The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-12

As a rule nothing definite may be gleaned from spring training as how Vari- ous teams and the new players will stack up under fire for it is not until the teams and newcomers find themselves face to face with the real thing that all their qualities, either good or bad, are brought to the surface. A team may go like wild fire during spring training swamping all the opposition and then crumple up when it gets into a championship battle and is subjected to a rigid test. The same may be said of the players. Some run wild over opposing teams during the spring only to display a yellow streak when the show down comes. Others may display mediocre ability during practice and then branch out into dependable hurl- CTS Several years ago Moley had young twirler by the name of Chaput, who dhr- ing the exhibition season pitched in sen- sational form and he was loudly pro- claimed one of the best youngsters in the league When the real championship games came and every player was in to win Chaput's nerve failed him and he proved one of the rankest failures of the season.
 Faint Idea"
 By a careful diagnosis of the various line-ups in the Southern this spring, how ever, some faint idea may be obtained as to how the teams stack up now. Wlth- out taking into account exhibition snow ing. for they count but little, but con sidering the past performances or the players who will be actively engaged In the Southern this season, it appears that New Orleans Birmingham and Atlanta are destined to be continuously in pur- suit of the pennant, with Chattanooga possible contender.
 Moose" Mccormick has gathered hard hitting and good fielding set of players, but his flingins staff is weak The Lookout leader has an abund- ance of hurling talent on hand. but with the exception of Kroh, Slime and Boyd. all of the youngsters are of unknown quality.
 Johnny Dobbs has two good outfielders in Hub Northen, a former Lookout, ana Otto Burns late of the Toledo American association team. Both his mound and receiving staffs are also strong whiie the Pelican infield is nothing to be summed. Cracker Team Strong
 Although the Cracker team is not as strong as last year, because many of last years aggregation have graduated into more selec. company, it will nevertheless be able to rattle on almost equal footing with the other teams in the league. Saying little and keeping counsel with l only himself. Carleton Molesworti has | been industriously engaged during tie | spring in welding together team that | will not compare unfavorably with rival l pennant aspirants. The Barons look far | stronger this year than last and local l fans may rest content this season that Moley and his men with not be lowering dispairingly over the dark and disen- chanting cellar, but up where the sounds of conflict are loudest.
 Moley's Outfield
 | Moley has two bulwarks in each the | outfield and infeld. In the outer works Magee and Knisely. each 300 hitters. may be considered the mainstays, while Me- Donald and Covington are the ones most | depended upon for stellar work around the inner defense.
 The Baron pitching staff is one not to be dispised Hardgrove, Brown, Robert son and Gregory are expected to go well this season, while. the youngsters-Har-
 ben, Grimes, Fittery and Johnson-are all being depended upon to put their shoul-