The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-30
EASY HAVING HARD
 TIME HOLDING THE LEAD IN MAJORS
Washington ImpresSeS Ex- pertS-BrookIyn Beats the
 Giants Four Straight
By JOHN II. FOSTER Copyright, 1921, by The AGe-HeraId)


 New York, April 2s.-The east is hav- ing an awful time trying to keep to the front in the major leagues Pittsburg in the National and Cleveland in the American simply won't have it. The Cleveland team Is brutal about It.
 Not in two years, yes three, have pitchers been given such deubbing as the Cleveland batters gave those of De troit in an effort to show the world that they are not imitation champions Uhle, of Cleveland. was headed for an individual recorG in batting runs over the plate, and even if he didn't make It he had nos kick coming after sending six men home, three of them at once with q homer.
 Washington did not hold the American lead long but while they were at the top they earned a lot of respect for them selves. None of the American league teams is going to take Washington easy after this. Mcbride. aided by the wise counsel of his foxy old president, Clark Griffith, has discovered that other teams are going after him and the Sen ators full tilt. They can hit as hard as they like said Mcbride, we'll be there this year." 1t looxs as if they may. In their final roundup with the Yankees they had the New York bunch groggy in the first round but Zachary was try ing to pitch a return game in one series and it was too much for him. He started out with speed which perceptbly dimin- ished It looks as if he is the kind of a pitcher who needs his little three games rest between every one that he pitches.
 GIANTS IN DUMP
 The only joy on the horizon of the Giants is that Pittshure was unable to play some of its games because of rain, while Brooklyn was digging a pit for the New York outfit. Four straight to Brooklyn
 That's almost as bad as losing the nen- nant so far as New York Is concerned, and the deuce of it is that the Brooklyns outfipshed their cocky Manhattan rivals In every game of the series. In the first real test of the year the Giants took an awful tumble Very true they will pro5 ably come back but the mischief has been done in this way. The other teams have found that New York can be beaten and they'll see to it that New York gets all that is coming. If there are any trimmings to be added the Giants will also get those.
 Championship races last from spring to autumn but some times they are won or lost in April for the loss on a straight series to another contender in the race may be the body blow. It surely is likely to be, if not more than four games sep arate at time, like New York for is- stance, from the top of the heap when the final count is made.
 PHILLIPS POUND PILL
 The Philadelphia National league club may not win any championship, but if its players continue to hammer the ball for home runs 1t will acquire the Na- tional league team championship for home runs in 1921. Even Lee Meadows, the spectacled pitcher of the Phllies, Is hitting home runs. Twice this season he has slammed the ball for the circuit By the way, he is the only spectacled pitch CT in all the history of baseball who has made two unqualified home runs in one season or two. Ruth can have his rec ord for making the most but Meadows has a novelty record all of his own. with chance to boost it.
 The process of asking reinstatement for Roush is formality. It is not ex- pected that any penalty will be attached to his return. After a ball player has been declared ineligible, either by per- sonal ruling or because there is some general provision in baseball which makes a man ineligible for failure to do something at a certain time, like report lnR to HIS cluD, TOT lilSlAHCe, ue must Stl permission from the highest authority in baseball to return to the diamond
 The national commission once had that power. Now 1t is delegated to Judge Landis. In the days of the old national commission player who simply declined to report and didn't have any other of fense charged against him, was quickly slipped back into the game, because the club which owned him was only too glad to get him and came to terms on its own account. This was perfectly satisfactory to the national commission which held that 1t could not visit punishment on a player when it's own team was satisfied to have him reinstated. The play . s are wondering whether that is to be iSe rule in the future or whether they aSs to DC personally penalized in some way.
 BUNTS AND SINGLES
 No one can understand the St. Louis teams-not even their managers
 George Washington Grant of the Braves is on the market for trades that will bring him ball players Don't want cart wheels of silver" says MT. Grant, in so many words, because they can't pick up grounders nor can they do to the ball what we have encouraged to the fly. I want men worth while." They aren't growing 'em fast on the diamond
 The best game of baseball that has