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lJ ♦ Carrasquel Explains Soaring Batting Average— Just Luck 1 , - ■ i i i ! . i ! . I ; 1 . ■ 1 I i I i ; ■ Says Cramer Offered Some * Helpful Pointers Too; Sox Far Better Than Last Year By ED SAINSBURY United Press Sports Writer Chico Carrasquel, already tabbed as baseballs new Mr. Shortstop, had only two words today to explain how he converted a .282 batting average for 1950 into a lusty .340 mark for 22 games of the 1951 season. "Its luck," Carrasquel announced, in fluent Spanish and halting English through interpreter Orestes Minoso, the Cuban left fielder who carries an English-Spanish dictionary instead of a cut plug. "I havent changed my batting stance, or my swing," Carrasquel said, "but Ive been getting more hits and all I think it is is luck. "Some little things Ive done. Coach Doc Cramer says do this or do that, and I do it and it helps. But Im swinging the way I always swing. And the pitchers are throwing the ball in the same way." Cramers suggestions in his first year as White Sox coach, probably were most help- ful in converting Chico, usually a single hitter, into a threat with that extra base blow. Banged Out 148 Hits Last Year In 1950 Carrasquel collected 148 hits for 191 total bases. While he had 21 doubles, tied for tops on the team, he had only five triples and four home runs, while batting in 46 runs. In 22 games this season Carrasquel al- ready has belted nine two-base hits and one triple, and though he had no four baggers, he threatened to far exceed his total base production of last year. He ranked seventh today in American League batting. Carrasquel, though pleased with his average, was inclined to discount its im-! portance in relation to the importance of the teams play, "Ill be happy if I just hit .300," he said, "if we win a lot of games. I want to hit a lot, but whats important is if the team wins. "I think we will," he said. "This is a better team than we had last year and Im better than I was last year. My knee is better and that operation helped me." Carrasquel laid off the last 10 games last season for an operation to remove a torn ligament from his left knee. Then, in return for a larger White Sox salary, he stayed off the knee most of the off-season and played "only about 15 games" in the winter league. "I like this team better," he said. "We , play more running and I like to run." His record proved it. In 1950 he failed to steal a single base, but this year he has stolen four in 22 games. CHICO CARRASQUEL
