Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-03
EDDIE COLLINS EXPLAINS
MACK'S TRAINING METHODS
Spring Trip TO South Is Any
thing but a Pleasure
=" Jaunt.
CONNIE WATCHES RECRUITS
Baker Broke Up a Batting
Game by Knocking Out
Pitcher.
BY EDDIE COLLINS


Rchampion Second Baseman of the Ameri
League)
pW.hen this story appears in prin
nearly all of the major league team:
will have departed for points south II
prepare for the 1914 campaign. After
a winter of idleness, that is, an alb
sence of strenuous exercise such as
characterizes his summer routine, on'
might naturally suppose that bal
player would look with delight upor
a Journey to warm Dixieland and 9
return to his favorite pastime. But
get. this erroneous idea out of your
head The spring training trip Is
not pleasure jaunt by a long shot.
Players Impatient at First.
There is usually an atmosphere OF
impatience on the part of the players,
young and old alike, to get into a uni
form the first day, but after that it's
different
Aches, pains and general soreness
of the body are very much in evidence
on days two, three and four in a
training camp. Thereafter, however,
the going is not so hard
aiThe idea of spring training is, of
course, to condition Che old players,
Try out and develop the others and to
whip the team into proper shape to
begin the approaching seasons grind.
The routine of work which Connie
Mack plans for his men I will try to
outline.
We have two general practises daily,
morning and afternoon. The morn
ing session usually begins at $50,
and that means everybody in uniform
at that time. Promptness is request
ode because it has been our custom
10 Share the playing field with the
1ocal club of the city where we train.
We have the diamond until II. The
locals take their workout from that
hour until 2, and then we start in
again. and continue until or longer
If a game is in progress.
Batting Work In Morning.
Batting generally inaugurates the
morning work. Regulars first and
then, the yanigans, or younger mem
bers of the squad, take their turn up
u
and old take turns tossing them up
easily for the batters to hit
7,T7 Enter Baker-Exit Pitcher.
asst year, when we were in San An
henio, McInnes, Barry and / used to
no off in a corner and start sepa-
rate batting game, as we had to walt
too long for a turn up to the plate
With the other regulars. We had no
trouble getting one of the new young
sters to pitch for us, and we were
doing finely and getting a lot of good
practise, until one day Baker hap
pened to spy us, and, assuming that
II. was an inneld game, naturally de-
sided that he1belonged in it and would
he welcomed. SO he came over. 1t
Was all right until he hit one back
RtHour recruit pitcher, which struck
the latter amidships, and then our
game was over. The kid must have
passed the word around, because after
that we never could get any of the
Juveniles to throw to us as long as
Baker was one of our number.
After the batting practise infield
work by the regular quartet and the
yanigans is next in order. This usu-
ally winds up the morning work. The
afternoon session is practically rep
etition of the morning one, with the
addition of a game between the yam
igans and the regulars, or first one
squad and then the other against the
local club.
No Rules for Practise.
These practises are not ruled with
an iron hand. On the contrary, we
shift for ourselves, and go through
the daily routine more or less as a
matter of habit But do not let me
givesthe impression that Connie Mack
is not in attendance. He is, but as
IS his custom. he says little, but
thinks much, moves fast, and sees
everything
why is it, Mr. Mack" one of the
newspaper men asked of Connie one
day, you do not pay more attention
TO your regular men,
Veterans Know what to DO.
Because they know what is ex-
pected of them, and each one knows
better how he can attain that point OF
physical proficiency than l do. Conse-
quently, do not try to day down any
set of rules or routine of work for
them to follow. AS long as they are
ready April /, am satisfied"
q So answered our manager, and that
rs exactly the line he pursues. His
whole attention is conferred upon his
recruits and the younger members of
the team. When the latter are having
their infield work. he usually strolls
out back Of second base, or, If the
outflelders are chasing flies, he is
right out in their midst Whenever