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Show WW V J l CPA ATI AND f THE leaves are just beginning to turn red and gold. The 1948 baseball campaign is over. But the surest sign of the end is the clarion call that rings across the landscape "Wait Till Next Year." What about next year? What can be done over a winter to make the White Sox, Cubs, Phillies, Reds. Browns and Tigers look vaguely like major league teams? Who is going go-ing to whittle those killing margins of 35 and 40 games away from the teams at the top? DIMAGGIO The gaps in the American league especially are worse than disgraceful. Some of the American league teams wouldn't run 1-2-3 in several of the stronger minor leagues. They are parasites, willing to live Oil the money they draw from better teams, but not willing to spend important cash to keep in the race. The second division of the National Na-tional league has far better ballplayers ball-players than the second division of the American. At least such teams as the Phillies and the Reds made attempts to get better ballplayers such as Richie Ashburn, Hank Sauer, Virgil Stallcup and others. Both teams should have finished better than they did. It has been something of a shock to see Chicago, with two clubs crawling along in the mire, offering a stout defense for the two cellar championships. Both Cubs and White Sox have been terrible all the year. Washington has been a joke. It is hardly a good minor league outfit. All Teams Need Talent Every team in the league will need new talent. They all need pitchers especially pitchers who know in what county the home plate Is located. The Braves need outfield speed and outfield arms. The Red Sox need four or five good, dependable depend-able pitchers. There is a heavy deficit In catchers. The crop Is running thin. There is a definite need for better physical conditioning. Few ballplayers ball-players know what real condition means. This goes for legs and arms. The Pirates proved what smart management and a sack full of doubloons could do in a year from a tie for last place up to a hot spot in pennant contention. A smart, aggressive front office of-fice can make a big difference. A stupid, timid front office can wreck any team. And there are more than a few of the latter brand now operating. You can look at the standing of the clubs and at least guess who most of them are. We'll take up the case of the American league first: Yankees First of all, the Yankees Yan-kees need Bucky Harris. Harris has been one of the best In the game. It would be a baseball crime to let him go, an act of complete stupidity. stupid-ity. After this, the Yankees need infield and pitching help badly. At least two harder hitting inflelders and at least two new dependable pitchers. j Their outfield is high grade, but j their catching isn't any too hot. And Joe DiMaggio is getting no younger. Pitchers for Red Sox Red Sox At least three gooa pitchers in addition to the crop they have'-which has been forced to depend on Red Sox hitting power. pow-er. Evn two good additioml pitchers pitch-ers would be enough. Indians Less than any other American league club. The Indians can use some outfield help, one more infielder and another good pitcher. Athletics Just about double the j speed they now have. Far too slow Joost and Majeski hardly likely to repeat 1948's brilliant play. : Tigers The biggest disappointment disappoint-ment in baseball. Still have a fine pitching staff. Someone should clean out most of the others by sales and trades. Club spirit poor. Present squad is going nowhere. Browns, White Sox, Senators Browns much the best of these derelicts. They have some good ballplayers. White Sox nnd Senators will need heavy cash and several years to reach even partial respectability. respectabil-ity. They will likely continue to be clinging parasites, living on the rest of the league practically prac-tically beyond all hope for a long time to come. Here are a few National league's needs for 1949: The Braves More outfield speed and better throwing arms. Pitching help to relieve Sain and Spahn, two fine workmen. At least two new dependable pitchers needed badly. The Dodgers They were easily the best team in the league this SPison by six or seven games. Just keep what they have and use it intelligently, which Brooklyn didn't do this season. |