One thing I've never fully could understand in baseball is giving players a day off to "rest". Especially this time of year playoff bound managers scramble and try to give a different regular everyday a day off. One day it will be Jeter, then Cano, the Texeira etc.... I guess I just don't see that much importance to it. What in the world is one day going to do for you? Make you feel slightly better for that day or one or two after. Give you some legs back and rest an ache or pain for that day. You're getting thrown right back in the grind the very next day and for a lot in a row to come after your day off. I've played sports all my life and try to compare it to something with me and I can't see it. I know its a grueling 162 game season and then playoffs, but "a" day off to rest?
On the contrary Vito, I think and extra day to let a nagging strain heal up before getting back onto the field may be the real reason, especially this late in the season. Many people don't realize these guys play on average 18 out of 20 days for the season!!! That's a lot of games. It's one thing for a pitcher who pitches every 5th day, but a position player can sometimes use that "day off." I'm sure MANY SLUMPS over the years were in part results of a nagging injury that just wasn't quite bad enough to sit a player yet nagged on for a couple weeks BECAUSE the player didn't sit a couple games and let it heal a little better!!! Look how much better Derek Jeter has batted in the second half of this season. He had a nagging injury the first half, the second half, he's well over .300 rather than .260 prior.
Jeter went on the 15 DL. That's a different story. I can understand that. A nagging injury isn't going to heal sitting on the bench for one day.
Its a job...like any job they get some days off from work I doubt there is anyone who really wants to work 6 mths without a day off...granted they do have the long off season A day off enables an athlete to recharge their energy as well as a mental break from the game.
Hey, if you're talking about the Yankees bowhunter..... HECK, I thought the whole team took the last 3 games off. 2 against Baltimore and yesterday vs. the Angels. LOL
When I am grinding out workouts day after day with a nagging injury, one day can make the difference between my injury getting worse and my injury starting to finally mend.
I believe that. When I used to shoot in NFAA tournaments back in the 70s... I found I needed a day off. I used to shoot for hours. I had a full 80 yard range in the back yard. I found it was best "FOR ME" if I took the day off before a tournament and especially before a 2 day event.. I'd warm up good the day of the event just to get loose. If it was a 2 day thing I'd usually take the day after off too even though I shot a lot less arrows than I ever did in practice. Just a mind relaxer I guess.
