The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
POINTERS ID RANDOM
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS.

The Barons return home to find the fans sore.
 The enthusiasts have received douche and their ardor has oozed away.
 The fans are tred-worn completely out They are discouraged, not only be- cause the great majority of the road games have been lost, but because they cannot understand the situation.
 The reason for the innumerable defeats is that the pitchers have shown up badly Continual drubbing has taken the spirit out of the players, and instead of being snappy and gingery. the Barons go through game as truck horses whipped up. a hill
 That which the fans cannot understand is this-Why are the pitchers not hold ing up their share of the load?
 The team, excepting the twirlers, is playing good ball. The men are hitting well, running bases like deers, and mal1- ing enough runs every day to win an ordinary game.
 There is no doubt in the world but that the team can stack up with any other in the league.
 But the pitchers, so far this season, have been sad dsappointments They have shown up as weddings. If they have the goods they have studiously con tedicU IaCI Those two men considered in the be- ginning the mainstays of the team, Clark and Robertaille, have been especially de- ficient That these men are good pitchers Is certain. Clark. prior to the opening of the season, was in better form than ever before. His standard in the south is well esta blished. Robertaille ranked second in the American association last year. The fans had a right to expect haf fN 6aIf fIA A1e Dit failed woefu1ly. There are rumors of deals for the &C., quisition of new outfielders.
 We believe that the outfield is stout enough, in spite of the fact that Houtz and Reagan are not hitting the ball ferociously.
 But Manager Vaughn, unless there is marvellous change for the better by May 15, must get some pitchers.
 The team is all right, but the pitchers, with few exceptions, are woefully weak.
 Manager Vaughn has yet to see what Rip Ragan and Vincent Turner can do. These men will be given a trial this week and the fans hope that they will show form.
 In the present crisis the talk of re- leasing these men is absurdest rot There is bare possibility that this pair will deliver the goods, The criticism of the pitchers is based on their performance to date
 They may improve. We sincerely hope they will
 Within another week the fans may de- scribe Clark as the greatest in the world and Robertaille as a star. Now, however, the fans are sore, and believe both to be '.dubs." If the pitchers ever get to going the Barons will win games. In fielding, run ming bases and in other departments the team has shown it's ability It is this knowledge that the team is good which causes the defeats to sting so fiercely. If the team was rotten then the fans would care very little
 At any rate, we will see them work this week.
 Nashville is here Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Montgomery performs under the slag Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday afternoons. To even up the Barons will have to win seven of the eight games of these series.
 eThey might accomplish the feat. but right now no one will harbor such a belief.
 Although we are on the bottom, Little Rock, Nashville and New Orleans are but a trifle better off Detroit and Chicago are on the bottom of the American league St. Louis has lost more games and won fewer than the Barons.
 Charleston, last seasons pennant winner of the South Atlantic, has won four and lost F games.
 But all this is very little consolation.
 Rirmnpb a falr ,,,lr x,,;AI -I1.. city Of the south anG its baseball team should be a winner.
 All of which reminds that we are going to find out what's the matter with the Barons and endeavor to straighten out the tangle