The Washington times., 1934-03-19
KEPT
FROM DRILLS
BY PAINS
BY GARRETT WATERS
Times Staff Correspondent

Times Staff Correspondent
BILOXI, Miss, March 19.-The
best chance of his career retarded
by an attack of lumbago.
That's the situation surround.
ing Ed Chapman, rookie pitcher.
today as the training camp hours
of the Griffmen keep going on
and on while his lot is to sit back
and idle.
What to do about it the young
pitcher can't figure out at this
time, for regardless of how hard
he's tried to rid himself Of the
ailment, failure has blocked his
every effort.
When the strain hit his back
several days ago, Trainer Mike
Martin prescribed short period
of rest-thinking that was the
best line to follow.
Chapman tried this and found
to his dismay that it wasn't doing
him a particle of good. Trainer
Mike Martin then resorted to
treatments, such as rub downs.
baking by the baking machine,
more rub downs and more rest.
Still little improvement was noted
in the hurler's condition.
Chances Fade
Today, the former Rochester
mound artist is visioning his
chances of making the big league
grade this year fade into a sad
and dismal horizon. For he knows
he can't show Bosses Griffith and
Cronin that he should be consid-
cred as a prospect unless he is out
there on the diamond every day
pitching his head off.
Chapman has been under the
weather for almost 10 days now.
He contracted his ailment just
before the end of the first weeks
practice and has been OF little
use to himself and club since.
He tried last MolCay to pitch.
feeling a little better, but the
very next day was forced to the
sidelines again as the bothersome
pains kept him from raising his
arm.
Club officials, as we'll as the
youngster, held high hopes today
that the unusual ailment will
have cleared up within the next
So hours. If such does come
about, the kid will have plenty Of
time to work himself into a berth
with the Griffmen this year.
To Garry Nine Hurlers
If the ailment continues 10
keep the pitcher low, it will mean
that the chances of one of the
other hurlers of the rookie group
will be strengthened that much
because the Griffmen plan to
carry nine pitchers this season
besides the supposed set sextet
of Alvin Crowder, Earl Whitehiu,
Walter Stewart, Monte Weaver
Jack Russell and Tommy
Thomas.
And while on this subject, the
rockies Ray Prim, Eddie Linke
and Alec McColl 1--WE will call him
a rookie here), appear to have
the greatest chances Of forming
the trio to be carried by the
Griffs, providing Chapman isn't
one of the charmed list.
Working Heads Off
All three have been working
their heads off in the daily drill
sessions, particularly Prim and
Linke, who have practiced end
lessly to better their respective
styles of pitching-which have
been somewhat off form accord
ing to camp experts including
President Clark Griffith, Manager
Joe Cronin and the board OF
strategy staff, consisting Of catch
ers Moe Berg and Luke Sewell and
Coaches Nick Altrock and AL
Schacht.
McColl has worked very easily
so far, but has impressed all the
while. The rookie-veteran knows
something about training because
Of his experience in professional
baseball and the camp experts are
letting him use his own methods
noting nevertheless his promise
and chances of becoming one Of
the members Of the teams pitch
ing staff.
In the meanwhile, Chapman,
1umbago and all, is hoping that
his unfair" ailment will leave
him as soon as possible. It must,
too, if his chances Of making good
mean anything. And is the big lad
hAToiyon ssNLIou1D