The Washington herald., 1914-08-30
|STALLINGS MAKES
PITCHERS WORK
Boston Braves Leader Sends
Regular Hurler to Mound
Every Third Day.
REACH THEIR BEST FORM
Pitching of Rudolph. Tyler, and James
Upholds New Theoy-Five
Days Rest Hurts.

New York Aug. 9.-George Stallings,
OF the Braves. has shot full Of holes the
old theory that q pitcher must have four
or five days rest between labors 80 as to
pitch consistent baseball.
For nearly two months StaIlings has
worked only three pltchers-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. gaze
upon the position the Braves occupy now
and then recall the fact that they were
down in the cellar position before Stall
Hngs decided to put the every-third-day
plan into use.
Reach Best Form.
StaIlIngs figures that a pitcher reaches
his best form when worked every third
day He seems to be right. No set of
pitchers have displayed greater form
over a two months stretch than has that
wonderful trio that he Is toting around.
"a pitchers arm feels a bit sti1 the
day after he has worked a full game"
said Stallings, but rest ont hat day and
rest and massage on the second day af-
terward brings the arm around in fine
his arm II In fine shape again. and with
a little workout It's IN shape for duty.
II have found that giving a pitcher four
or i've days rest isn't the best thing for
him-and my boys bear me out in this.
They tell me that waiting four or hve
days between games gives the muscles OF
their arms a chance to slip back 10 a
certain softness and puts them out Of
condition temporarily. II usually tax 3 a
pitcher four OF five innings. after a long
rest. before his arm is going right and
hammered him often enough 10 get safe
lead.
Approves His Plan.
NY three great pitchers ave thorough
" in accord with my plan Of working
them every three days. They say it's
the best thing for them. At first. when 4
tried the experiment I thought they
might think Il too great a strain on them.
but they tell me now that instead Of hurt
Ing their pitching II helps them because
It 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 IL ever since I put that
every-third-day plan into execution But
my boys haven't cracked and they aren't
going TO crack. Working a pitcher every
third DAY isn't overworlCinE him, and I
venture the opinion that the success Of
my plan will cause many other managers
to adopt II next year.
1t strikes me as a lot OF bunk that
pitchers. who work about every four or
FIVE days. should complain about what a
severe strain It Is on their arms to pitch !
a fun game as often as that. A pitcher
during an ordinary game will throw |
from ll5 10 135 balls during nine innings. |
Some pitchers throw more and some less. !
During warminE-up exercises they will |
throw nearly that many and never think
anything about II.
pitching a fun game will use UP a !
mans arm up TO a certain extent and !
make a rest necessary But three DAYS Is f,
enough, according TO James. Rudolph. /
and Tyler, who have tried out the plan !
and who have demonstrated its virtues |
they have pitched shut-out hail and |
small-hit games almost day after day |
Why? Because thev are great pitchers In |
he first place and because bv working !
every third day they have Kept their |
arms in the pink Of condition"