Nationals Manager Says Baseball Isn't "Physically Taxing"

Interim Washington manager Jim Riggleman doesn't want to hear about late-season blues wearing his team down, because baseball isn't even that hard to begin with. Especially when you play it the Washington Nationals way!

Now that rosters have expanded, Riggleman was recently asked about his use of Triple-A players and whether his regulars have lost a step after five months of the everyday grind. That makes no sense, of course, because striking out four times a day and standing in the outfield as home runs fly over your head isn't that difficult. If you're exhausted, take a nap!

My feeling is you ought to be ashamed of yourself if you get physically tired of playing baseball because it shouldn't be that physically taxing. I could point to Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken, Jr. and I think they would be on my side in that argument, but I don't expect everybody to be like that. I think guys need off days so that the other players can also stay sharp, so I won't concede to the fatigue factor."

Let that be a lesson to you kids out there. If you get tired playing baseball, you're obviously doing it wrong! Now run to the concession stand and get Coach another hot dog.

"It's a baseball game; it's not a physically taxing sport." [MASN Sports] Riggleman Says Baseball Isn't Taxing [DC Sports Bog]