The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-24
MANAGER C. WORDSWORTH HAS
A JOB IN PICKING YOUNGSTERS
EXCEEDING FORTUNATE THAT
DATE OF CUTTING DOWN
WAS MISUNDERSTANDING
OF THE MEN OF PROMISE
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

rujnous had that statute stood requir-
ing all managers to cut down to Is
men by the opening day of the sea-
SON From a Birmingham standpoint,
at any rate, 1t is exceedingly fortunate
that 90 days of grace are permitted
There is so much talent of promise on
the local lot that every available mo-
ment Will be found essential for care
full investigation. And, even by May
1. Manager Molesworth might not be
certain lest some man decorated with
the "can" is of merit and general worth
emitting him to a permanent berth in
company as fast as this of ours.
| Despite the fact of abundance of
promising material, it yet remains true
| that before Birmingham can win it's
third pennant or nestle snugly and
securely in a berth high in the first
division. another man able not only to
hit the ball. but to hit the ball often
and with exceeding weight must be To-
Gated. That Individual at the present
moment might be on the local dump.
And then again he might not At any
rate, If he is missing now, he must
be obtained. For without a hard HIT
ter In the shoes of either Almeida or
Johnston. we are doomed to linger
around the middle ground of certainty
and uncertainty
But in this merry month of snrinc %.
and possibility. there are MANY Young
sters on Rickwood field who deserve
the closest scrutiny
1t becomes more and more certain
that one of the choicest plums is Maver
the catcher. He has shown splendid
form, and will prove himself able to
catch and throw and hit the ball Those
who were depressed with the idea that
Mayer, despite his other assets. was
lacking in agility, are happily disap-
pointed. The man from Chicago cannot
circle the bases with the devil sneed
displayed regularly by our old college
chum, Sir Robert Messenger, but he
has capable stride and certain
stride, just the same. In your little
book you may write the name of MAYER.
He has come to stay until some club of
the major circle is aroused to the fact
that In permitting this hefty individual
to escape 1t overlooked bet of de-
cided value and Importance
Dilger of last year will probably be
the other receiver He has many friends
In Birmingham who remember with a
thrill of joy how he threw to bases la st
season, and who knew, too, that if he
could hit the ball consistently, he would
not be in minor league company. Lage
has shown form, also. and he seems 10
nave chance despite the odds against
him.
For the fifth position on the pitch
ing staff, there is in progress a merry
Tilt, the outcome of which will be of
the gravest concern to the baseball
public. Fittery has impressed tho fans
with exceeding great favor. Thomp-
son is man of unquestioned merit
and he believes that he will cut his
name in the local hall of fame before
the season concludes. And whitney,
the Alabama boy. has a great deal of
stun up his sleeve, and has shown
enough to make it absolutely certain
that If he does fail to land this year.
eventually he will make his mark in
fast company.
The old pitchers, as is the custom
with the older heads of a flock, have
not displayed their wares up to the
present moment. 1t is not necessary
that they exert themselves For there
are few better men in the league than
Foxen, Boyd, Hardgrove and Prough
AS matter of fact. it Is evident that
Manager Molesworth will enter the
race with stronger twirling corps
than any other manager about the cir
cult.
1t is apparent that Manager Moles-
worth, at the present time. is planning
to make Carroll his regular third base
man, and Herndon his general utility
man. Carroll has many strong fol-
lowers in Birmin CHAM, and his earnest
ness and faithfulness and his readiness
last season to deliver resounding
wallop in the crisis of the game deserve
more than passing notice Herndon
is a fast youngster and has shown form
wherever stationed. He came recon-
mended for his ability to field and
throw and to smack the ball regularly.
1t Is evident that as far as utility
man is concerned, Manager Molesworth
is safe with Herndon and Carroll.
whichever he assigns to the duty of
keeping the bench until the coming of
emergencies. Whether or not either Is
strong enough for a regular berth in
Glass A baseball is matter of doubt,
and car be shown only as a result of
the entire practice season.
The fans are fond of Dan Senno the
trim young italian who in addition to
his prowess in the field can write as
well as the original "old man" Spen-
GER Senno has speed and alertness
and ability to Judge the fly at the crack
of the bat. During the practice games
of last week. he hit the ball hard and
often, and it was the comment of the
visiting baseball writer's that he will
not long remain in minor league COM
pany.
1t is considered doubtful however
that he will maintain 800 clip al,
though were he to fall short of that
mark. he. nevertheless. will make Man
ager Molesworth a worthy dependency
l--provided some other player. not at
present dreamed, proves himself able to
counteract the speed and curve of the
opposing pitchers when the opposinr
pitchers are doing execution in the
good old summer time.
There will be another game this aft
efnoon. Robert w. Tyson, the secre-
| tary of the association, announced last
night that the game today will be
started at 8 o'clock and not 2:30 o'clock
as heretofore. 1t is said that "Riotous"
Robert knows whereof he speaks. and
the advice OF the writer of this column
is to follow his Injunction Three
o'clock. then.