The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
POINTERS ID RANDOM
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.


 "bracer,' as our prohibition friends would have us say, gaze upon the striped Tigers of Detroit, which, with one leap and a bound, have covered that long strip of territory intervening between the bot tom and the top.
 Which, if taken in broken doses, means that the Tigers, while yesterday roaming around the bottom, are today resting, after a strenuous though brilliant cam- paign, on the topmost round of the lad der.
 Furthermore (and this brings us nearer home), those pluclky Pelicans of New Dr. leans, although yesterday they were fly ing just above the marshes, are today in the first division
 Wo would not buoy up a false hope, nor encourage the search for the tall of rainbow, but we do dare to point to the possibility that the Barons might event. ually get out of the cellar and rub shoulders with decent fellows.
 Yesterday was strenuous period in the Southern league. In four cities eight games were scheduled and eight games were played.
 Strange to relate with the exception of the Birmingham-Little Rock games, no doubleheader was divided, New Orleans winning easily over Montgomery Mem phis finding little trouble in trouncing Nashville and Atlanta, after certain eff fort winning both ends of the pair from Mobile.
 As a result of the games, Memphis and New Orleans are practically tied for sec- ond place, with Montgomery holding on to the lead by the skin of Its teeth; Mo- bile has tottered out of the first di- vision yielding that place to Atlanta, and Nashville drops with a thud into the striking distance of the tailenders.
 New Orleans is playing better ball than any other club in the league Every game since their returning home to meet the eastern clubs has been victory for Franks birds
 "Cholly's" team is unquestionably one of the best in the league and unless strife and schism tear it to pieces cannot pos sibly finish lower than third.
 Mobile is going at it's proper stride just at this time, and should finish in the second division. When one remembers that Montgomery has dropped three straight games on home grounds, one must be pardoned a guess that Ryan IS about ready to admit that he can't per- form the impossible.
 Some of these days some of us will see Montgomery in the second division, uness-and this is the only condition-the Pretzels' luck is retained intact.
 Nashville Is still an uncertain quan- tity. Immediately after the acquisition of Bay, the Volunteers rushed forward with amazing speed. Now they are trailing backward with equal celerity.
 Just at the present writing the Barons are playiyg good ball.
 They are giving Manager Molesworth valiant support, and unless something happens to disturb the equilibrium Of the fire eaters there hangs out roseate promise that few steps of progress Will be taken.
 With the exception of Fleharty, who is ill., the team is in good physical condi- tion, and as concerns mentality and moral ity, everything is has been, and will be all to the good. (Serlous.)
 Manning, the speed merchant, who is in Atlanta with an i'll wife, will arrive to- night On account of the excellent work of T. Raub, Esq, the former Atlantian has been little missed.
 It becomes more evident every day that the switching of Walters to third and Downey to second has resulted In good. Downey is doing excellent work at the keystone and Walters is able to deliver from any angle.
 Meek is surprising everyone with his ability to stand the punching in the back 0elQ. Ills ID1OWlIS IS CAictdih5iJ eoOot and he handles himself in finer fashion that one might have imagined.
 Rip Ragan, it is now practical cer- tainty, will be given a trial with Mique Finn Monday afternoon.
 The roaring" individual, at this time, is in good condition. and Judging from his speed yesterday afternoon in warm ing up exercise, he will be able to make a tnb chewing apaipSt his old teammates.
 McNeal will probably work for Moles- worth in the last Baron-Traveler engage ment.
 Ex-Manager Vaughn is still in the city. When seen yesterday he stated that he had no grudge against the tion, hIs successor or the team.
 He did not care to make statement of his case, but will probably do so this week.
 .Dusty' Miller, who led the strike of the Barons some seasons ago, was award cd a Judgment in Memphis yesterday for $41. 65.
 It has reached that stage in which a manager canont discipline his men, it matters not If a player throws his em- ployers down, and otherwise disfigures them
 The partial elimination of the bunting or sacrifice game was begun yesterday by the Barons.
 There is no doubt but that too much bunting is unwise. On the other hand 1t is the height of the ridiculous to presume that man can hit safely every tune.
 We favor the partial elimination Of bunting, with emphasis on the partial.
 
 All of which reminds that President Abercrombies complaint of Professor Persons was that he lacked the proper 'profesorial temperament an eexpres- sion which makes "temperamentally i'm posslble'' "dementia Americana, and stegomyia fasciata fade into insignificance.
 Welsh Defeats Brock.
 Los Angeles, May S0-Freddie Welsh of England was given the decision over Phil Brock of Cleveland, O., after 25 rounds of hard fighting before the Jeffries Ath- letic cluh Brock who was 10 to 6