The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-06
HOW THE BARONS STAND ON
EVE, OF OPENING OF SEASON
EVEN sCRIBEs VOTE THEM
FIRST PLACE-MOLEY THINKS
HIS TEAM STRONGER THAN
THAT WHICH OPENED SEASON
"A YEAR AGO
NJ cHARLEs w. GREER

by CHARLES w. GREER
Tn the composite pick of the Southern
norting writer's published elsewhere in
Ne columns of the sporting department
The Age-Herald this morning, it
iii be noticed that seven writers cast
heir ballots favoring the Barons to
apture the 1913 pennant. Charlie
ranks Pelicans ran a close second as
avorites in the race, being accorded
rst honors by six scribes. Two pre-
lotions favored Atlanta, while lone
ote was cast favoring the chances of
he Mobile Guls.
Significant In these figures is the fact
hat there is not wide diversion of
pinion as to which clubs in the South
rn league this season should be ac-
redited topmost positions. And fur
her significant is the fact that scribes
re not patriotically handing the first
blace plum to the home clubs regard
ess of real personal opinion
One needs only to glance at the fig
Ires mentioned to see that the Barons
Ind Pelicans will enter the 1918 race
kennantward high favorites to cop the
Zoveted bunting. However. favoritism
viii not land a second straight pennant
In Birmingham, nor will favoritism
Enable the followers of Charlie Frank
% end the season at the top of the pen
liant ladder.
Dope in itself is worthless; for dope
merely opinion. But opinion. when
/ is conscientiously given by men
whose daily tasks must consist of
5tudying the baseball conditions about
which they, write. is not sometimes
Without tangible significance. And
therein lies the significance of the fact
that Southern scribes in making their
selections for first place, did not fol-
low the dictates of patriotism. and in
still hopes in the hearts of their read
ers by selecting their respective clubs
10 lead the race. when, after giving
conditions careful thought, they picked
|pther clubs to get away with the
Victory. 1t means that while opinions
hre worthless If taken for facts, they
hre a means of determining to a certain
hegree just where the Southern league
clubs stand at the eve of the seasons
opening.
Birmingham is given first place by
|scribes principally for one reason. In
1.-The first place the local club is COM
|posed of IL of the men who last season
demonstrated their ability to excel all
|other Southern league aggregations in
1.-THE manner of placing games on their
side of the win column. Some contend
that Birmingham did not represent the
strongest club in the league last sea-
son. but none are there who viii argue
the fact that the Barons were not the
best winners in the league last sea-
son. And club that can win, is the
club most likely to capture the rag
However, many scribes have taken
note of the fact that three stars of the
1913 Baron outfit will be among the
missing when the first gun Is fired this
season. They are also aware of the fact
that the material whom Molesworth
has gathered to select men to supplant
these stars has not proved wholly sat
isfactory to the Baron management
Molesworth's trip to major league camps
In search of new men has caused quite
a bit of gossip among the scribes. Some
have given the action of the Baron
manager undue Significance. and on this
account some have probably looked
elsewhere to select a club to win the
1913 gonfalon.
For the benefit of local fans, however.
Jet 1t be said that the fact that owner
Rick Woodward and Manager Moles-
worth are willing to look elsewhere
for new players, does not mean that the
Barons are in frantic need of new ma
terial. They are not 1t is altogether
probable that no new men will be
forthcoming before several weeks Of
the present season has passed into his
kory. These men are needed. otherwise
po efforts would be made to secure them.
But without them, there is little fear
that Birmingham will hover about the
bottom of the pennant ladder. The ma
terial on hand is, with the veterans of
last season, exceptionally good. The
men are for the most part experienced.
They are consistent. They have worked
together. These facts are not without
Significance when it is considered that
practically every club in the league will
have to form new system of defense
to conform with the new men who ap-
bear in the lineup. Inside work which
has won many pennants, must be de-
Veloped by hard and consistent efforts.
The Barons will enter the season with
this already developed. Therein lies
their advantage.
Will the Barons win the pennant?
fhey may. They may not. 1t is con-
siderably harder. for several reasons,
for a team to win the second pennant
than the one preceding, However, this
much is true: The Barons are conten-
iers in the 1913 race. They will be in
the running when the autumn leaves
drift across the horizon and the days
of the season are numbered. Molesworth
says his club is stronger today than at
the same time last season, and Moley
should know AT any rate, they enter
the race with a better opportunity to
win than does any club in the league
Over in Atlanta. Billy Smith has been
given one grand opportunity to de-
liver. If Smith. makes good everything
is as rosy as the blushing face OF a
newborn babe. If he fails, the Cracker
manager might just as well quietly fold
up his managerial tent and fade away
The Atlanta management has given
Smith free reins. They have loosened