The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-30
POINTERS ID RANDOM
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.
We got the first one.

We got the first one. RobertaIle was in fne form yesterday afternoon and there was no way in which the Pretzels could have defeated him. l In addition he received good support
 and the Barons stung the ball behind him.
 Good pitching. good fielding and good
 hitting will win any old gar.e any old
 time.
 The future is yelled.
 As to whether or not we will win any
 more remains to be seen. Turner, Bauer and McNeal will work
 in the remaining games, unless Robinson
 is able to appear before the conclusion i of the series Turner won his last two games, but in
 neither did he show anything marvellous. 1 Today, however. he may be full of mys-
 tery and win a real game ] We all hope so at any rate, though opposed to pr. Thomas, the odds are i against him. Charlie Frank, having torn his cham i pion team to pieces, and having dropped l every game played since doing so, is car rying a great load on his shoulders l The fans are riding him. l They declare he does not want the pen
 nant.
 That he will miss Jack Ryan, one of l his best pitchers and two such sterling l outhelders and hard hitters as Lord and i Delehanty, is fact that cannot be dis ], puted. ] Without these three men and with Bax- 1 ter substituted for sabrle, Charlie Frank ] cannot win the pennant of the Southern 1 league. He might finish third l And as stated in the beginning, Frank l is suffering the reinstatement of the fans. 1 We do not know whether he desires the i rag not, but he certainly does not act 1 as if he does. l Johnny McRae and one or more other ] enthusiasts prophesied yesterday that
 Birmingham would win the remaining
 three.
 l We will he satisfied if the break is ] even and surprised if two others are ] won.
 l We do not know who will fill Demont's i shoes.
 Molesworth says nothing. ] The fans in Birmingham are anxously
 awaiting the news and are hoping that all will be well
 "Why do you kick?" Umpire O'Brien
 is alleged to have asked McNeal, when
 the pitcher thought the umpire has ruled erroneousy.
 "1s it not fact that your team is on the bottom? What good would the de- cision do you?' We cannot vouch for the accuracy of l the above If that conversation did occur, however. We are more confirm than ever Tn our
 splnion that O'Brien does not fit well in the Southern league. If the above conversation occurred then the directors have good ground on which 10 hold another investigation. l Any man who robs poor old Birmingham would shove widow in a creek.
 The man in the hole is the legitimate Trey for all crooks. i With New Orleans losing the race be-
 comes more and more exciting. l Seven teams have chance, and q fairly
 good one, to win the pennant l Less than 175 points separate the leaders
 and the cellar champions. i The American league race is as nothing.
 The New York Americans are slowly
 going to the bottom.
 After holding the lead for so long the l Highlanders are in seventh place. 1 1t is better, we believe to begin the hole and finish there than to inspire Il lope and see it fade away.
 The slump of the Hghlanders caused Clarke Griffith to yield the ghost. anG , Kid Elberfield will be in a mad house ;, hefore the expiration of another month i unless there is improvement. 1 sirce Molesworih assumed charge the ] Barons have played 300 baseball. 1 Considering the handicap under which l the stocky manager performs 300 baseball ] is not fast enough to get the Barons out
 of the cellar, but it is great improve 1 ment on that which went before. i Everyone must admit the truth of the above deduction. as Sherlock Holmes would say. l The mighty Sox are slumping With both teams losing the Chicago i fans are up. in the air.
 Today Pittsburg is less than one game
 behind the Cubs and the Pirates are coming fast.
 Rip Ragan lost his second game Satur-
 cay, though he was not hit to any grea. | extent. 1 Even the Roaring" Rip can't win them 1 all
 1 Sammy Weems is getting his bumps in
 the South Atlantic, in spite of his victory l yesterday.
 1 That victory was fiuke, however, and sammy was much bruised when the day 5 1 fun was over
 That young Miller of Jackson achieved
 another shut-out victory for Roy Mont
 gomerys Cotton Staters yesterday. He gives indications of being a great 1 star some of these days. | Jackson. incidentally, while still 1ead- l ing, seems unable to shake Vicksburg.
 Unless the league closes its season ear l Her than schedule, the indications are
 that Jackson and Vicksburg will fight 1t out to the last With Columbus in the second division and Meridian lower still,
 Robbie Gilks' Gulfport aggregation is the only other possible rival that Montgom-
 cry owns at the present writing. Wilson Matthews, player, manager and baseball writer and a success at each
 calling, is now umpiring in the Cotton l States.
 There Is no better umpire than Mat l thews