The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-14
POINTERS ID RANDOM
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.
TURNER

Although the Barons failed to win the game. they certainly must have sur- prised that Mobile scribe who had sweet ened his mouth for four straight victories.
 In Birmingham, while the fans would have been far more pleased had Turner landed his battle, they are not displeased. They appreciate the fact that Turner twirled in magnificent style, and that he had a worthy foe in Torrey.
 In this day and time any pitcher who holds the Barons to five hits is going at a 1:20 clip.
 At the beginning of the ninth the Bar ons held the big end of 3-to-1 score
 After two were gone, and two men were on bases, second and third, Turner got two strikes on Lee Garvin.
 This was how near the Barons came 10 winning yesterdays game. The fact that Garvin stung the ball for two bags, clear ing the bases, is additional proof that a game is not concluded until the twenty seventh man is dead with his toes to the daisies.
 It doesn't matter if Lee Garvin is at the bat, either. There is no telling what ae- cident might happen.
 When a team releases player to am other team in the same league that player is destined to prove a Jonah to his for mer teammates.
 Lee Garvin cost the Barons game yes terday, and Lee doesn't get dozen hits l a season.
 Last year two of the three hits that l Harry Matthews made were against Baron pitchers.
 Fenline in Tuesdays game, by bit of magnificent fielding, cut off Montgom- ery's only chance to score, and his only hit scored one of the Baron runs.
 And yesterday, Montgomery cast-off Burkett, made Jimmy Ryan's Sleepers look like the proverbial thirty cents.
 Overall has never lost a game to Cin- cinnati since the Reds turned him over to Chicago and Waddell is as certain to trim the Athletics when he meets them as two and two make four
 The Barons are going nicely at the present moment.
 All they need is little more steadiness in the pinches, and this essential is re- turning with confidence in themselves.
 The Tuesday afternoon victory over Montgomery, and the fine showing yes terday against Mobile, has bouyed up the depression of the Barons, and causes many fans to predict a creditable show ing in the west.
 A great deal hinges on the result of this ) western trip. If the Barors do as well as ] split even, take a respectable portion l of the games, they will have an oppor- tunity to get higher in the column when the western clubs visit Birmingham.
 Pittsburg is crowding Chicago for the lead in the National league, this being true in spite of the fact that Hans Wag- ner is hitting 200
 , There is never year in which Pitts burg doeslt finish hisn, and this is the time for the Pirates to fly the rag. n,, ba ,,io , Memphis to win the championship of the ) Southern league. Babb has done excep- ) tionally well in Dixie. and he should turn ) the big trick this season.
 Each day sees the clubs of the Amer ) ican league better punched. It is notice- ) able, too, the rapidity with which De- troit is forging to the front. New York , is playing magnificent ball, and still swings to the lead, with Cleveland and ) Philadelphia barking at it's heels. There is nothing but Jacksonville in the South Atlantic, and it's as hard for Null laney's men to lose for Birmingham 10 3 win In the Cotton States, there's a very
 exciting race Vicksburg assumed the lead yesterday, pulling Columbus down ], to second place.
 Ask waivers on a man, and he will win a game for you.
 Burkett, yesterday, pitching for his l asked the other clubs of the league to pass him up, defeated the Barons. Sam 1 Weems, after waivers had been requested, l walked into the Baron camp and a i cieverly pitched game Torrey yesterday pitched one of the seasons best games and Fisher was about ready to dispose of | him.
 ] Vaughn had requested waivers on Mo 1 Cain Robinson before he turned a trick n and defeated Montgomery. ! l The exception to the above rule is fur , nished in ''WhiteyH Guese. And he lost , the game against Mobile Tuesday after n | noon only in the ninth inning < It's dollars to doughnuts that Vaughn selects McNeal this afternoon. n McNeal will win his game if-he doesn't get rattled.
 Fisher may send Hickman to the slab to n day, or he may walk up the hill himself I Either man will give the Barons a hard n 1 afternoons work.
 There should be no surprise, either, ii n Henry Meek appeared behind the bat for o Birmingham. Manager Vaughn, during :, the western trip, will give the hefty "sor n of swat an opportunity to show his abil v ity behind the plate. and if Raub's hur V sustained in yesterdays game as a result :, of foul ball striking him in the necl l has injured the catcher to any extent, it.
 a certainty that John Herriman will dc U the receiving.
 Meek will have his weaknesses behind l. the stick. It may be difficult for him tt go after wild pitches, and his might; !. wing may heave the sphere to center field ,. But his errors will notd the damage tha l. his miscues on first did for the simple reason that he will not appear as regu
 larly,
 We do not enter with zest into the loca chorus of Fire Meek!'
 Ables Houtz Holmes and SAgan tn,