The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-21
|NAHAf{KzlSSc

While Boreas gleefully plays trainers-from the St. Louis squadron down at Mobile to the Macks, Brew = CTS. Rochester Internationals and BaronS up towards the northern part of the state-fans, driven from their favarite perch astride the old fence rail, are forced to the inside to re- view the outlook for the coming sea- son.
 Joe Dunn and his Barons are well on their third week of spring train ing. and the squad is naturally be- ginning to take shape somewhat. While the infield is still in a shaky condition, more or less, and the cutfield is far from rounded out, the pitching staff seems to be giv- ing no one any worries these days. l Joe Dunn's chief task seems to be the culling off of the excess baggage. and the retention of the proper hurlers Birmingham is being pick ed to have the best pitching staff in the league.
 Southpaws are numerous. and Dunn will probably carry two portside hurlers this year, at least during the early part of the season. At least tive left flanders have had sufficient experience and have shown enough to warrant a trial during the early part of the regular league season. They are Earl Whitehill Baron vet eran of two years service, and Wal ter Stewart, veteran Texas leaguer, secured by Joe Dunn through his old side kicks up at Detroit. Both will probably be given thorough trials during the next couple of weeks.
 There seems to be an abundance of good right-handers Phil Morri- son. veteran Baron, seems to have made hit. Phil twirled a few in- nings down at Montgomery and showing. Worry always has had lots of stuff and his curve ball is said to surpass even that of his brother, John, now. a regular with the Pi- rates. PhiPs great speed has taken something from his control in the past, and Joe Dunn is paying special attention to Morrison's direction this year.
 If Worry can improve his control he should be one of the best right handlers in the league, for he will then have everything, namely, speed, curves and the physique necessary for the stamina to work. With a veteran receiver like Pop" Rc bert son to work Worry. the hefty Baron should go like q house afire during his third season in the Southern
 Rcd Bates is back with the
 BarOns, after turning down
 chance to try his luck with the
 Detroit Tigers. Red is also n
 speed ball artist, and he Is mas-
 tering his curves right well. He'd
 was one of the most consistent
 of the Baron hurlers last season,
 md Joe Dunn isn't worrying over
 the sorrel topped Birmingham
 flinger as the 1923 seasons hears. 
 The tersest and most compliment tary statement a manager could pos sibly make about one of his men is this: "A regular Cn any mans team" and that's what Joe Dunn has said about Plateau Cox.
 When questioned as to just why Birmingham secured Cox from Rochester. Joe Dunn smiled and an- swered. with his usual straightfor- wardness, "Stallings is friend of mine. We needed Cox and Rochester didn't"
 Cox is a big chap, as big as Phil Morrison, and ought to be able to stand lots of work during the com ing flag chase. He hasn't been in any real action this year, but Dunn doesn't need much showing to believe in the big fellow from the Interna- tional league.
 merry battle is on between
 Bill Gray and Tom Daniels for
 berth on the curling corps.
 BilI made a great record in the
 Appalachian league last year
 D loop of few records, but with
 many good words for Gray
 while Tom Daniels looked so
 good in the Sally league that he
 was drafted tout dc suite by
 Joe Dunn and company. Both
 nre being given thorough trials.
 and are among the seven hurl-
 CTS down state with the Boron
 regulars this week.
 The remainder of the team is com ing along as well as could be eX- peeted. Pop" Robertson will be first string catcher, of course, while Tom Abbott is proving willing and a capable worker as second string receierv. Comment of Detroit scribes seems to indicate that Flip" Neun. former Baron. will be retained as a first baseman, thus leaving the Barons initial sack in charge of Herb Brenner, great fielder who shows promise of developing into a hitter. N
 Danny Clark. old time BarOn.
 is at second. hut It is m Inter- csting fact thnt Birmingham has
 filed itn claim with Brooklyn for