The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-18

HE BAAN ED
 The Braves present a new problem in baseball. Last spring the team figured 10 run third or fourth, with a chance at second place. Led by StalIings, one of the master leaders of the game. it was always angerous-because of Stallings. George Stallings is an unique figure in the game. He either is much loved or much hated. His men have been devoted to him-swore by him. His opponents hate him. Last spring there was no in- dication of change in this condition. Then, without warning, there was rebell- ton. The team broke with Stallings a number of players were openly in revolt. He lost control of the club. It went to pieces and dropped for nothing to plus two.
 Then Stallings did the right thing He cleaned house. threw away everyone who wouldn't play ball the Stallings way and started a new club. with the loyal vet erans as a basis of his team. Whether he succeeded in removing all the roots of the cancer that destroyed his old club still remains problem, but Stallings is past master of the art of discovering the sources of trouble
 I have not yet succeeded In learning the cause of the upheaval of the Boston bolsheviki. Possibly there is something behind it that might cause another up- rising, but I doubt it. If there is the fault, either, it is with the owners or the management, and no one of the rebel players has intimated to me that this is the case.
 The team has been reconstructed clev- erly. With Jack Henry to help out the rather weak catching staff 1t looks healthier although Tragressor may go into the army and weaken it again.
 TWO GREAT PITCHERS
 The pitching staff will center around Rudolph and Nehf. two great pitchers, with Hughes, may be-great, and that man of steel, Pagan There also are Scott Burmester and Murray but the big problem is James
 James was one of the greatest pitch CTS in the land. He won championship, helped win a worlds championship, sWelled, and exploded. For two years he was worthless, and last year twas out of the game. He is repentant. Vile claims he IS in condition, that he has recovered rom the attack that put him on the bum and he wants to come back. He is 10 nave trial. If he can come even two-thirds of the way back the Braves have formidable pitching aggregation, backed by a steady and very fair catch ing staff.
 Konetchy, the temperamental first baseman, may or may not do. He can he one of the greatest first basemen in the world if he works, and the chances are he will not work. He is not satis- fled for long with anything He is a queer fellow to whom two pats on the back are better than an increase in sal ary. If he was understood" he would be a greater than Chase, for he can do almost everything in the game, and he can hit. Herzog will probably be captain and field leader How he and Stallings Will mix is hard to say. If they hit it off there will be a wonderful combna- ton. If they don't, the Kilkenny cats will seem like a love feast Smith, who led the team in hitting last year, will be at third and there are Rawlings, Coving- ton and Fitz The purchase of Jimmy Smith of the Giants gives Stallings a well balanced and we'll fortified infield.
 The outfeld doesn't seem strong, but at that it is up above the standard of any outfield Stallings ever has had. He never has had a classy outfield and all ways one that requires a lot of switching and puttering around with. This sea ason he will have Wickland, Kelley (two cast offs), Massey, Bailey. Powell and Rehg to butter around with. Bailey and Rehg are liable to military service, so he may have simplified job of puttering.
 THE DETROIT TIGERS
 In military service, 6.
 Liable to immediate call, 3.
 Detroit's Tigers furnish one of the queerest problems of baseball. For years this team has scored from s to 100 runs