The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-03
POINTERS ID RANDOM
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS.


 Molesworth is the greatest all round baseball performer in the Southern cil- cult
 But such remark would be superfiuous when his records loudly proclaim that fact.
 No managerial troubles, as has been stated on other occasions, have caused a slump in Molesworth's individual pei formances.
 He is playing the best game of his ca reer, and, taking every department into consideration, he IS indisputably great star.
 In the first place, as an outfielder there is no man who can surpass him, all though several men have greater hurling powers.
 Today he is stinging the ball well 10 the good of the 300 mark, and as shown elsewhere in this mornings paper, he Is leading the leageu in the matter of stolen bases.
 It is unnecessary to comment on his knowledge of tho game. He knows the fine points as we'll as the rudimentary.
 His record pleases everyone, and that he makes success of managing the club everyone hopes.
 So far he has broken even. and con sdering the demoralized condition of the team when he assumed charge. that rec ord is excellent.
 It is all very well for the wiseacre to stand apart and express dissatisfaction.
 He was dissatisfied with Harry Vaughn and would be dissatisfied with anyone to whom the association entrusted the reins of government.
 We do not know whether Molesworth will be success as a manager or not.
 Rut if ie only in fairness that the DeO- pie should give him a chance. So far he has done well. He may do even better. Therefore it is ridiculous to stand apart and declarely wisely:
 "The association made a mistake.'
 If the association plans to continue Molesworth in charge of the team another season, and it does, it would do well to send him to all the meetings of all the leagues, major and minor.
 He would have opportunities. by so do- ing. to become acquainted with those prominent in the game from every sec tion.
 This acquaintance will stand him in good stead when he needs new players. Friendship and a silent agreement of CO., operation will land men where money has no weight.
 This fact is appreciated by the associa- tion, and Manager Molesworth will un doubtedly be, given an opportunity to mingle with the powers that be, and with the men that he has in mind now, it is safe to presume that Birmingham will be higher in the race next July than at the present time.
 Who is the first man to detect crook edness in others?
 Why. crook of course.
 It Is ridiculous to state that the team is purposely throwing Bauer down. It is an absurdity on it's face, and Bauer doesn't appreciate intmations to the contrary.
 It seldom happens that no games are played in the South ern league during a day.
 But there was an absence of hits and errors triumphs and defeats yester- day. No games were scheduled, though two postponed affairs were attempted, one in Montgomery and the other in New Orleans. Rain interfered with both
 Poor old New York
 While neither of it's teams are set ting the woods on fire this season. the Highlanders are going to the bottom
  descent.
 Some days ago New York was lead ing the American league, and winning games hand over fist.
 Then there began such a slump, such continuous slump, that Manager Grif- filth yielded the grost in despair.
 Daredevil Elberfeld, the Tennessee pepper box" was given charge of the team, and the slump continues and grows more pronounced each after noon.
 Yesterday Washington took both ends of double-header, and it would not surprise anyone of Kid" Elberfeld jumps the game as bad proposition.
 Compared to the troubles of the Highlanders, Birmingham niisfortunes are as nothing. It is better to bega in the cellar and finish there,. than 1t the top. and to disappoint horribly.
 But the American league does not lose it's interest
 Cleveland is now leading by an eye lash, with St. Louis and Detroit bark ing at it's heels.
 The Chicago Sox, after a slump are in fourth place, but awaiting an op- portunity to assume the lead once more.
 Cleveland's troubles. now proverbial, are breaking out afresh.
 Yesterday in a collision with Willis Detroit pitcher, Stovall Cleveland first baseman. sustained a fracture to his arm that means his retirement for the season. This will materially weaken the Blues. and it might happen that they will not hold the lead for many more days.
 Reference to Cleveland reminds that Glenn Liebhardt, former Memphis twirler, is now the best pitcher on Napoen Lajoies staff. Last season. his first with the majors Liebhardt suf- fered with kind of malarial fever and did imperfect work. This year, how ever. he has come into his own and IS delivering the goods handsomely
 The veteran Wednesday afternoon paced through a scrimmage with New York, and denied the Highlanders a slngle hit One man reached first
 That man was former Baron-Harry Niles.
 Little Rock, second division team of the Southern league, met and defeated Jackson, the leading team of the Cottoa States circuit, yesterday
 But the defeat was a narrow one--3 to ? and does not contain an intimation that Roy Montgomerys squad is outclassed by second division members of the Southern league
 However, were Jackson member os Dixie's major. it could win very few games. The Southern outclasses the Cot ton States as positively as the National or American does the Southern.
 The Cubs have no cinch.
 Pittsburg still clings to the leading po-