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Show Respect Ability of Bucky Harris S ONE gads nbout meeting good athletes who will be around f' later and some who will be elsewhere later, It Is an every day occurrence to encounter the opinion that "Detroit Is going to be pretty good this year," writes Irving Yaughan In the Chi- cago Tribune. Such expressions naturally are questioned, and In the course of the questioning, you learn that the lone excuse for the optimism Is that Harris is the Tiger leader. It is apparent that Harris as a manager stands high not only among the mill run of players but also among the stars and even the rival pilots. The impression prevails j that the ex-manager of the Wash- ington troops is a natural leader who can lead without irritating. This idea sprang up in 1924 when the boylike Bucky sent the Wash- ingtons galloping into a world's , championship and was perpetuated when he followed with a pennant .5. in 1925. Later he didn't go quite so well, at least Owner Griffith thought so 6T.d gave him his pa- pers, but with the rank and file 4 Harris remains the little hero who can't go wrongs The Harris boosters undoubtedly are sincere, but there are things about Bucky's present situation that are more weighty than past performances. For one thing, Har- ris enjoyed his greatest manager!- al successes when he was on the Bucky Harris. ball field playing every day, and age now has taken from him the ability that made him good enough for regular work. It will be recalled f that Eddie Collins managed capably while playing, but fell down when he tried to lead from the bench. Another item to consftner is that Har- '; ris is not going to have a whale of a team unless unexpected help de- 4 velops. What Harris is going to need is a quantity of pitching strength. For years pitching has been a chronic weakness of Detroit teams. The hitters always were there but not the hurlers. To heal up this old wound it will be necessary for George Uhle to come back and pitch as Z he did when at the top of his career with the Indians. There is reason to suspect he can't do this. And even if Chle is able to work regularly, he will have to be surrounded by at least three others good enough to take a turn and two or three more who can fill In. J 4. |