The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-16
PICKING PELICAN ! LINEUP APPEARS | ID BE EASY MATTER |Scribes Say Dobb's Line-Up Complete With Few Ex-
 ceptions-OutlOOk
 Is Good

/: The 1916 team of New Orleans has been 9 completed The scribes are already an- nouncing the opening lineup for the Pels when they meet the Barons at Heinemann 1 park on April IA, almost a month off True the Pels have been in practice for almost three weeks, and are now in good condition. Johnny Dobbs has col lected lively bunch of players and there is no doubt but that the Pels will be remnant contenders. Fans are satisfied with the present outlook and it appears that picking the 1916 Pelican team is an easy matter for the New Orleans scribes. The Times-Picayune gives the following predictions:
 PERIOD OF ANXIETY | The spring training season is usually a period of great anxiety, hard work and many problems to the manager of a ball ciub Rarely does the preparatory sea- son pass into the regular playing sea- son of the club and league without the managers having to try many combina- tions, hire and fire many players and generally work themselves into fever 1 of worriment before they get the team l into shape that looks and acts present able
 l Many such seasons have been noticed 1 here in New Orleans.
 | And when they were finished-tnen what? Sometimes the squad has resolved | itself into a team and sometimes into a. group of several men and composed of | so many parts.
 l But this year it looks as though Man 1 ager John Dobbs of the Pelicans will 1 have less trouble than he probably ever | had in his life in forming a real ball olub-one which can be depended upon, ! barring accidents, to go out and win the | majority of it's games. 1 For already though it is still month 1 before the opening of the season, Johnnie has team which, with a little smooth I ing up, should go better and better l throughout the season.
 ONLY ONE HOLDOUT l Only in one or two spots is he having any trouble at all. One of these, of l course, is in the pitching staff. What 1 he has of one now looks all to the good
 It is what he has not that is worrying
 him, for two of the men on whom he | has depended have not shown up yet ] and enc, at least is giving a good imi- l tation of a hold-out. The latter is Buck Brenton, the little | right-hander released to the Pels by the I Cleveland club sometime ago. but Who 1 has refused to sign a New Orleans con tract or to report. Of course nothing can I him and this will be done within the
 next few days if he does not show up. according to Manager Dobbs yesterday.
 PASSENGER TO REPORT
 Rube Kissinger the veteran spit-baller, too, has not shown up yet, but it Is un- derstood that Rube is finishing up some | spring work on his Michigan farm and will be here in day or so. As to- the pitchers that are here. at
 least four, Walker Weaver, Smith and Dillinger, seem to be starting out in fine style. Dillinger, the southpaw, is the l only one of the four who is new to the
 club and though he is still little wild he gives promise of turning out mighty well later on. And if he does he will fill a longfelt want in the Pelican ranks
 Last season the locals won their pennant l without the aid of even one left-handed
 pitcher. They might again, but there is
 no doubt that a good one would help
 The Pelicans' catching staff can be 1 passed by without murmur. There seems to be no doubt about that being good with Higgins and DeBerry doins
 the honors.
 INFIELD ALL o K
 Then comes the infield. Bluhm at first
 Knaupp at second Massey at short and
 Pezold at third. They all look good and
 are working well together. Now, as tC
 the third base job, there is a possibility
 of course, that Freddie Thomas may bt
 left with the Pels for another season
 when the Indians go north. Just pos
 sibility, for when it comes to the thirt l base job, Manager Fohl has a couple O
 mighty good men in Ivan Howard ane
 little Joe Evans. the University of Mis