The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-28
Barons Continue Fight For Cellar
Among the BLeacherite Fair Hits and Foul Chatter Garnered From the National
 Pastime
5ubmarined by the cellar champs!

Submarined by the cellar champsl
 We are almost out of alibies now.
 We've worked em all overtime.
 The boys just simply haven't the punch
 in the pinches and until they develop 1t,
 we'll keep on skidding down the percen-
 tage column.
 The pitchers have just about given up
 hope of getting any backing in the way of runs. The Barons have been shut out eight times already this spring. This is
 enough goose-eggs to last whole sea-
 son. The whitewashes of the other seven
 clubs in the league, added together
 total only 19 Atlanta, the tail-enders,
 have been blanked only four times. The
 Barons have kalsomined their opponents
 once this year, Comstock performing the
 miracle against Mobile.
 Somebody is falling down on the job
 in the hitting line. When we do hit
 there's nobody on base, and when the
 sacks are loaded we fail to bingle. Ot
 course, the breaks have been against us
 and the old jinx has been bowling at our
 heels all season and the umpires nave
 made it hard on us in the pinches. but when all that is taken into consideration, it must be admitted that the power is missing. The good old base hit just ain't there" when the runner is waiting to score. Averages are all right and make an interesting study. but the guy that can bingle once a week with a man
 on second is worth more than two fel-
 lows who hit safely every day after two a,-1 r1,. 70 to score.
 Boss Smith was discussing Bernsen yesterday afternoon. There's a player that is going to improve wonderfully in the next few games," said the Barren
 Proxy. "He was watched by numerous big league scouts in the Texas league
 and I have yet to hear one that didn't
 say he was natural hitter. I'll admit
 that his work, so far, hasn't been of The
 clouting variety, but he'll come around or I'm no judge of a ball player. Bat
 ters have slumps for several weeks some times and the big first-sacker is having his now The fans have been more or less inclined to ride Bernsen lately and not entirely without cause, but these same bugs may be on his side in a few days when the big fellow begins to break up games at Redwood.
 The departure of Montegut necessi- tated McDonald's entry into the game yesterday although the hot-corner ar tist is still hors de combat with 3 charley horse" Jansen was shifted to short This switch in the lineup makes the team look better whether they play better or not. Jansen is a good hitter and if he learns to play short. will bolster the team by his presence.
 Bill Southworth is suffering from q severe cold but managed to make one of his spectacular catches in right field yesterday. "Southy" is hard working ballplayer and very popular with the fans. Red Smith almost broke up the game yesterday when he smashed line drive to third, but the ball shot right into McDonald's hands. Two men were waiting to score at the time and t was another piece of tough luck for the Barons.
 test, recognized Harry Matthews, the of Rip Began, Eva Wilhelm, Slim Sal lee and others, used to keep the crowd going with his coaching antics on the third base lines. Matty is helping | Cholly Frank to get his pitchers in condition.
 Frank has improved his team since switching Sammy Mayer to first and add ing new life in Baldermo Acosta, the