Just the overnight flights, jet lag, and day games following night games makes the travel conditions much worse today than they were in the past. The Golden Age of baseball travel was the era that began when trains were air conditioned and ended with the expansion of night ball and then the moves to the West Coast. The dozens of doubleheaders each year made things tougher, but there were also far more off days to make up for it.

How about playing everyday for 10 days, all of which were at home? Seth Smith finally got everyday playing time for the Rockies. In his 10 starts, he hit .447/.488/.921.

He sat for the Sept 11 game at San Diego "because he was feeling slightly fatigued."

As part of the "Free Seth Smith" movement, I'm disappointed. Seth, you have to make it through more than just a homestand. Now Tracy's going to go back to starting Spilly or Murton against lefties over you.

I'm curious, we have a writer telling a professional player/manager that he is wrong about a simple to understand aspect of his job? I understand if Riggelman took the other side and tried to prop up his sport by saying it's harder than people think. Of course if you really parse down what Riggelman said, he acknowledged the travel and wear and tear there but was saying it's still not the same as playing more active sports.

Now Tracy's going to go back to starting Spilly or Murton against lefties over you.

With Dexter Fowler back, it looks like the OF rotation will include Gonzalez/Smith/Fowler/Hawpe. Spilly's going to be on the bench, even when Smith doesn't play.

Cool, the wiki is back!

That's what happens when you play all out day after day -- and contrary to popular perception, most players do.

YOU LIE!

No way they go all out. I am so sick of seeing player easing up going into a base when they could aggressively turn it and be alert for a bobble by a fielder or something.

But I agree that it is very taxing to travel and everything. Since Riggleman has to endure that part of MLB life right now, I am a little surprised that he said it isn't so hard. I am about his age (he's 56), and I can assure you that living the life of an MLB manager for a season would drain me, much less the added strain of being the Nationals skipper.