The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-02
VOLS MAY NOT GET KN|SELYS SERVICE Roy Ellam Will Not Be in Line-Up in Opening
 Fracas

Nashville, March 31.-(Special)-Al- though a rift has appeared in the clouds which have for sometime past encom- passed the flag hopes of Roy Ellam' s Vols, through the recession of Third Baseman Art Kores, from his holdout tactics, enough woes beset the cham pions to forestall any possibility of ac- curate estimate on the attack, defense and pitching strength. There seems lit- tie likelihood that Skipper Ellam will be able to get into the lineup on opening day on account of his swollen thumb, Bill Ellis, the second best pitcher on the staff last summer, has never been Jable to so much as warm up on account of a sprained thumb and efforts to plug the gap in the outfield so far have been foled. xnisely was claimed by waivers from Memphis, but the Chick gardener has been held up and some doubt exists as to whether or not the Vols were suc- cessful in grabbing the Donlin castoff. Even should he come, his arrival in the Vel camp Is not expected until this week. Only behind the bat, where Gabby Street and Moose Marshall loom up as bulwarks on the receiving end, can the Vols Point to a fixture. Nothing can be detrimed about the pitching staff until word comes from Wiley Taylor in Kansas and Ellis being able to get into con dition. The injury to the Piggott pitch CTS thumb is certain to prevent any use of his arm until possibly the latter part of April Ellis was counted on by Man ager Ellam as the mainstay of the slab set and his injury has completely upset calculations, on the rubber.
 Ernie Herbert, last season mediocre boXman, bat extremely lucky at present, Is in prime of condition and although for time efforts were made to dispose of him. the former Sloufed is now counted upon as a regular. His showing against Washington, save for tendency to free transportation was impressive.
 Art Decatur, a recruit last season from Taladega, who was farmed out to Jack sonville, reported a much improved pitcher minus his old fault of winding up in a gordian knot with runners on bases and, in fact, displays more stuff without any windup at all. Gabby Street informed Roy Ellam that he would dc well to carry the youngster as long as
 
 ent clir may yet become regular.
 From the Cubs through the working agreement arranged last winter, the Vols expect to receive a capable boxman, ar infielder and outfielder One thing the Ellamites need most of all Is a pitcher of the calibre of Tom Rogers and ar outfieder who will be able to hammer in as many runs as Gus Williams. While all hope of returning the big fly chaser has net been abandoned the claim or Knisely indicates that the Vols are pre- pairing to fortify themselves against any slip on that deal.
 OBrien, the center fielder secured from Davenport, is an unknown quantity. His ability to cover territory and peg ap pears equal to Southern league require ments but in the past the Three-Eyt leaguer has always been weak agains left-hand pitching. What he will dc against that brand in Dixie has Man ager Elam worried.
 Even though the Vols at present art textremely doubtful factors in the flag race; have thus far been unable to pro vide for all gaps and have been handi capped by wretched training weather Manager Ellam is optimistic over tht chances of his club once they become strengthened out. Help from the Cubs 1! assured and, although the champions ar, almost certain to face the barrier withou the needed condition and possibly witl | one or two places in doubt no grea alarm exists over the ability of the blond skipper to keep his entry in the rag hunt