The Washington herald., 1918-03-18
Regulars ArriUe Southern Training Reports
LEAGUE PILOTS
PROTEST. TRIPS
Manager of Cardinals As
serts Two Clubs Violate
Training Rules.

New York, March H.-Several Ma
tional League clubs have registered
protest against the action of the
Giants, Brooklyn and Boston Braves
in sending some OF their pitchers and
catchers to Hot Springs before the
thirty-day training limit set by the
league. Although President Tenor has
stated that this action did not vio-
late the rule. the other clubs obpect,
because It gives the three clubs
named a decided advantage in getting
their veteran pitchers In shape before
the veterans on the other clubs.
When the National League passed
the rule last winter limiting the train
ing season to thirty days. II was to
and prevent the more prosperous
clubs from getting the jump on their
rivals by more elaborate training
plans. The clubs mentioned found a
way around the new rule by ordering
the players to go to Hot Springs at
their own expense, presumably mote to
practice baseball, but lust to take
baths and go through a course Of
physical training. such as walking
and handball. While at Hot Springs.
however. most of the players found
time to get in a little baseball prac-
tice and timber up their throwing
arms.
Manager Jack Hendricks, who is
making his debut as a major league
manager with the st. Louis Cardinals,
has filed a protest against the CLUBS
which have deliberately beaten the
rule. Hendricks says: THE rule was
made to give all the clubs an equal
chance to get into condition. So far
as l know, all the Western clubs n
the National League are respecting II.
But New York, as usual, evidently
feels 1t can do as it pleases. Brooklyn
also seems to feel the same way.
IF had known the rule was made
to be violated" continued Hendricks,
Il would have had the Cardinals out
of st. Louis and down at San Antonio
some tmie ago. The Cardinals, more
than any other club, need plenty Of
time to train. since We must play a
regular series with the Browns, be-
ginning April g."
Hendricks points out that there is
no loophole in the rule which would
enable the Giants and Dodgers to send
their battery men ahead OF the regu-
lar squad. He believes some action
should be taken against the offending
clubs.
Barney Dreyfuss. owner of the Pitts
burgh club. also has protested against
the action of the Giants and Dodgers
in sending their pitchers to Hot
Springs. The Pirate owner is en-
phatic in his charge that the Giants,
Braves and Dodgers have all violated
the rule limiting the training season
to thirty days. and have done. this
much to the disadvantage OF other
clubs.
When the Giants and Braves put
forth the explanation that the battery
men were not sent ahead to engage
in baseball practice. but simply to con-
dition themselves by Cure methods,
Dreyfuss says that this is sophistry
in its grossest form. He asks il anv
one believes that the Boston and New
York pitchers will not engage in
"warm-up" practice. He also asks If
any one is so simple as to believe that
Heinie Zimmerman. Tesreau and the
other Giants did not touch a baseball
while they were at Hot Springs. Drey-
fuss also asks IL any one believes that
all these players are paying their own
expenses for these early Southern
health" trips