The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-11
POINTERS ID RANDOM
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS.

pay too nttle attention 10 tle QuSSlloA of umpires and umpiring.
 Umpiring, naturally, is the most vital department of the game. And yet 1t is not so recognized
 Each team, prior to the opening of hos ulites, gathers it's pitchers, it eatchers, ita inheders and gardeners, hys off its grounds, makes predictions Qalse and Otherwise), but takes no caution what ever in the matter of filling the umpire staff with honest, respectabh and cap able men. =f
 It is not realized, one is lea, to believe, that an umpire, dishonest O incapable. can cause more havoc in thu space of a week that @ corps of splendn pitchers ill months campaign. It is imposing on the preident of the league a task too large vhen to the chief executive the matter of selecting umpires is delegated.
 Too little attention is paid to the ques tion of umpires and umpirhg.
 The double umpire systen, though en route, is being tried in nc league as regular custom. In the Southern, for instaice, four regu- lars and one substitute are used In this way the Southern gets resllts that would astound the oarbarous andthe uncivilized
 In the first place the league should sec that it Is furnished with competent men, competent in every sense of the word.
 In the second place, the double umpire system should be inaugursted.
 In the Sbird place, there should be two substitutes ready to hande the indicator in case of illness or sccident in the ranks.
 In this way it would nore often hap pen that the best team wns the pennant.
 Today 1t is true t.2C tie outcome of a closely contested gaEle il a field for the Tor hnu lently twrler is working, he cannot win when Q bad decision is perpetrated at the nome plate.
 The Southern, along with all other minor leagues, watts until the majors have taken an action in the way of im- provement, before it speaks out in meet ing.
 There Is an opportunity before. the Southern league today t, jump on band wagon that would vii so easily that prohibition would seem Ike stage horse.
 If the Southern adops the double um- pire system it will have the satisfaction of seeing the American md National fol- low its foosteps.
 The Southern might as well take the lead, for unless 1t does 1t will, of neces- sity, follow.
 And while speaking of umpires, we might ask the question, Where is OBrien?'
 Has Frank or some of his Pelican out fit, thrown him in the quarreling Missis- sippi?
 At any rate, the pusilist did not show up in New Orleans yesterday, and in spite of the threats of Manager Frank, Umpire Carpenter remained in Mobile
 It is very probable, however that O'Brien is even now telling his troubles to Judge Kavantugh.
 He has many to tel, and if he remains longer in the l@gue will have more.
 You may talk about your American league race, bu the old Southern is good enough for anybody.
 New Orleans. having defeataed Atlanta with no troubH. assumed the lead again yesterday witt the smallest percentage that a Southerl leader has had this sea son, .54S
 Birmingham, defeating Little Rock, moved up a pg itself, and between the leader and the cellar champions there are but 169 percentage points.
 Seventy mine of these points intervene, however, between Birmingham and Mont gomery, eighth and seventh, respectively.
 Between Montgomery, therefore, and New Orleans tIe difference Is only a mat ter of 92 points. a chasm that might be jumped in day. as 1t were
 The leaders are running in this fashion: .54s, .54s, .53S. .515, .5O7, .49S and All.
 It's grand old race, even though we are on the bottom.
 We call yotr attention to Ginger Clark's magnificent work.
 Yesterday tn, Baron cast-ofr set Atlanta down with ont hit.
 His last several games have been vic- tories.
 In spite of that fact. however, he lost 10 games for the Barons before he was shaken.
 We marvel at the nerve displayd by the Nashville Banner.
 That paper has begun raisirfg subscrip- tons for the team. to be delivered in case it wins the pennant.
 The season is not quite half over
 We have seen enthusiasts win pen r.ants before the opening of the season but never one crammed full of cer- tainty in mid-year.
 Jacksonville. the metropolis of our neigh boring state. with it's 200 points lead. has rot even done a thing so dangerous, nor so preposterous
 But still there is some wisdom in the madness of tie Banner
 Hang dollsr before man and his ex-
 
 Detroit and St. Louis are tied for first honors in the American league.
 They have been tied for several days
 The fans are now guessing. and some of them are wagering the glorious coin of the realm AS to which will drop.
 It would be just like the spiteful fel- lows if they mutually agree to drop few in order to keep the excitement burn ing.
 At any rate. they are going very nicely at the present writing
 Yesterday, for the third time. "Rube" Waddell defested his former teammates. the Philadelphia Athletics
 Thrice has Rube met the Classy tribe of Connie Mack this season.
 one would be tempted to remark that the Rube must have some spite against Philadelphia were the character and rep utation of the Rube not so well known.
 Billy Kirk, 1T the New York American, arises to remaik in the way of scorching 'Kid'' Elberfeh that as a right fielder, Hal Chase is the best first baseman he has ever seen.
 It is simple when you've got the key.
 And the Barons, although some of our friends in Montgomery will regret to learn that fact Gas well as some of our local friends) are playing ffnely-to date They have won three and lost three.
 When it is considered that the Barons are without a regular third baseman they are due some credit at least.
 And then they have already won as