The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-06

Johnny Dobbs had a cruel awaken ing from his dream that four twirl- CTS could stand the pace of the South ern league and has recalled Rube I<issinger. Johnnys action means that he will be forced from the coaching line and that the Pei offense will have to be directed from the bench.
 That Dobbs regards this as ca lanlity for his team is indicated by his vail in announcing that he would be forced to add another pitcher to his crew. Johnnys original intention was to carry staff of five, but when Dixie Walker jumped the team with out warning and accepted a com mercial job in a Little Louisiana town the Pei chief decided to stick 1t through if he could Pitching talent IS scarce as hens teeth just at present, anyway, and he didn't see anything on the market that particularly LOOK his eye. His staff at that tune was going we'll Smith, Brenton and Wal ker were going we'll while Dillinger showed promise. Then came the debacle and the Pels struck such ter rife reels that Johnny was forced overheard as a life preserver
 ..The pace in this league is too fast for four pitchers to stand the pur- den that must necessarily fall upon them" declared Johnny in asking waivers on himself. There Is nothlng left for me to do but get another pitcher and hustle back to the dug out.
 Directing play from the bench is far more complicated than from the coaching lines. Delivering a message for yourself and having it delivered for you are two different things There's time lost and opportunities gone when it's necessary to pass the word along.
 There are times, of course, when I believe that four pitchers could go the route. Men like Marshall, Smith, big strong fellows, who don't need much rest, could win pennant. But it's hard to get four fellows who can go in and win without the proper amount of rest. I hate to quit coach- ing, but this 14-player limit has driven me back to the bench. "
 
 At the league meeting when the rule was adopted it was reported, al- though nobody would even discuss the matter, that the regulation was aimed at the Pel manager and that it was framed to accomplish the very thing that it has done. Be that as it may, Julium Heinemann made the welkin ring with his protests against such action last December and again in Atlanta, but he was hopelessly out voted. The coaching of Dobbs, as fans who have seen the peppery man. ager on the firing line here will testi- fy has done much to keep the Peii- cans on their toes and strictly in the fight. It is early to predict that the loss of this coaching will knock the birds out of the race, but it is undeniably true that it will have deleterious effect on the teams play There are whispers, too, that there have been other factors in the slump of the Pels aside from the injury to Pete Allison and the loss of Dobbs. The report has been heard that Dixie Walker is not on speaking terms with other members of the team and that there are other cliques. If this is true and personally we doubt it, it is a ready explanation of the trouble Dobbs has been having. Internal feeling will do more damage to a ball club in shorter time than any other single thing possible.
 Elmer Ponder came through with another win yesterday afternoon and one that will be particularly gratify- ing to him because it was against the Chattanooga team. The last time Ponder appeared against the Lookouts he allowed them but four hits. Arthur Johnson made his initial appearance in Chattanooga uniform and he was plastered with horseshoes. The Barons couldn't score and the big Swede won two and nothing. Yester- day Ponder duplicated his feat of being stingy with the bingles, while hls associates secured 10 hits which counted for eight runs The boys played another errorless game. too which augurs well for the future. If only the pitchers would get into consistent form
 Speaking of pitchers Manager Molesworth sent an S. O. S. to John McGraw of the Giants for help, but got little results. McGraw wrote
 
 ceived Molesworth's message he had 26 other appeals for twirlers from minor league clubs There certainly must be some famine for shooters this season, and if other leagues are like the Southern it is likely to grow.
 Kid Elberfeld announces that he is through with his shifting and proposes to win the pennant with his present combination. His latest and final move was the reinstate- ment of Joe Martina, who was driven out by overwork. and the release of Jim Allen to Mobile. Charley Schmidt let Lefty Harris, the Albuqurque semi-pro., go to make room for Allen. Harris looked promising in action against the Barons. but the bloom failed to bear out the bud. Elberfeld's staff now consists of Martina, Covington Johnson. Walker and Marshall. All have been doing we'll and if they continue to perform as they have in the past the Kid is going to be a factor in the race. Schmidt was well pleased over the acquisition of Allen. as he had been crazy to se- cure him since he set the Gulls down with two hits early in the season.
 Roy Ellam is not escaping the jinx unscathed, as Floyd Kroh, one of his steadies, is out of comms ssion