The Washington times., 1935-03-26


for every other ~
m n on the = ~ -. :.
team" FRANK Buck o'Nenl
Fred came to accept that as
gospel. It became as much a part
of his life as breakfast, luncheon
and dinner. When he smacked
down Tech guard, he wasn't do
ing it for Freddie Sington. That
never came into the big fellows
head. He was doing it for the
glory of the team.
So down here in Biloxi, Sington
is not content with trying to win
place on the Washington ball
club. He is putting Joe Kuhel
through a regular grass drill, try.
ing to strengthen the first sacker's
leg, fractured last year sliding to
second base. He's working on
Buddy Myer to get certain sore.
ness out of the second sacker's
props. And the funny part Of the
thing is, Sington is as modest as
a kid about the fine constructive
job he's doing.
StumbIes On Job
The writer stumbled upon
Sington's job quite by accident.
Naturally retiring sort of chap,
Fred has worked in secret with
his charges. But this morning
just as the regulars were blazing
through a hitting drill, your
agent espied what he thought was
a wrestling match out in right
field. An Investigation was
started Immediately with startling
results.
Joe Kuhel was lying on his
back, his shoes firmly placed on
Sington's shoulders. You've been
around at college football drills,
and have seen the same thing
many a time and often a player
lies on the grass and places his
feet on the shoulders of another
player. The man on his feet
leans his weight on the legs of
the man on the ground, pressing
them down. The man on the
ground then forces his legs up
ward, pushing against the dead
weight of his partner. This gives
leg power, leg drive so essential
in football.
It is essential in baseball to,
for no bail player lasts longer
than his legs. In the case Of
Kuhel, this is the most construc-
tive, most intelligent work, I have
seen on any ball field in 20 trips
to sou thern training camps.
Under this treatment the first
sacker's legs are bee ng
stronger.
Teaches Him Waddle
Not only does Sington have
Kuhel do this dressing with his
legs, but has taught him what
coaches call "the line mans
waddle." Kuhel squats right
down on his heels. spreads out
his arms and waddles along, rails
ing his weight on his toes. It
is working wonders in breaking
down the adhesions which cause
pain in the injured ankle when
Kuhel runs.
The hard infield over at Mobile
raised havoc with the legs Of the
washington infielders. Myer CON-
planned, so yesterday and again
today Sington ordered Buddy down
on his back and gave him a work
ing.
"Doggoned if it isn't all right"
said Myer.
"I notice a great increase in
Kuhel's leg power" Sington told
the writer today. "He favored
the leg when we started this,
but by just going along slowl y,
increasing the length Of the
workout daily, Joe has been able
to get more drive in his props"
ut certainly feels better now
than ever" said KuheI. II never
would have thought Of such
thing. You see, wasn't an all
American tackle like Freddie:
But I've learned something. Les
me tell you, that lineman's
waddle is something that makes
you know you've got legs on
your body"
Now that may have been be.
cause of the workout that Kuhel
had with Sington, or may be 1t
was Just because Of the return to
softer ground on the local dia"
mond, but ascribe what reason you
will, Kuhel looked shiftier and
niftier than he has in several
days.
Able to Shift Easily
He was able to shift easily and
quickly, floating here and there
to get batted or thrown balls.
President Clark Griffith was
greatly pleased with the show put
on by Kuhel and repeated his oft
expressed opinion that any fears
on the subject of the first-sacker;s
leg are without foundation in fact.
There's an open day for the club
today, with a long workout sched'
uled in the forenoon, and tomor-
row the Kansas City Blues come
over for the closing games Of the
1aaaI raae0pa