THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Eleven
Carew's bat smokes;
.400 season possible
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP)--
An added stance and new bat
have ignited Minnesota's Rod
Carew to the fastest start of his
brilliant baseball career, and is
sparking renewed interest in the
possibility of his becoming the
first .400 hitter since 1941.
"He's the greatest hitter in
baseball," said Oakland third
baseman Sal Bando. "He has
everything it takes to bat .400."
Carew, who carried a .407
batting average into Friday
night's game against Texas,
changed bat prior to the season
and altered his stance against
left-handed pitchers.
The 28-year-old Panamanian
decided after back-to-back bat-
ting championships he wasn't
comfortable with his bat.
"I'm using a smaller handled
bat now," said Carew, who de-
scribed it as 34 -inches long
and weighing 32-ounces.
A left-handed batter, the
three - time. American League
hitting king doesn't believe a
baseball adage, "lefties can't
hit lefties."
As proof, Carew owns a .446
average a g a i n s t American
League southpaws in 1974.
"I don't ever set goals,"
Carew said. "But, if I don't get
tired and arm-weary late in the
season, I feel .400 is a possi-
bility."
Hall-of-Famer T e d Williams
hit .406 for the Boston Red Sox
in 1941-four years before Carew
was born.
Carew spends much of his
free time on the road resting.
"I sleep a lot in my room"
he said. "I take advantage of
the road trips because I've al-
ways eot a lot to do at hnme."
Carew recently went 3-for-3
off California fireballer Nolan
Ryan.
"I should know enough to
keep the ball a w a y from
Carew," Ryan said, "He just
keeps pushing base hits over the
infield."
Carew has spent seven con-
secutive seasons as the Ameri-
can League's All-Star second
baseman and nearly as long
shelving an early image as a
sullen, temperamental player.
'I was just a kid when I
came up," Carew said. "Every-
body goes through a period of
adjustment . . . it's a natural
thing. I feel I've learned from
my mistakes."
Minnesota owner Cal Griffith
said Carew has matured grcatly
since his marriage and, more
recently, the arrival of his first
child.
"Three or four years ago I
would have said no one would
hit .400 again," said Griffith.
"However, Carew may do it
right here."
HEALTH SERVICE
Memorial Weekend Hours
Health Service will be closed on Monday, May 27, 1974, ex-
cept for emergency care. On Saturday, May 25, 1974, the medi-
cal clinic, laboratory, pharmacy, x-ray, and the cashier's office
will be open from 8 a.m. until 12 noon. All specialty clinics
will be closed the entire period. Btt snce medical problems are-
nt always predictable, the emergency clinic will be open 24
hours a day, as always. (There will be a fee for service during
the holiday period.) Health Service will resume regular hours
on Tuesday, May 28.
For problems, suggestions or complaints
about Health Service call
Weekdays Shelia
10 AM.-Noon 163-4384
Join The Daily Staff
PHONE 764-0558
uu CAREW compares the bat he used last year to the one
he is using this year. Opposing pitchers have not been no-
ticing the difference.
Fly Williams ruled
ineligible by school
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (1) - James "Fly" Williams of Austin
Peay State University, the country's third leading scorer last
basketball season, has been declared indefinitely ineligible for
intercollegiate competition.
Williams, a sophomore who averaged 27.5 points per game
last season and 11 rebounds, was declared ineligible because the
Ohio Valley Conference had misinterpreted NCAA entrance require-
ments.
The 6-foot-5 forward, whose name appeared on the National
Basketball Association's hardship draft list this year and who
says he snubbed a $1.5 million contract with Denver of the Ameri-
can Basketball Association, said he would return to Austin Peay
next school year despite the ruling by his school.
FISIIER said Williams entered school two years ago after
taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test. The results of that test were
converted to project Williams' American Collegiate Testing score.
"It has been discovered, however, that the conference was
in error by allowing this method of entrance for student-athletes
and has been incorrect since April 28, 1969,' Fisher said.
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