Pittsburgh Pirates

ANALYSIS OF THE PIRATES

STRONG POINTS
Over-all defense, first-line pitching, balanced hitting—all these the Pirates have. The infield of Don Hoak on third, Dick Groat at short. Bill Mazeroski at second (with either Dick Stuart or Rocky Nelson at first) is most effective defensive and offensive unit. Most Valuable Player Groat makes up for a lack of range by an inordinate ability to be in the right place; Mazeroski is the best in the business at second. The first-line outfield, with Skinner, Virdon and Clemente, is a first-rate defensive unit, too. And both the Pirate catchers—Smoky Burgess and Hal Smith—are adequate behind the plate. The Pirate pitching punch is contained primarily in Bob Friend and Vernon Law, who won 38 games last season. Vinegar Bend Mizell, obtained from St. Louis in midseason, won 14 games, may win more this year. The Pittsburgh relief pitchers—ElRoy Face, Clem Labine and the newly acquired Bobby Shantz—are probably the best trio in the league. The Pirate attack has been based on the line drive, an effective weapon in Forbes Field, and the Pirates are well equipped in line-drive hitters, with Groat, Clemente, Burgess, Hoak, et al.

WEAK SPOTS
Power hitting, second-line pitching. Only Stuart (23 homers, 83 RBIs) shows consistent power. Behind Friend, Law and Mizell, the pitching is not dependable—as witness the World Series—although Manager Danny Murtaugh says it will suffice: "Only change I'd make on this club would be to add a power-hitting outfielder."

THE BIG IFS
There are very few ifs on the Pirates. This is a sound club, rightfully confident of its ability to retain its championship. Only considerable questions are whether Groat, who hit 39 points above his lifetime average last year, can maintain pace, and whether pitchers like Harvey Haddix, Joe Gibbon, Fred Green will contribute a fair number of victories.

ROOKIES AND NEW FACES
Bobby Shantz, acquired as left-handed relief pitcher to supplement Face and Labine, is the only new face that will appear often in the Pirate lineup. Shantz was obtained in a trade with the new Washington entry in the American League after the Yankees had placed him on their available list. A short-haul relief pitcher, he had an irritating sore arm in training but appeared in 42 games for the Yanks last year, and had an ERA of 2.78.

OUTLOOK
Buoyed by a champion's esprit de corps and confidence, Pirates will be one-two.

'I WATCH MY DIET. NO FRIES.'

"This is where it hurts. I had a very bad winter." The speaker was Pirate Right Fielder Roberto Clemente, and he was pointing to his stomach, rubbing it gently.

"Something off with my diet. I eat the wrong food or too much food or not enough food. I don't know. Doctors don't know," he said.

"I feel very bad at the World Series. That's why I did not do so well." When reminded he hit .310 in the World Series, Clemente said: "Yes, but I not hit with power."