The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-06
THE PENNANT RACE
AFTER THREE WEEKS
Changes Suggested in the Coal
Barons' Line Up
WORK OF OTHER TEAMS
Birmingham Faces Shreveport on
Wednesday-Possibiity of Sc
curing NiIes-Prospects
: for Road Games.

The first three weeks of the season
have elapsed and in that time interesting
developments have taken place, and sew
eral surprises sprung.
one of them is the playing of the
Shreveport team, which has appeared su-
perior to any of the other western clubs.
Yet the record of Shreveport is not so
surprising after all. 1t will be remem-
bered that the Pirates have been in the
habit of starting off the season well, and
then hitting hard luck streaks and drop
ping behind,
There can be no doubt. however, that
Bobby Gilks is a capable manager. and
that he has collected great bunch OF
ball players. The team that wins the
pennant, it seems at present, will nave
to beat the Pirates. That the Coal Ba-
rons. will be able to turn the trick Will
be either proved or disproved to large
degree in the present road trip.
The Eastern Teams.
1t is hardly probable that an eastern
team will land the pennant, If the Barons
themselves do not turn the trick. Atlanta,
Nashville and Montgomery are so lar
complete puzzles. Atlanta can play good
ball. but their work is inconsistent. There
is a deficiency somewhere, possibly in
inside playing or team work, and 1t Is
thought that they will be in the also-ran
class when September 20 rolls around.
Mioue Finn's aggregation has been the
greatest puzzle of the league They got
a bad start in the Birmingham series,
but were more successful in the Mont
gomery and Atlanta games. lew more
weeks must pass by before definite crit
icism is passed on the Nashville bunch.
Just what Dominick Mullaney Will be
able to do with the Pretzels remains to
he seem The Shreveport Times touches
on many of the surprises and uncertain
ties of the game as follows: "Conundrum
Since Atlanta beat Birmingham, Nash
Vile trimmed Atlanta and Montgomery
put it over Nashville-how bad should
Montgomery whip Birmingham"
About Shreveport.
After the Montgomery series, the Barons
go up against the real article in the shape
of Gilks Pirates. Those who have seen
both teams play, says the New orleans
Times Democrat, say that the Pirates
have shade better team than the
Barons. A shade of difference, however,
will hardly win or lose a pennant, when
months remain for a team to strengthen
or weaken. /
New orleans and Memphis have not
startled the baseball world. Their record
so far has been pretty much as expect
ed. They have neither tail ender nor
a pennant winning team. Little Rock
although Chief thinner is making earnest
efforts to strengthen, is considered out OF
the running He has landed Pitchers
Newlin and Stoekdale, the latter an old
Southern Lacquer, who has played Tor
Memphis a number of years.
All around the circuit talks of additions
and changes in the teams are being
heard, and it must not be overlooked that
Dad Vaughan is also making efforts to
improve the Barons.
The Barons' First Change.
The first material change in the Baron
lineup came Thursday, when Elsey was
given a much needed release. 1t is pretty
safe to say that whoever guards the inl-
tal sack, or whatever changes are maze
in the rest of the lineup to provide
successor to Elsey that the change VIII
be an Improvement
Vaughan is quoted in the Atlanta Geor-
gian as saying that he himself would play
first. He said further:
II have no earthly confidence in Elsey.
He doesn't take care OF himself, ana
| have put up with all | care to from
him. His exhibition Thursday was aw-
full. and it was his last"
Another point that is the subject of
some ulScuSSlOH DIT pltotht 10 tiiiio 'ASS'
Montgomery is hard worker, good
hitter, and all points considered, val
liable man on the team. 1t Is probable
though that his best place would be in
the Quilted, where he formerly starred.
He is also fair catcher and in an
emergency could be used behind the bat.
If Niles could be secured from st. Louis,
and it is not impossible that such is the
case. the lineup of the Barons could
=. no haGa-
man is secured, it might look something
like this:
pitchers, Wilhelm, Clark, sallee, Rea-
gan. IL AIkiili
Catchers, Matthews, Garvln.
Infielders, Gear, Walters. Oyler, Niles.
Outfeldlers, Montgomery, Wordsworth,
Smith.
Utility man, Alcock.
The time- has come for change, and
1t is to be hoped that it will be good
one In regard to the question of secur-
ing of Niles, it might be said that he
is playing right field part of the time
for the st. Louis Browns, and the other
time he is warming the bench. He Is
hitting at fair rate.
Niles is too good a man to play right
field a few days in the week, and If st.
Louis has no other use for him, 1t is
not improbable that a proposition for
his purchase would be entertained.
with a strengthened team, and an even
break of luck, the Barons should be able
to take brace and come out of the
western trip with fair record 800
record for the trip, which Is not alto
gether impossible would bring the Barons
back home with percentage in the
neighborhood of .625. This, followed by
home series, could be considerably In
creased.
If one-third of the remaining games
on the road could be won, and they sure
ly ought to be, our percentage on the
return home would be 1886.