The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-02

The sporting writers of Montgomery Nashville, Atlanta and New Orleans arc tossing the most fragrant bouquets al each other and judging from the remarks of these worthies the four most formid- able teams of the league are Montsom- cry. Nashville, Atlanta and New Or leans.
 Everyone, too, looks askance at Mem phis. Charlie Babb has done so well in other years they all expect him to do likewise this season.
 But Mobile. Little Rock and Birming- ham are receiving very little attentlon' and scarcely any complimentary men tion.
 Al inc nresent time New Orleans looks very formidable with its several first oIass nitchers-Breitenst Fritz. Bart lev Pr1ett and Hess Dexter is good first sacker and hard hitter' Ioo' he ran nlav second or shortstop. Demoht' who is playing the keystone whhe GUS Dundon recuperates, is an exceedingly v,ise nerformer. and can, if he chooses, sa1,ver the goods. George Rohe has made q reputation as a third baseman. wei mer. Heulsman, Reagan and Manning are good gardeners. While no searsA Matthews and Stratton are worthy pack stons Reagon. too, is considered goou at short.
 So Frank looks formidable
 
 Atlanta may and may not have pen
 ,+ winner Castleton is great twlrl- ar or Eather. was a great twirler prlor ta lie illness last year. Tom Fisher IS a sood average pitcher and Will ai"a' win half his games. Johns Is little sidewheeler, but no Worlo pesl'ei with the exception of Jordan' Atiaii'' has a brand new infield, Hess' Ill cflse he ia retained at tihrd, oeihs elie oa,+ion Jordan is wise in the kno"i- aaga of the game, but in some depart rnents his execution is far from per feet. Hess fields and throws we'll
 winters is a star in the outfield' or course. and always will be- Becker IS |. ,,ood average man. Hem is unknown In Dixie Moran is neat in his Work aa very fast. but a light swatter.
 Go Atlanta may and may not be world heater. Sid Smith, normally IS sPien- did receiver, but it is feared that siliitfl thinks himself too fast for thls hetie league. McMurray, to our way or thlhk- inc will give Atlanta better service
 What right did Nashville nave AasI season to win the pennant?
 lust about as much as Blrmlhghail had to turn the trick in 1906. The sue cess of Barnhard's crew was que to the several worthy pitchers that were carried and to spirit of contentneht and satisfaction.
 Nashville has lost Sitton pitcher; Hun ter outf1elder, pitcher and hitter; Mc- EIveen, captain, third baseman and swat ter, and Daubert, first baseman, clever fielder and good average hitter.
 In the outfield there are Bay, Siegel and Wtseman. Wiseman is very good. Siegel Is fair middling.
 We have good reason to fear that Nash vile will not repeat this season. Harry Vaughn and Bill Smith openly declare that few pennant winners do.
 Were we to listen to the siren-like chirps of our Montgomery friends 1t would be an easy ''pennant cake walk for the Sleepers of Eddie Greminger.
 But when you go deeper than the top surface one is able to judge that some other aggregation in Dixie has bare chance to obtain a foothold in respect able company.
 There is this satisfaction, at any rate the Pretzels, by the mathematical law of exclusion, cannot swipe every edible doughnut in the tray.
 shannon is a good catcher if Shannon will carry out his reformation platform. Hart has never shown form, though he will, probably this year. Greminger plays first ereditably and hits about .26O Rock enfield is a good average man in every department. Pope is a specta cular short stop but his hitting is too light for de- cent society. Manush is a most prom ising youngster on third.
 Forrest Thomas is a good pitcher, be- yond doubt, but he will not report un- til May Il. Lively is a twirler of prom ise if he can keep men off the bases. Juul may develop, but he will not re- port until June. DeBalt is another Van Anda Jud Daley is a good average out fielder in all departments. The same is