The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-02

HN HE balmy weather of the spring
 time has been left far in the ~ rear and in its place has set in the hot and sweltering weather of summer. The real grind has begun in earnest and the desultory work that characterized the earlier stages of the game has disappeared. All of the teams have settled down and the grind that the players dislike so Is prevalent After a most dissatisfac- tory start the Giants and Athletics have proved themselves worthy of the support that has been accorded them by their admirers and are now lead ing their respective parades. Two weeks ago the Pirates and Tigers were running wild and another race simi- lar to the one in 1909, when the Pi- rates cinched the gonfalon long be- fore the season ended. was being pre- dicted, but today the tables have turned and from lowly places in the second division both the Giants and Athletics have ascended to the places of honor in each circuit.
 In the National league the Reds have been an important factor in the success of the Giants for 1t was through their good work against the Pirates that the New Workers were able to snatch first place away rom their Smoky City rivals. The keds stopped Fred Clark's Corsairs after they had gained what seemed to be a commanding headway. sequence or several victories making 1t possible for the Giants to come sweeping up from the rear.
 Hitherto the Reds have been the laughing stock of the National but this year they have suffered mar velous regeneration and have stepped into the shoes of the Boston Braves as the dark horse in the older or ganization. Previous to the opening of the season the Boston Braves were being touted as the team from which a surprise was forthcoming. but was entirely different from the one that was anticipated. Instead of proving a formidable aggregation the Braves have turned out to be q losing outfit, and in their places have ventured the Reds The Cincinnati team is playing for the first time real snappy ball. The players are full of life and Buck Herzog is keeping them on the jump Unlike in other years the team is composed mostly of young sters with veteran here and there to act as a balance and the results that are being obtained may be readily appreciated with one glance over the National league standing. But the great question in the Queen City is whether or not the seam will main tain It's present clip throughout the fan of tn as did the 1913 team, and keep drop ping until the lower <anks are en- countered. Last yeas Hank O'Day had the Reds exchanging courtesies from the top of the standing with otker teams. but the good fortune was too good to last and ere long they started on slump that carried them all the way down to the bottom di- vision.
 Rain cheated the Barons out of a possible victory over the Lookouts yesterday. The locals and their op- ponents were tied 1 and when old J. P. made his appearance in the fourth inning. The game was first halted temporarily and then afterward when it was evident that old Jupiter Pluvius did not intend to evacuate his position at any time in the near future, 1t was deemed adVisaDle 10 call off the fray. This postponement. makes it necessary for the Barons to play three double-headers with the Lookouts in the near future Several weeks ago when the Chattanooga team was in Birmingham for a se- rios one game went 12 innings with out decision and a double-header is consequently billed for the next ap- pearance of the Lookouts in this city. Another twin bill is featured for We'd nesday, while yesterdays game will