The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-31
GEORGE STALLINGS HAS
EXPLODED OLD THEORY
Works His Pitchers Every Third Day
and Team Record Shows the
Wisdom OF the Move.
TwIRIERs ALSO IN ACCORD
Claim That Short Rest Just Puts
Them Into Condition to Do Their
Bcst-Other Managers Likely to
Adopt the System.

George Stallings. OF the Braves, has
shot full of holes the old theory that
n pitcher must have four or i've days
sistent baseball.
| For nearly two months Stallings has
worked only three pitchers-Rudolph,
Tyler and James. On occasions. when
double headers came along, he worked
fourth pitcher, but he hasn't deviated
much from his plan of sending each
member of his star trio into battle
every third day.
What's been the result? Well, gnze
upon the position the Braves occupy
now, and then recall the fact that they
were down In the cellar position be-
fore Stallings decided 10 put the every
th!rd-day plan into use.
StallinGs figures that pitcher
reaches his best form when worked
every third day. He seems to be
right No set of pitchers have dis
played greater form over two months'
stretch than has that wonderful trio
that he is toting around
pitchers arm feels bit STIFF the
DAY after he has worked full game
said Sta!lings, but rest on that day
and rest and massage on the second
day afterwards brings the arm around
I
third day his arm is In fine shape again.
and with little workout it's ready for
duty.
Il have found that giving n pitcher
four or five days rest isn't the best
thing for him-and my boys bear ire
out In this. They tell mo that waiting
-FOUR or nve days between games gives
the muscles of their arms chance to
slip back 10 certai softness and puts
them out of condition temporarily. II
usually takes a pitcher four or five
innings. after n long rest. before his
arr" Is going right and by that time
the opposition may have hammered
MIN often enough 10 get safe lead.
My three great pitchers are thor
onghly in accord with my plan of
WORKING them every turee days They
say it's the best thing for them. Al
!rSt, when tried the experiment.
thought they might think it too great
strain on them but they tell me now
that instead Of hurting their pitching
! il helps them. because 1t Keeps them
in good shape right along and gives
them no chance TO get stale or out of
condition.
Many persons are predicting that
my trio OF pitchers Will crack They've
been predicting /; ever since put that
every third day plan into execution.
But my boys haven't cracked, and thcv
aren't going "a crack. Working a
pitcher every third day isn't overworl<
ing him, and | venture tho opinion that
the success OF my plan will cause many
other managers 10 adopt II next yeor.
1t strikes me as II lot of bunk that
pitchers who work about every four or
five days. should complain about what
a severe strain 1t is on their arms to
pitch full game as often as that. A
pitcher during an ordinary game will
throw from ll5 to 1875 balls during nine
innings. Some pitchers throw more
and some less. During warming up ex-
ercises they Will throw nearly that
many, and never think anything about
IT.
Pitching full game will use up
mans arm up TO a certain extent
and make rest necessary. But three
days is enough, according to James.
Rudolph and Tyler. who have titled out
the plan and who have demonstrated
its virtues They have pitched shut
out ball and small-hit games almost
day after day. Why? Because they
are great pitchers in the first place.
and because by working every third
day they have kept their arms in the
! pink OF condition"