The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-31
POINTERS ID RANDOM
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS.

J of the game kicked continually against the decisions of Umpire Fitzsmmons. ! To register his kicks it was necessary to call temporary halt in the after noon's proceedings.
 Neuer was exceedingly sore when, after striking Raub out in the way that satis- fed himself. the sorreled-topped catcher bngled safely to left And in spite of the fact that the pitcher expressed himself forcibly the umpire took no action whatever. Neuer should have been put out of the game. Mr. Fitzsimmons.
 Before criticising an umpire for his decisions on balls and strikes, a fan should make doubly sure of his ground.
 In the majority of cases the umpire is correct, for the simple reason that the man in blue, as a general rule, is honest and because in virtue of his position he is in a better position to judge.
 But when an umpire allows player to repeatedly dispute his decisions, and in doing so call down vociferous expressions from the grandstand, he has no excuse to offer
 Only from the ethical standpoint is the player himself to blame.
 A ball player will go just as far as the umpire permits him. So when the umpire does not relieve the situation by an in- stantaneous and positive action, he Is guilty of an offense for which there is no plausible explanation. It is his duty, first of all to keep order on the field. When he fails in that duty he is either guilty of negligence or lacks that back bone which is essential in such emer- gencies.
 Inasmuch as the umpire has entire con- trol. it is unusually strange that he per- mits himself to be tyrannized.
 Mique Finn, he of the angel face, heads a really great baseball aggregation.
 Neuer, Eyler. Buchanan and Eastman are thoroughly reliable pitchers.
 There are few better catchers in the league than Wells and Wood. Connors is an ideal first baseman. while Page. Starks and Hess are more than capable infieders.
 Speaker, in center, is perhaps the best all around outfelder in the Southern league. Becker is a star, and one of the leading hitters. Collins is better than the average.
 The team is well balanced, exceedingly fleet of foot, understands the intricate twists of the game and has experience
 Then, why. in the name of common sense, are the Travellers trailing2 We have ascrIbed to Mique of the angel face peerless ability in recognizing the worth of a ball player, and the greater achieve n.ent of getting his finger on those whom he needs.
 But we begin to doubt Miques ability as a manager.
 Seldom has the season dawned without finding Mique at the head of very ca pablo baseball aggregation. But more seldom still has Mique accomplished any
 The team he has today should finish in the first division.
 At the rate he is going at the present time he will conclude the year in that berth immediately beneath the Barons
 Mique Finn has not issued a formal statement as to the probable disposition of the Little Rock franchise and the fate of that goodly little burg itself
 At the beginning of the present season the report gained force that Mique was preparing to walk through the league like a game cock in a hennery with the ob- ject in view of selling out at high a figure as possible.
 But inasmuch as Finn has failed to show his heels to the other teams of the league, it is a question as to whether or
 
 gain.
 But when the subject of selling the franchise is broached, Finn closes him. self as the proyerbal clam, saying noth- ing Nevertheless, has been stated on another occasion, Little Rocks life is threatened and the chances are that the thread will be cut before the blush of another season.
 And all this reminds that there is hard ly a chance that the local association will sell it's franchise.
 There are no rumors of sale, and have been none since Clark Griffith made a proposition.
 The association will not sell for the simple reason that it does not care to dispose of its property.
 There is no reason why man, not wishing to dispose of that which is his, should be criticised.
 Naturally enough, if proposition is made. carrying with it more money than the local franchise is worth, the franchise will be put into other hands. But, as stated. the chances are exceedingly slim that such action will be taken.
 At the beginning of the next western trip, if nothing happens to cause the abandonment of present intentions, Man ager Molesworth will leave the team | probably in the hands of Bill Douglass, and make a scouting expedition through | the South Atlantic, the Eastern, the Irl- State, the New York State and other | leagues. Manager NoIesworth has some 15 good men in view, and desires to LOOK them l over.
 There is no doubt but that he will De manager another season, and naturally desires to choose his material. He will reioin the club on its return from the | west and will finish the season in Bir- mingham.
 1 During the absence of Molesworth Raub will fill his position in center. | The Age Herald, some days ago, pup | lished the report that Harry Vaughn | had been employed as scout by the Chi- | cago Cubs 1 This rumor, contrary to the hopes or | many local fans, has not been substan- | tiated.
 | However, Vaughn is an excellent judge 1 of ballplayers and Charlie Murphy could | 20 further and do worse than select l him.
 l But, as stated, the rumor has not been | substantiated.
 1 The Barons this week have played first | rate baseball. So far, they have played l four games and of that number won ! three The pitchers are going better, the team is hitting fairly well, and fielding more perfectly than at any other part | of the season.
 | The coming of Smith has instilled a .f..lx. f,.cr .fr.n1