Atlanta Daily World

Walter Alston Hopes Crippled Hurling Corps Will Recuperate

CHICAGO (INS) Brooklyn Manager Walter Alston hoped Monday that his badly crippled pitching staff would recuperate in time to lead the Dodgers to their third straight National League pennant.

Alston, in an interview, said that four starters -- Sandy Koufax, Johnny Podres, Sal Maglie and Carl Erskine have been out with injuries during the season.

Koufax and Maglie can start taking their regular turns real soon Alston declared, adding "Podres has been out for a couple of weeks with a sore arm and he won't be in shape for at least 10 days. Koufax came back the other day after a three-week lay-off and pitched two good innings against Milwaukee.

Alston believes that Erskine, who won his only start of the season a week ago, "is not yet ready for a regular turn.' But the Brooklyn manager said: "It's all up to nature. Carl has been bothered all year with calcium deposits in his right shoulder. I'm not worried about his mental health but I can't pitch him on a regular basis for at least a month. Of course, I'll try to let him go every seven or eight days.'

Alston said however that he can not definitely depend on Erskine and must sit and "wait him out'.

Maglie, who was scratched as starting pitcher against the Chicago Cubs has complained that his right arm "still is sore'.

Maglie, Koufax and Podres had won 12 games and dropped six before they came down with injuries. The pitching staff has faltered with other regulars Don Drysdale, Don Newcombe and Roger Craig finding the winning trail hard to reach.

"If it hadn't been for our hitting",