The Independent-News, Volume 93, Number 45, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 4 April 1968 — Page 2

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— THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — APRIL I. 1968

BASEBALL IS SET TM OPEN n> xt Monday with a couple of nd-lifters <>n that day and the rv t of the teams get underwax h i dcally on Tuesday. It seems ax fill enrlx but when baseball st its it is a sure sign that the i>- I weather of spring and sumno r is just around the corner The ba'my days of last week made thi- more obvious, but if the usual transpires, some very im unate weather for baseball \vil still visit us. AT ANY KATE. 20 TEAMS Wil set out to gain the title of W rid s ('hampion and only one xxi get it. The St Ixwis Cardtr ils are the defending champs an . many give them a good ch nee to be ba<k in that spot co e the middle of October of th year. This will be the last y • i for the set-up of the Americ n league as it now stands and th future of the National League i- ; Ist a little cloudy as the plans f • that league just haven't been an- >un< ed to date. HOWEVER. EXPANSION IS a d ‘finite thing in the American I- gue this year as the league will ex md to 12 teams for 1969. Th ; might seem just a triffh e ' y after the last expansion as it seems many times that there isn enough good players to go at and today, let alone trying to fil. two more rosters. The National league has had their tw newest clubs. New York and H >uston, basically nead or on the

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bottom ever since the expansion came about while in the American League the California Angels have finished in the first division a couple of times and even the Washington Senators have escaped the basement on several occasions. Tins IS NEXT YEARS'S plan and right now the center of attention will be put on the 196 X pennant races. Each year almost every sports magazine. wire service and newspaper makes their selections for the races. Usually, many mistakes follow a u predicting the future nf 162 game schedules is a hard thing to do and a lot of things can happen in that six month period. LAST YEAR IT WAS THE Cardinals In the National and in the American after a real dog fight. Boston edged out Detroit and Minnesota by a single game on the final day of the season. Crowded closely behind yet was the greatest race in years in the American League while the cardinals had it considerably easier in the senior circuit. LET'S IXIOK AT THE TWO Leagues a little closer. The Cards a> still the choice of moat in the National. They point to a great team balance and a very fine pitching staff. However, the Cards got a lot of pleasant surprises last year, especially from some young pitchers who really came through and a very fine

year from Orlando Cepeda. They will need more of the same for a repeat. The San Francisco Giants are a team that is very highly regarded and with a couple of performers like Willie Mays, even though the years are catching up with him, and Juan Marachial who had a lot of injury problem last year, it is still a good pair to build both a team and pitching staff around. CINCINNATI IS RATED AS a very strong contender again this year. They have a lot of team balance after some trades the past few years and pitching staff that could carry the load. Ttie Cubs bounced from the depths of the second division to a lofty third place finish last year and have a good young pitching staff to head a group of hitters that will score runs. They might have over shot th< ir real capabilities last year, but some breaks, they will be right back in the fight. Ijos Angeles was down, but they don't seem to know how to stay down. Last season facing the world without Sandy Koufax for the first time xvas quite a shock, but this year they have solidified a couple of positions and certainly have a pitching staff that can pi< k up a lot of the slack. They should be ready to become a contender again. ATLANTA HAS A REAL good ball club and just haven't jelled too well the past couple of seasons. They have aways had a very good streak, but never been able to get the job done in recent years. Their personal has to give them a chance. Then there is Pittsburgh. The Pirates have ‘ hitters galore and a very strong combination through the middle. The acquisition of Jim Running to better their pitching staff in that big park should help a lot and a healthy Pittsburgh could be a healthy situation for the Pennsylvania fans. Philadelphia has a lot of question marks. Richie Allen has to have come back from his hand injury and the Phillies need more solid play from a lot of veterans to challenge this year. Houston has a good team on a defensive and pitching basis, but the Astros have found out the hard way you still have to score runs to win. New York definately is improving each year, but the Mels aren't about to offer a serious challenge to anyone yet. IN THE AMERICAN league it. seems unlikely that Boston will repeat although they fouled everyone last year in jumping from ninth to first. It

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would take two more fantastic years from at least two or three performers to put them back in the world series. Detroit has stood pat this winter, getting only Dennis Ribant in a trade. A couple of young players that will move up. might challenge for a sport here and there, but all-in-all. It will be up to good veara bv a healthy Willie Horton. Al Kaline, Norm Cash and possibly Eddie Mathews for them to do the job. Their relief pitching has left a lot to be desired in recent years. MINNESOTA HAS THREE great stars on their team in Hannon Killebrow. Dean Chance and Tony Oliva. These three must carry the bulk of the load with the rest of the team giving a good performance for them to advance to first. Baltimore appears to have what is needed, but after an easy year at the tnp, they slipped last year on the basis of pitching failures and the costly injury to Frank Robinson. THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX. who have • deflniate Milwaukee flavor, have another one of those low-scoring teams that will bat th* you with everything but a base hit. A lot we expecb-d of two new arrivals, Louis Aparicio and Tommy Davis, who certainly can't hurt their offensive team. However, once again the load will he on the pitching staff to keep them in contention. The Angels have received a lot of spring support, but here is another place of needing a little better balance on the club to make it a serious contender. They have the best defensive and possibly offensive second base combination in the league in Jim Fergosi and Bohby Knoop. FROM THIS SPOT ON. IT will be the Yankees heading the list of the lower division teams. They still have a good ball chib with good pitching, but the same team that used to knock the ball all over the place, now has a lot of trouble scoring runs. If thex could get a couple of hot years from a few ball players, they could be ready to start hack un the ladder. Cleveland, a team that appears tn have enough to challenge hut usually folds earlv from the top of the heap, again

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has an Interesting entry. They have fine pitching and some real strong ball players, but haven't jelled in years and the city of Cleveland is no longer a real help to the team. improved bal club and although WASHINGTON HAS A MUCH not a team to be a serious challenge all year long, is one that can really hurt you in any brief series. They have been on the upgrade since their forming several years back. Oakland,, Charlie Finley’s Athletics, might find a new and more agreeable home in the want coast city, but Charlie Finley will nave to let the manager run the ball club and keep his big promotional nose out of player affairs to make this a satisfied club once again. They have a raft of young talent, especially on the mound, but an unsatisfied player will not give the performance they need. The addition of another team on the coast is welcome nnd will make the trip to California better for the entire league. WE WILL TRY FROM TIME to time to look over the baseball situation as it progresses. Each year some new names pop into the spotlight and injuries and slumbs put others In the headlines as well. Everything such as this effects a baseball season and team and helps to keep it the unpredictable and entertaining sport that it is. THE SOLUTION Strive to make today better than yesterday and tomorrow will take care of itself. Character writes its name on a man's face in indelible ink. TEW Uri. A Sat., April 5 A 6 A Swinging Safari of Laughs! IJve It Up In WALT DISNEY’S Jungle Book In Technlcofar