The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-03
From the Angle of the Bug
By ASA nouNTREE. JR.
< OWN in New Orleans MT. Char
 ' lie Colsson, the leading spirit of

OWN in New Orleans MT Char
 lie Colsson, the leading spirit of 0 the Gull outfit, and Pelican fans are having a nice little argument as to ghether Calhoun or Blhum is the leagues best first base guardian. The Mobile secretary ayers that the elongated Mary is better than Bluhm, because he is an improvement on Gene Paulette, the former Gull who busted Bluhm from his place on the Cleveland American association com bination.
 Since Paulette is better than Bluhm and Calhoun in turn shades Paulette. that makes him superior to the Peli- can first baseman, says Colsson.- But while the Gulls and Pelicans are quibbling over which of the two Is the best player, they have lost sight entirely of one MT. Covington, late of the St Louis Browns, and the suc- cessor of Bill McGilvray on the Baron team.
 Covington needs no press agent to boost him, for a scrutiny of his record and a few glimpses of his playing will convince any one that Bluhm and Cal houn are not only the leading lights of the circuit when it comes hanging on to the hurried pegs of the infielders to the initial cushion. The Baron first baseman scoops the ball out of the dirt and stretches far on each side of him for wild pegs with ease, and the throws that get away from him are wild ones indeed. Covington now ranks a close fourth in fielding. But with the exception of Snedecor he has played in more games than any of his rivals and has accepted a total of 155 out of 15S chances successfully. Cov- ington has also contributed much to the Barons with his war club. Three of the games won by the Barons are due mainly to his pinch hitting, which each time after two were down brought in run or so and set in mo- tion 8 Baron rally. When the final averages of the season are compiled Covington will not be far from the top if not on it.
 Fielding averages including the games of Tuesday show that the marks set up by the players this year are better than usual. With the exception of shortstop the lead CTS of the various positions on the diamond have not erred this sea son. Sixteen outfielders, five third basemen, two second basemen, five first basemen, five catchers and over three-fourths of the mounds men have perfect records.
 A majority of the Baron players rank high in fielding. Magee Is really the leading outfielder, hay ing played in more games than any of his competitors and also being credited with the most ac- tivity. Charley Bell is enc of the nominal third sack leaders, with a clean sheet, while Marcan is the real leader of the keystone guar dians without misplay chalked up against him. Ellam Is second among the short fielders, being topped only by Young Barbare of the Pelicans. Covington is fourth among the regular first basemen. Wallace is one of the five back stops having a perfect record. All of the Baron fingers, with the ex- ception of Harbin, have fielded per fectly so far.
 Bill Foxen's struggle against being drawn itno the maelstrom of the bushes has been in vain. And it Is now up to him to for sake the national pastime, Join the Federals or become pertinent and report to Wilkesbarre. In the early part of the winter the Bar on management realized that Foxen had outlived his usefulness as a Southern league moundsman so disposed of him to the Wilkes barre club in the New York state league. This did not meet with fa-