The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-17
Some Timely Gossip 0
 Leagues And He Players

Our hapless Barons held their own yes- terday although 1t was with difficulty.
 It was rather tough losing the decision
 in the ninth, in view of the excellent Judgment shown by Molesworth and the excellent pitching of Schopp.
 Raftis, whose error let in what looked like the winning run, had an off day Tn practically every department. Naturally, he is the best third baseman of the league, but for some days past he has shown poor form. If the lowly position assumed by the team has discouraged him, we would advise looking up!' Discourag- ment is an awful handicap.
 McGilvray, incidentally, Is playing bet ter ball at the present time than at any other period this aeason. McGilvray has had an awful slump-a long one. He doesn't know himself what has put him on the blink, but he knows that he hasn't been the player he was last year and years before. It is hoped that he will deliver the goods in swell packages for the remainder of the season. He Is going finely at the present time.
 When the Barons and the Sleepers get together, there's no telling what will hap penl
 The reports to the effect that new faces are en route to Birmingham is an error. No trades are contemplated either.
 This Is authentic.
 Well, they have had a row in Chatta- nooga as a result of incompetent um- pires.
 In Thursdays game one Clifford made decision against which Meek, Dobbs. Mckenzie and others registered kicks.
 Several of these beligerents were put out of the game, though Clifford was forced to appeal to the police to pro- tect him.
 Then when quiet was restored, what does this Clifford? Why, gives everything to Chattanooga, including the winning run. which the Chattanooga Times states openly and boldly was not deserved.
 Poor cd Knoxville!
 But Knoxville Is near the bottom and Chattanooga near the top,
 There you are.
 Nothing is truer than this-No umpire is afraid of a taienuer.
 Had Knoxville been higher in the stand ing even Clifford, who Chattanooga pa pers think possesses little courage and no sense of justice. would not have so deported himself under fire.
 An incompetent umpire spells the sport more than any other single agency. In baseball the umpire is the staff of life hnhaouAQ ba Ia fO him pure.
 The game has become so fast in Dixie that one pebble turns the tide. Let pitcher have a bad inning. single bad inning, and watch his doom. Let an umpire make one bad ruling which lets in a run or two or prevents as many from scoring. and he, in so doing. has made the result.
 It Is wondered If Chattanooga is mak- ing habit of frightening the weak kneed umpires with whom, it seems, the Sally league Is afflicted?
 Down in this part of the country 1t was thought that short right field fence was enough advantage within itself.
 Speaking of Chattanooga, our old friend Henry Meek seems to be delivering the goods in splendid packages.
 He is natural hitter, and there are no real hitters save the natural. They are born, in other words.
 But Henry is working this year, some- thing he never did before He Is catching practically all the games for Dobbs' team, and Is down in weight to the very little Henry Is now ambitious, and If he keeps this spark alive, there Is no league in the country too big for him. He can hit big league pitcher as easily as a minor. He has a wonderful arm. And now 1t is said that he is showing a disposition to work.
 If that is true, there is no better indi- vidual performer in the country. And do not be deceived Into believing that Meek is the slowest man in America . Jack Reidy, formerly the University of Alabama performer is doing magnificent fielding for Chattanooga, too.
 In the art of catching the ball, there is