The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-04-02
BARONS K HARD
ON PL A. e FIELD
MeekS is NJ eaviest Man
on Il am
PITCHING OUTLOOK GOOD
AS Batters the Barons Are Not In
sIugsins Class, But They Have
Some Good Consistent
Hitters.
PITCHING Outlook GOOD

The Barons had a fine practice yester-
day afternoon. They started early and
finished early in order to take advantage
of the warmer weather in the middle of
the day
With a few more days of practice such
as there was yesterday one or two of
the members of the team who are a lit
tie overweight should be trained down
and ready to play ball
Meeks is probably fifteen or twenty
pounds too heavy now to go the gaits,
but with ten days more of practice and
more practice games, he should be down
to the limit. lie is the heaviest of
all the Barons and the fans are watch
ing him closely to see him train down
so he can swat the ball like he did last
year
Montgomery is spending some time every
day on the diamond and it is not inn
probable that he will be able to play
in one of the games against Detroit. The
physicians, however have advised him to
be very careful and Manager Vaughn is
also urging him not to test the strength
of his eyes too early. Another setback
might make it impossible for him to
play ball for some time to come, and If
he ventures ON the diamond in the glare.
of the sun too early it is feared he may
have setback
Monte is, however, very optimistic over
his condition, and says he will be able
to play in the opening game without
any trouble. 1t is a fact that he is needed
in the infeld and at the bat. Alcocll
plays third nicely but he is not the vet
eran that Montgomery is and not as
strong at the bat Montgomery is
good baserunner bats well and handles
one of the best in the league in handling
hunts.
Pitching Staff All Right.
All the managers, all the dope artists
and in fact all students of the national
game, say that good pitchers are the
first essential quantity in a baseball team
In that respect Birmingham seems to be
blessed more than any team in the league
There are no three pitchers in the league
ON any on team who can stand up day
in and day out and pitch ball like Will
helm, Raglan and Clarke.
For youngster Turner looks to be
the most likely in the league and it is be-
lieVed that he will prove a much more
valuable man than saIee was last year,
so the Barons seem to have four strong
men in the box around which to build
the team.
The pitchers are in first class condition
There is not one of the four who could
not go nine innings in warm weather
now, and by the opening date 1t is be-
lieved they will all be in tip-top shape,
better probably than any four pitchers
with any other team. There is not
sore arm in the bunch
Not Heavy Sluggers.
The way matters are looking just now
the Barons will not have the heavy slug
ging team of the league, There will be
no hefty swatters, but there are a num-
Der of regular htters enrolled in the
bunch. The outfeld offers Gardner,
should be better than 275 for the season,
which is a high average for three out
fielders, and it may be that they will go
higher. Any one of the three may go
above 800 for the season.
Montgomery and Meeks are up around
the .275 mark giving the team at least
five batters, who should average 275 or
better Lister is expected to range be-
tween $50 and ,275, Oyler is apt to do
the same and Silent Lew Walters also
while Garvn is by no means a bad hit
ting catcher. He expects to improve on
his lat years record considerably
Clarke and Wilhelm are both considered
well above the average of hitting pitch
ers, and it remains to be seen what Tur.
ner will do. Rip Raglan does not profess
to be a slugger, but he gives promise this,
year of improving over last year.
So that leaves the team strong in the
box, strong at the bat and with the regu-
lar team it should be a strong fielding
team, making a strong aggregation. There
may be better in the league, but every
where the fans and scribes are stating
that Manager Harry has what seems to
be one of the two or three strongest
teams in the league.
Manager Harry is not claiming another
pennant winner, but he thinks like others,
that he has strong team.
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$6,63o,894 Coined In March.
ANaSliuVtnn April 1-rbo COINAGE