The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-10
PIRATES OPPOSITION


 desirable advantage for strong and powerful team
 PIRATES OPPOSITION
 Pittsburg, after tearing the cluos or the western section of the National league into shreds, will find the east different proposition. There is no more strength in Philadelphia and Bos- ton than in the west, but the Giants and the Brooklyns are undoubtedly bet ter clubs than and two of the west, with Pittsburg included as one of the two.
 Relatively the over-sunday coll Of the major leagues finds that the teams are running about to the form that they have shown. The team which seemed most likely to forge ahead once 1t had begun to spurt was Detroit, but its advance has suddenly ceased and the Tigers lag. With chance to swing into second place and grip 1t they sHd back to fifth and inability of their veteran pitchers to hold their advan- tage caused it. The Detroit club is one which has gained through the skill or It's young pitchers, which is some- thing of which no other club in the Amerlcan league can boast.
 ROMMELL'S FEAT
 feat has been accompanied by one young pitcher in the American league which Is extraordinary as well as un- usual Three times the. Athletics have cefeated the Yankees this year and those are the only three games which the Athletics have won from New York. Each of the games has been pitched " itommell. His final effort took 14 innings but he struck it through and won. It is big thing in professional baseball to be able to pitch three suc- cessful defeats against bunch of mauling blacksmiths like the Yankees. Whatever their shortcomings may be. as a team the Yankees pound the horSehide with the furry of steam hammers on a vacation.
 cleveland continues to be the team which sets the batting pace for the west ern section of the American league in respect to getting hits when they are needed. Close analysis of the Cleve.and g. 'res sli It's first sectional rgnt shows that the champions have been tLe best bu.tr b tiers in their circuit. The,r teamwork at bat is four-ply file With ba oh c: eastern pitchers ctn,ipr pl to try to taffle them, the charlLions Will SC. new test which w,.. sh..w whether they are able to fade the pitch StS OI uil trimS ailKe.
 lo the InteI national league, ther, is a pretty ght ietween Newark and Bal more for first place. witn IJewarl- sticking to the top through double head CTS, postponements and other incidents of baseball. Toronto holds on bravely to the first division, but the real ad- vance is being made by Buffalo, which has moved slowly to an even split on victories and defeats.
 Two powerful factors are favoring the Giants. Records up to the minute show that their pitchers are in far better form than last year at this time, and theIr batters not only are making more hits but are batting more timely. ,.
 PIRATES PITCHERS
 Pittsburg's pitchers are working about as smoothly as those of the Giants Gibson with Pittsburg is getting better results from the youngsters whom he has tried than the Giants have been getting from one youngster. New York has staked everything on the veteran pitchers. As precedent goes in baseball, la good start for old pitchers meaEs good season. Hence it is worth while to keep an eye on the pitchers Of the Giants
 The hrd best corps of pitchers n the National league is that of Brooklyn If 1t was not for good pitching, Brooklyn would be trailing in the race for the flag as that team is hitting the ball more feebly than any in the circuit.
 BUNTS AND SINGLES
 They're almost ready to throw over the life raft in St Louis. Branch Rickey and Lee Fohi with eyes uplifted, are singing. Give us pitchers or we sink.
 Tatum, a kid pitcher in Terre Haute. in his first game in the Three-I league held his Rockford rivals to two hits. Major league clubs better set their scouts out.
 It's like old times to see the Giants and Pittsburg fighting at the top for the championship, but it would be old times If the Cubs were in it with them. The American association race has proved that it is in the same category as others so far as picking favorites is concerned. Louisville was nomi- mated to remain in the lead all of the year. but Minneapolis not only put one best foot. but both best feet ahead of Kentucky.
 The old Bald Eagle of the South Shore of Lake Erie has Tilted for half ! century up and down the bluffs spy ing out the landmarks. The other | morning for the first time in it's aerial life it saw championship baseball pennant flying over Cleveland and inn mefiately celebrated by going on a fish spree.
 Marshall, college pitcher. with William and Mary. has been much wanted. Richmond got him. Cincin- nati suggested to Richmond that it might be worthwhile to make trans fer. Richmond is quoted as asking I $7000 for Marshalrs release. The player was signed for $100. Profiteers in Jerusalem artichokes are but amateurs