The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-09
POINTERS 10 RANDOM
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS.


 Nashville is rapidly solidifylng its lead ing position in the Southern. league, and if no unexpected slump occurs, it is easy to predict that spot from which and over which the victorious rag of battle will fly.
 While the Volunteers lead of some 23 peirentage points is too small to guar antee their winning the pennant, the chances are good that the Tennessee camp will walk away with the plum pudding.
 After playing four games with Mont gomery the Volunteers go into the wild west.
 Then comes the rub-that test. in other words on which everything depends,
 If Nashville does as well as break even its present chance of copping the bunt2 ing will be bettered 50 per cent For after concluding the western invasion Nashville returns home and remains at Sulphur Dell until the season turns it's toes to the daisies.
 And, incidentally, Birmingham the fans do not envy Nashville. Should the Volunteers fly the rag, Birminghann will not be displeased.
 It is rather strange that while the western clubs. as whole, are superior to the clubs of the east, there is generally one club on the Sunny side of. the circuit just that much Stronger. than all the others to win the pennant SD
 In 1906 Birmingham won. Tn 1907 At lanta won, and in 1908, if present indica- tions count for anything, Nashville will win.
 Of all men who have bltndered, none has blundered more sadly than Mike Me Cormack, sometime captain and shortstop of the Nashville team.
 This young man jumped for some in- jury imagined.
 And instead of showing the effect of an absent infielder, the Volunteers have been playing more splendidly since his de- parture.
 It Is some honor to that ball player who captains a pennant winner. and McCor- mack threw the honor away.
 Atlanta is undergoing a woeful slump.
 The fans are exceedingly sore, the pa pers are dealing in ironical phrase, and Billy smith is the grumpiest individual on whom the sun shines.
 Atlanta has dropped five games in a row, two to Montgomery and three to Nashville.
 As a result of that succession of de- feats the Crackers are tied with Mont gomery for seventh place.
 It begins to look a trifie blue for the champions, for within the next few days 1t will be necessary for them to make pilgrimage into the heart of the west However, Smith has been strengthening his team, and an unexpected squirt may come within the space of a few days
 And Charlie Franks Pehcans are slumping, too.
 The New Orleans fans are even sorer than those of Atlanta. They are calling Charlie ugly names, and referring to the managers wise(O moves with deal Of heartless criticism.
 They are especially sore because Frank sold Ryan, one of the best twirlerss to Cleveland and took in exchange Mill, shortstop, whose numerous errors ana failure to hit have done much toward causing the aforementioned slump.
 "Never Hit" NH is the pet name for the shotstop with Pelican fans at the present time.
 Little Rock is playing splendidly at the present time During the past week the Travellers overwhelmingly defeated Mem phis and took series from Mobile
 Films team is again at the .5O0 marx, and there would be no surprise 1T Littie Rock should beat Memphis out on the home, stretch.
 Saturday is the pet day for rains in Birmingham. Had the afternoon been fair two fine contests would have been played yesterday, for both teams were determined to take both ends or the scheduled double-header.
 Inasmuch as the Barons are playing good ball at the present time, the chances are that the attendance would have been good, too.
 Before the team goes into the west, Manager MolesWortn Will ledNe oh !" scouting expedition.
 He will visit leagues in the eastern haif of the United States and will lay his plans for a first division team next season.
 Right now Manager Molesworth has A bout 20 men on whom he desires to set his eyes. He Is exceedingly optimistic, and believes he will be able to land splendid aggregation for another year.
 According to the present plan, Manager Molesworth will bring the present team to Birmingham next spring, and will have A man or men trying for positions against the present Barons.
 In this way he hopes to get good team together and start a farm Of those Wnoih he cannot retain.
 It is barely possible that several twiri- CTS at the present time performing in fast will be in the Southern league next spring It all depends on whether or not Frank Chance and other managers will succeed in their attempts to kill the "spit-ball."
 Suppose for instance, that Wilhelm was prohibited from using the .'slopper?' The chances are that he would be too weak for the Southern league. And there are some dozen others.
 The disadvantage is that when the spit ball" artists become too light for fast they will become too light, syn for the Southern league.
 The Southern league is getting large enough and important enough to increase it's limits. In the first place, the salary limit should be showed up to comforta- ble figure
 The limitation in this respect, of course, cuts little figure, but it is unhealthy for body to make a farce out of any law, however ridiculous that law might be.
 In the second place, each team should be allowed to carry more than 15 men. This is especially true toward the conclu- sion of the season. Were the player limit larger at the present time, the teams could step out and buy men for another season. and have an opportunity of try l,ofo 10 iorc hat