p CSSBSXUt' CHARGE IT OH SEARS REVOLVING CHARGE Sears Automobile Carburetor Cleaner Cltani carburetor for ter gasoline economy and more power. Just add to gasoline. between innings. A clock is needed on pitchers to make them serve up the ball in a specified time, like 30 sec onds. There's merit in a Texas Sears Oil Tor.Ic lor Your Engine Jt your ear Is burning too much oil, try Sean 01 GET YOUR bet- Tonic. UTAH STATE 100 pure petro- leum product. INSPECTION Preeision Auto Wheel Aiigimteii mdxxise Amokf Poftmsr men. WHmtmsg taixs It to atefcfe Ucnd of ffodef potyestor am Awl pcp'in vi'tla a Damble-Pres- s Cat keeps te w took through tf ftwghest petlwa Camtufy detailed with split shoulder ' wi action pfeat back, cemvertifcte storm cc&t I ittwMx For Most Porta Extra TouU enjoy more miles per AT SEATS AKD &W3 ffa&factim Guaranteed trYomr ffl&tey BotSi Sears New Managers In Big Leagues ?1 w i 14 i ? ; , tt , f GIL HODGES will take over the helm of the New York Mets for the 1968 baseball season. lit -- A' LUM HARRIS wffl have tha job for the Atlanta Bravca fa the National League. H ) 4 . u JIM LEMON has taken the reigns of the Washington Senators vacated by uil Hodges. BOB KENNEDY will pilot the Oakland Aathletlcs in their first season on the west coast. T C-- IU If Your Motor Overheats , t mi msr m av tirt Prove, Utah PARK FRES ' League experiment a couple of years ago which gave a team 90 seconds to make the transition from batting to fielding after the third out. The double-heade- r, an Instru ment of the depression years, is archaic and cant keep big crowds rooted for seven hours on a sunny Sunday afternoon when most pys today can afford a boat or a Bet of golf clubs. Baseball in It3 present form is not an exciting television spectacle. kt kss9 ftb Ccrs t Needs Revision Easily piesceg can for easy pouring. Hard carbon ateel cutter. Nickel-platefinish. prevent teaks. Just add every top. But the other clubs will b a lot more wary of the Bruins (la order of predicted finish.) this season. SAN FRANCISCO; There ara ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals have all the experience, depth, hard feelings and hardening arpower and pitching that they teries among the Giants. Dis had last year when they won the sension and old age are sapping pennant by 10ft games, the big- them of their former prowess. gest winning margin in the Willie Mays is going downhilL league since 1C35. A team with Juan Marichal is considered a guys like MVP Orlando Cepeda, malingerer by some and Mike three-gam- e World Series win- McCormiek, Cy Young award ner Bob Gibson, Roger Maris, winner, won t measure up vt Tim McCarver, Dick Hushes last year's effectiveness. The mi Julian Javier cant be all Giants finished second last sea I bad. Stiffer competition and a son. There is little chance bit of overconfidence may hurt them doing as well in 68. them, though. They may win the ATLANTA: The Braves also pennant by only five games this a combativeness in tha had year. the dub on CINCINNATI: The Reds were dugout tiiat hurt field Mavbe new manager the '67 fee early leaders of the race, can solve the probbut injuries laid them low, and Lum Harris Aaron can't do it lem. Henry they finished fourth. They have alone. Sonny Jackson acquired one of the strongest pitching in a trade from Houston, may staffs in baseball, with Jim Milt Pappas, Gary Nolan, plug up a shortstop deficiency. Mel Queen and reliever Ted That s a start, anyway. Abernathy. If any team is capHOUSTON: Potential to starable of embarrassing the high- tle the league is here. Outfieldflying Cards, H's the Reds. ers Jim Wynn and Rusty Staub LOS ANGELES: With a his- are two of the finest hitters in seasons, the Jeague. Don Wils-jn- , tory of "bounce-back- " Mike the Dodgers are again in a posi- Cuellar, Dave Giusti and Denny tion to demonstrate their resilLemaster, obtained from Atlan. ience. From their pennant-winnin- g ta, could form an awesome season of 1966, they droppitching rotation. But the infield ped to eighth last year. But they and catching are deep problems. have talent; especially in two So, once again, the biggest atnew acquisitions from Minne- traction about tiie Astros may sota, pitcher Mudcat Grant and be the Astrodome. Zoilo Versalles. Hopes shortstop PHILADELPHIA : It is still are bright in sunny California. Position for question whether Richie Allen, PITTSBURGH: position, the Pirates art as star third baseman, can corns strong as any team in the lea- back from the hand injury mat gue. It has been that way for sidelined him the latter part of the past few seasons. However, last season. The Phils' hitting ihey just cant seem to steal is just mediocre. And their off a pennant. This season, de pitching staff, headed by Larry spite people like Roberto Cle Jackson, RSck Wise and Chris mente, Maury Wills, Bill Maz- - Short, is not strong enough to 'the new carry the club. Tough times eroski, Bob Veale manager Larry Shepard, the sliced story appears the same. No NEW YORK: Gil Hodges' b the new Met manager. He did a booty on the horizon. CHICAGO: For the first time fine job with the Senators, takclub in in some 20 years, the Cubs are ing over a last-plaa legitimate preseason threat 1963 and leaving them last seafor the first division. They son in a tie for sixth. In New startled the baseball universe York he has some good young in 1967 by battling the Cards for talent, like Bud Harrelson, Ron first place much of the summer. Swoboda and Tom Seaver, and Star young pitchers like Ken some good proven talent, like HoFzman and Ferguson Jenkins Tommy Agee. He also has high will help keep them near the hopes. And that's all. Ma-Icne- y, CALIFORNIA: Their potential is great, and have possible superstars in shortstop Jim Fregcsi and outfielder Rick Rekhardt Pitcher Jim and Rickey Clark are two of the finest mound pros pects in baseball. But it's just OAKLAND: Joe DiMaggio, a growing team, and will suffer famous York Yankee growing pains. star, is the new vice president Kansas City CLEVELAND: Somehow, wiJi of the Ml that pitching prowess, the A's.' DiMaggio is a knowledge Indians should be able to locate able gentleman. That has little a solid place in the first divi to do with the description of sion. But even pitchers like the uniformed athletes, but if Sam McDowell, Luis Tiant, By MURRAY OLDERMAN you can't say anything nic While NEW YORK (NEA) Steve Hargan and Sonny Sie- - about the players, at least you the for baseball itself preens can say something nice about SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 1968 opening of a new season, the one of their executives. Utoh Ctvnt Utoh 93rd in major league history, a dullness pervades the spring ritual. It should be a time of optimism and anticipation why, even Charlie Finley and the I "! : r WASHINGTON: New manager Jim Lemon has not inherited a plum. The Senators could be very, very good, but it is more likely they will be very, very bad. Phil Ortega, Frank Howard, Paid Casanova and Mike Epstein could provide the nu hold your breath cleus of a contender. But it is not likely, primarily because the sup porting cast is nondescript. Maybe next year. one-tim- e Cards Favored To Repeat Title By IRA EERROW some degrse of their 1966 form, "oert, as hurlers immemorial, the Orioles will again be men- have trouble winning without runs. The outfield, other than acing. newly acquired Tommy Harper, MINNESOTA: Ah, the talent is a question mark. The infield here Harmon Kiliebrew, Tony is also a question mark, though Oliva, jim Kaat, among others. Tony Horton, Max A'.vis and But some of the Twins would as Brown could make it an d his team Lai.y soon exclamation point. There are mate as assist is a double play. more question marks, about 20 One of the rumored trouble more. makers, Zoilo Versalles, has NEW YORK: Where, oh, bees traded. But the Twins still lack the coheeiveness where have the Yankees gone? needed to win, that plus the Answer: to the dogs. Mickey Mantle is still their most potent abundance of competition. offensive weapon, but he's still BOSTON: Overpowering the hobbling. The outfield, with rest of the league with their Torn Ttesh, Joe Pepitone and fearsome lineup, the Red Sox Steve Whitaker, could be very still only managed to win the strong. But it wasn t last year. pennant on the last day of The infield is troubled; the the season. The pitching staff, pitching is troubled; the catch winner other than ing is troubled. Future? Trou Jim Longborg, was not note bled. Sears j 4 207 N. 1st W. Open Monday and Friday 'HI t p. m. bm RADIATOR soft colors. and $16.00 GAS TANK Service Wage Sports Mm US NORTH UNIVERSITY AVENUf Work Unconditionally Ouaranttttf AHLANDERS PH. tit 373-646- 3 s. univ., novo LARRY SIIEPHARD will lead the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. It is Shepherd's first assignment la the big leagues. ALVIN DARK will tcke charge of tha Cleveland Indians in the hut America? Leagin chas |