HATTIESBURG DOUBLEWIDES 1933 PREVIEW
DRAFT
No doubt that Hattiesburg needed help, and they dealt of popular 2b Frankie Frisch on the
eve of the draft to get another draft pick.
They bolstered their pitching corps with
Dutch Leonard and Luke Hamlin,
both of whom need a few years of seasoning, but
should get immediate rewards from Elden Auker,
taken 7th overall. Pep Young will
be ready to take over second base in a few years, but 2nd
rounder Pete Fox is expected
to start in the outfield. All in all, they did a good job for the future.Grade: A-
CATCHING
Gabby Hartnett still has the tools, and his leadership skills will be needed as
he leads a team
this young and inexperienced. Frankie Pytlak, acquired last season
for Hack Wilson, will be a
capable back-up.
Grade: B
INFIELD
Last season's first-overall pick Stan Hack is still not ready to play, and with the loss
of Frisch,
this infield is horrible. Billy Jurges is a all-field, no hit shortstop, and
Sam Leslie or Gus Suhr will
handle first base. But third and second base are being manned by the young
and untalented.
One can only hope Hack and Young can progress very quickly.
Grade: D-
OUTFIELD
The outfield of Jo-Jo Moore, veteran Goose Goslin and rookie Pete Fox will be exciting.
Moore
is an excellent contact hitter, as is Fox, who possesses great speed. Goslin is a
hold-over
from the glory days when the club was known as Mississippi. Veteran Kiki Cuyler
should add support
off the bench, and rookie Franke Demaree will also contribute.
Grade: B
STARTING PITCHING
Despite a DBS record 21 losses last year, Ted Lyons is still the ace of the staff.
The starting
rotation is the only thing keeping this team from finishing in the Three-I League.
Lefty
Stewart is strong, and free agent Boom-Boom beck was very impressive in spring training.
Vic Sorrell
is also throwing well.
Grade: B
BULLPEN
Eppa Rixey has announced that this will be his last season, and at 41, he is the top lefty in
the
pen. Burleigh Grimes also might be retiring after this season after a great career. These
two will
be relied upon heavily, along with Leon Chagnon, to log some serious innings. And with
this team,
they are going to need it.
Grade: C-
OUTLOOK
A long, sweltering summer in Hattiesburg. They are horrible in a strong division, and will need
Mount
Palomar to be able to see 3rd Place.
PROGNOSIS: Fourth Place
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