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Show WARMING UP BIG ITEM TO HURLER One of Most Vital Points to Pitcher's Success. One of the performances most vital to pitcher's success is the stunt of getting warmed up properly Just before be-fore the start of the game. Too many pitchers look lightly upon the task. To the careless type of pitcher, the wanning up is merely n matter of going through a certain routine rou-tine to limber up his arm. To the student stu-dent It Is of a more serious nature, as he never falls to go about it sys- ' tematically F.nd scientifically. The pitrlier who warms up In a haphazard fashion neglects his control entirely. Perhaps, on the last half dozen pitches he tries to get his curve and fast one over the center of the plate. Isn't It reasonable to suppose that If he makes an effort to get every pitch over during the limbering-up period, his control will be much bettei from the beginning? There Is a certain type of pitchei that finds the first and second Innings L.'r s . J :.; i . ! V ; V . i .. . 1 . - t -J - - ' Grover Cleveland Alex.ineer. like stumbling blocks In his path. If he call get by the first two rounds, he can Heady down and go the route. P.all players on the defense would much rather see a clean base hit made off their pitcher than the gift of base on balls. "Keep ahead of the baiter." Is the constant mlvice of major league Infieblers to wildly Inclined In-clined pitchers, which l.s a plea to keep the batter In the hole. Ty Cobb often itsp'.ostcd some of his pitchers to warm up with a batsman standing at the plate. In order to Induce In-duce better control. The old custom of warming up without n batsman. Is all right If the pitcher endeavors to put the ball In spots through the strike area. Otherwise he Is tossing opportunity oppor-tunity to the winds. The great pitchers, like Johnson. Alexander and Vr.nce, attempt to get the bull over ihe plate during the warm-up period. About fifteen or twenty minutes should be taken for this Important task. In nccord. of course, with the pitchers' limitations. If he Is a speed ball pitcher, h should start slowly till his min Is thoroughly loosened, before using high speed. In the case of n slow ball or medium speed worker, there Is less danger of Injuring the arm. and therefore, only tbo minimum amount of time Is necessary In which to prepare pre-pare himself. Try to get every hall over. Control first ; then the othei pitching essentials will follow rapidly. |