Evening star., 1933-03-27
AIS WINTER TOLL
i: HAS HIM FIT NOW
General, a Slow Starter,
Profits From Advice
of Trainer Martin.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

4IN1ANN4A11NAy <AAe1', AvAeAANAA 49,
* Alvin Crowder, veteran
/ slab star, who reeled of 26
victories for the Nationals
to set pitching record last year,
again will be his clubs mound
mainstay if early form is true
indication of what may be ex-
,pected of him in the champion
ship chase.
The General" now has been on the
hurting hill three times in training tilts
and has given a fine account of him.
self. He looks by far the most advanced
of the pitchers banked on to make this
a brilliant season for the Washington
ball club.
Thus far Crowder has hurled dozen
innings. In them he has yielded a
dozen hits and four passes for six
runs. Nothing more, despite the fact
he has yet really to let himself out to
any great extent in his work.
Two Of the six runs made of Crowder
were of the unearned variety. So his
average earned-run yield per nine IN
nings for the training tryouts is 800.
That's better average than the Gen
eral" finished with last season.
Last year for the first time since
coming back to the Nationals from the
Browns in 1880 Crowder got away to a
good start. It was his high-class pitch
ing as much as anything else that kept
his club well up In the race in the early
going Tho General" had his troubles
around the middle Of the season, but he
braced to finish with IS successive tri-
umphs.
TROWDER declares his remarkable
~ success last season was the result
of q marked change in his condi-
tioning methods. A change suggested
by Mike Martin, the Nationals able
trainer
Up to and even through the 1881 con-
ditioning period, the General admits
he did little more than work to ease the
muscles in his pitching arm. This was
SO particularly in his 1881 training 1t
was different with the General after
the 81 campaign, however.
For the 1882 season Crowder actually
began training month before he was
to report to camp In Biloxi. He started
to strengthen his underpinning, hiking
through the country around his North
Carolina farm. Two weeks Of that,
then AL began paying attention to his
arm. A little throwing daily was done
by the General" and in the meantime
he continued his walks. As a conse-
quence, he reported at Biloxi already in
splendid trim physically and needing
little more work to be ready to pitch at
top speed.
IT 1P until the 1881 season hadn't
~ realized was particularly slow
trainer" Crowder admitted today.
"For years had gone through nothing
more than the usual conditioning
course, and every year found it pretty
tough going in the early games. Even
in 1928 when I had such big season
with the Browns (Crowder won 81
games and lost S that year, I was
bumped off the hill plenty in the first
two months. I was lucky in having my
relief pitchers get away with wins.
THAT poor start with Washington
two years ago awakened me, though. I
had gone about my training IN custom
ary manner and figured I would be
right. But the season wasn't very old
before I found my legs weakening and
my arm firing. Couldn't understand
it at first. I had done all required OF
me at camp.
There 1 was, however In poor shape
lust when I should have been picking
up every day There was nothing
could do other than actually resume
training in games. took my pitching
turns. but for more than month l
was throwing to strengthen my arm as
much as I WAS to fool the batters.
came back to finish well. But what a
season 1 might have had, had been
in shape at the start.
~ fARTIN and talked 1t over and
Nl when he learned did no earn
est exercising at all between my
hunting in the Fall and the opening OF
training camp in February, he jumped
all over me.
"'That's what's wrong with you,'
Mike told me. You finish the season
In great form, keep up few weeks
longer with your hunting trips, then
suddenly let down and allow yourself
to get weak and flabby. If you persist
in that, you'll never be able to condl-
ton yourself properly in the time you
have at training camp. You're simply
a slow trainer Take short rest, tnen
get going again in January. It'll help
well, tried out Martins plan pe-
fore reporting at camp last year and
believe me, 1t worked wonders" CroWder
declared. Did the same thing again
the past Winter and was in even nner
trim when I got to Biloxi this time
than I was at reporting time last year.
I feel better and stronger today than
ever before at q similar stage OF the
training season.
Il could do a lot Of hard pitching
I'LL a G