APRIL 6, 1969:
AL PREVIEW: SENATORS by George Minot Jr. (Washington Post)
WASHINGTON - The Senators surely will be more of an "artistic success," as club owner Robert E. Short likes to put it, this season, if for no other reason than Ted Williams.
The world's greatest authority on hitting - and no shrinking violet, either, when pitching is discussed - has lifted the Nats' spirits with his refreshing enthusiasm, made them more competent professionals with his make-sense teaching and kept them in line with an occasional outburst, delivered in his bigger-than-life voice.
Although better when compared with 1968, that forgettable year, the Senators will probably finish even deeper in the basement than last fall, when they lost only one more game than Chicago and California. The catch, of course, is the expansion alignment, which has placed Washington in an untenable position.
The Senators find themselves grouped with 1968's top five finishers in the American League. In the other division, the West, they would have had a fighting chance to beat out at least four clubs; in the East they are conservatively rated a 200-to-1 shot.
With a late start to camp (after holding for a raise, which he got to $90,000 a year) and carrying an extra 285 pounds, slugger Frank Howard didn't appear to be himself until the exhibition season was drawing to a close and he had "shrunk" to a more reasonable weight.
Left fielder Howard will again be platooned at first base, at least until Mike Epstein proves that he can consistently handle big-league pitching. Epstein, who represents the team's lone left-handed power threat, has been a special project for Williams this spring.
Epstein, a disappointment, was discontented last season and so was catcher Paul Casanova. Casanova has rebounded to the point where Williams describes him as "one of my most pleasant surprises." For Williams, he is hustling as he did for Gil Hodges. Behind him is Jim French, who talks tough to pitchers and is the only one of the Senators brash enough to sass Williams.
An unexpected plus this spring has been Hank Allen. He was one of the leading hitters this spring and will platoon in right field with Ed Stroud, who provides speed on a heavy-footed club and also had a good spring.
Center field belongs to Del Unser and he looks better than ever. The rookie surprise of a year ago, Unser has the ability to hit to all fields. The leadoff man hit safely in 15 consecutive games and led his team in batting and runs batted in for most of the exhibition season.
The Senators' solid defensive left side of the infield is manned by third baseman Ken McMullen (a 20-homer man) and shortstop Ed Brinkman (who has a new stance tutored by Williams). Tim Cullen backs up Brinkman and will share second base with Bernie Allen.
Williams has impressed on his pitchers that "there is another pitch than a fast ball." As a result, all the staff have been curve and slider conscious.
Camilo Pascual needed no lesson - the King of the Curve again heads the staff. Behind him is Joe Coleman, Jim Hannan, and lefthanders Barry Moore and Frank Bertaina. Moore may also serve in the bullpen, at least until the Air Force springs southpaw Darold Knowles in June.
In the bullpen will be righthanded firemen Dennis Higgins, knuckleballer Bob Humphreys, Dave Baldwin, Dick Bosman and Casey Cox.
Williams said that being a good manager "should be 1000 times easier" than being a good player. "I think I can become one if I get the time," added the last of the .400 batters.
"I don't expect to learn the game from a manager's viewpoint even this year. Remember, I never managed as much as an American Legion team before."
TED WILLIAMS