Show 0 t R CE IT T MIGHT seem strange to say say y that a manager whose ball club has been doing very well indeed could be even close to the borderline border borderline borderline line of a predicament much less the brink of an abyss But for ten years Boston always always always al al- al- al ways a great baseball baseball baseball base base- ball town with a jy yv great baseball tradition tradition tra tra- e Y y has been dreaming vain dreams of recovering recovering recovering recover recover- ing some of its lost glory There were the winning days of Jimmie Collins Bill Bm J Carrigan and others oth oth- oth's s 's U ers who carried Joe joc the Red Sox banner Cronin o high But in spite of the millions Tom Yawkey has fed into his purchases and pay roll the Red Sox thus far have been on the outside peering in Now Cronin has his team winging away at a record clip He has come corne through with the hitting and the pitching for which only the most rabid fan ever could hope Outside of Ted Williams Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr no one could figure that so many Red Sox would hit so well No one could figure Mickey Harris winning six straight with able support from Tex Hughson Joe Dobson and Dave Ferriss Cant Can't Hold the Pace Joe Cronin's predicament is this no one can expect so many of his men to continue to blast the ball with such deadly effect and no one can figure that Mickey Harris can continue to hold such winning form although Mickey I Is a much im un- unproved Improved improved proved pitcher over past seasons before before before be be- fore the war when he failed to break even If the Red Sox had broken from the wire at a steady clip there would have been no such excitement as reigns in Boston today As it now stands any Red x slump which Is certain to occur later on after such early speed is bound to cause a reaction up Boston way There is the chance of course that the Red Sox today have what the old Yankees once carried when they almost wrecked the league practically closing out the season in late July or early August It could I happen After Alter all Cronin's hired men have shown power at bat and i power in the pitchers pitcher's box which are the two main spots of the game I However an early rush to the front can lead to much brooding later on It lt is still my contention that the Tigers have the best pitching staff staffIn staffIn In baseball followed by the Cardinals Cardi Cardi- nals But Red Sox pitching in addition ad to being an improvement over what it looked to be earlier also has run-making run and fielding support that will bag many a ball game through the summer ahead However Boston's suppressed long-suppressed supporters should understand that tha t tit it is still a B long way to October Chasing the Cardinals My good friend Eddie Dyer Der once a star halfback in Texas is shocked over the fact that his team Is still called a 35 5 shot against the field We have a good sound ball club Eddie says but no team is that good not good not even the Red Sox today Too many things can happen happen happen hap hap- pen in a ball game Too many things can happen to your best men There are arc other good teams in this league teams much Improved over last season This includes the Dodgers Braves Reds and the Giants Both Cubs and Pirates will soon begin picking up speed After all the weather has made this an uncertain spring as far as rating rating rating rat rat- ing goes I dont don't believe many peo pea people pIe understand what such players as Reese Reiser and Herman mean meant t to td the Dodgers They are all winning winning winning win win- ning ballplayers One of Eddie Dyers Dyer's greatest thrills so far has been the fine showing showing showing show show- ing of Terry Moore not only a great ballplayer but a fine man to have on any club After Alter being away from action for some time in the army Terry has been hitting far above his prewar punch and Terry Is no longer long long- er a kid When you look at such ballplayers as Marion Kurowski Kurowski Ku- Ku Moore and others plus others plus the Cardinal pitching staff whether staff whether or not you are a Giant Dodger Cub or Brave fan this Is the club to be watched once they have squared away from the summer festivities It might also be suggested that Billy nilly Southworth has turned in in a n afine fine acne job with the Boston Braves raves a club supposed to be planted in the second division The Braves raves may finish there but they arc are a big improvement improvement improvement im im- provement over the tho Braves of or other years ears They arc are a hustling outfit as is Billy Southworth's teams always ha have lave ve been This can be baseballs baseball's greatest attendance attendance at at- year with many thousands to o spare If the two pennant races remain remain re reo main reasonably close for it Isn't any my too easy to keep the popeyed fan an keyed up when his home club clubs Is s outclassed and far tar out of ot the race The he danger spots spot here are the Red Redfox Sox fox and the Cardinals but both can an run into more severe competition tion Ion than one might look for tor Both Cronin and Dyer confirm this his observation Few horse races ever Iver are won in the first quarter this his also goes for a p pennant Anant race I |