The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-24
SPR|NT|NG AID
TO BALL T0SSERS
Tinker Says Leg Strength
Is. a Great Aid to Ball
Players
(By Joe Tinker.)

Funny thing. this spring training
business is. It's uncertain any way
you look at. it, but. Of course. all of
us have to go through 1t.
I don't know that there are any par
ticular rules you have to follow, or
adhere to. A fellow has to use COM
mon sense in baseball, as in every
thing else. and. Of course. all of us
have slightly different ideas about
how to get into condition. AS for my
self. I do a lot of training at home
before report to the training
grounds in the spring, and. naturally,
whatever any man thinks about any
particular thing Is based on his own
experience and feelings.
The pitchers Of any team should
have more work in the spring than
tho other players, for the reason that
they have the most work to do in a
game. and need to be the best men in
the game for that reason. or rather,
the strongest. I should a y
Long Runs Not Helpful.
l do not believe in any long runs
for n ball player, for he does not
have that kind of stuff in a game.
What a ball player needs. as q fighter
lieve pitchers should run the bases all
the time. and get used to this. This
is necessary. SO that when they get
on bases In q game they would not
be worn out If they should run around
and score a run.
You take a pitcher that is all tired
out by making a run for instance, and
he Is In no shape to pitch the next
inning. He is almost sure to lose his
control. and that is what a HEAVIER
needs In a game more than anything
else. This weakness Of many young
pitchers is often due to being winded
after running the bases. and probably
II more of them would condition
themselves properly before going into
a game they would stick.
Strength Aid to Pitchers.
MatheWson. Walsh. Brown and the
other great pitchers have had plenty
OF experience but reason for their
success is that they are strong. Their
legs are good and they can go through
a hard game without becoming weak.
The young fellows are weak because
they do not run enough. This gives
them leg power and also wind. This
unnin holds good with all of the
players. but is particularly good for
n pitchers. for they have the hardest
work to do. They are always on the
move.
1 think a month on the training
ground is long enough for any team
@ get ready in. All of the PLAYERS
should become acclimated in that time
II the weather is favorable for play
ing. sometimes teams train too long.
Az that. 1t is often hard to get teams
into the stride until three weeks after
me season begins. for no player takes
.ne same. interest in a practice game
as ne does in the real thing.
Chance Gives lots of Iecway.
Speaking of my own club, the Cubs.
Chance has always given the men a
lot OF leeway. Many of us have al
ways been in pretty fair shape when
we started. for We began private
training early. This running is a ereat
thing: Don't do any long running, for
mat hurts your speed, and speed is
the pest asset a player ran have. All
Ball players should be very careful
OF their stomachs. as should all ath-
letes: They should not overeat. An
overloaded stomach makes you loey.
heavy, and dull-witted. and ball play.
ers, o know. must have their wits
WIN them. You cannot go to sleep
IN the big leagues. However. after
the games they need plenty OF rest
good. e 81"
one should be careful about eatinp
I ever ate before a game was some
soup. milk or light stuff, and I felt
better for It. Too much eating hurts
ball players. 'NA''
Summing it up. 1 should saw that
the spring training for bail PLAYERS
should be the same as the light work
TOT n other athlete. Sprint to de-
Nelop speed: go into the work Rradu.
any: eat regularly. and vet sparingly:
90 not orerwork yourself the Gr.t
week. and get plenty Of sleep. II vo,,
follow these directions you are boi,nd
to show up right, barring accidents