Evening star., 1932-03-22
BOSSES WORRYING
ABOUT BOX CORPS
CroWder at Present Most
Logical Choice for
Season Opener.

~ nOXI, Miss, March o.
X CreaSeS have etched their
- way across the noble brows
of that son of the diamond,
Walter Johnson, and the gray but
no longer gay pilot of the Nation
ais, Clark Griffith.
AS usual, it's the pitchers that
are keeping Walter from enjoying
his usual sound and somewhat
sonorous sleep. Although the
opening day of the American
League pennant panic still is some
three weeks away, Manager john
son has started doing some of his
extra-heavy worrying over his
opening day pitcher.
It isn't that Walter has an over
supply of hurlers. Instead, he is won-
dering If he'll have any of his regulars
ready to do a decent bit of work on the
big day. Fred Marberry, after getting
in fine shape during the first weeks of
training, came down with an attack of
fiu and has been set back IN his con-
ditioning.
Brown Just Recovering.
Lloyd Brown is just now getting over
the sore arm that worried him, and has
begun to cut loose during the workouts.
Again, there Is some doubt as to
whether he will be in his best form by
April II.
Gen. Alvin Crowder is at present the
most logical choice for the opening day
mound assignment, but, with the Mats
luck running the way 1t Is at present,
the General probably win step in a
prairie dog hole and break leg before
the team starts North. In that event,
Fischer, Burke, Weaver or one of the
bush league pea shooters still with the
club might be given sealed instructions
and sent to the pitchers box.
Brown, who pitched the opening
game last year, would be Walters
choice for the job but for the fact that
the southpaw cyclone has developed a
sore wing.
Funny thing about sore wings
Sometimes they cease being sore in
very short while, again, they might
linger with guy till the COWS are sup
posed to come home, but never do.
And Now lis Bob Burke.
Mention of sore wings brings to my
mind that Bobby (cartoonist) Burke
has one of those things. Burke, as you
probably recall, is the lanky left-hander
who twlrled against Boston last season
for nine innings when the Red Sox
failed to get hit OF his shoots not
to speak of run.
OF course it is hardly to be expected
that young MIR. Burke will be given a
chance by johnson to perform before
the crowned heads in Washington April
II, 1882. Come other April lis and
maybe Robert will get a chance to
enact the great role.
Regardless of the specialists who de-
clare that few more pounds Of flesh
carefully distributed in the more stra-
would make a great pitcher out of q
very fair one, it seems that the one
thing that keeps Burke in a minor
role is Bobby Burke.
The southpaw never has appeared to
be tremendously excited about base
ball. For that matter, he never has
appeared to be particularly excited
about anything. If Burke would ever
settle down to do bit of real work on
his pitching, he might develop into a
real help to johnson. Burke has a
SSINCA d6C 4dot bn1l, bOO0
curve and an adequate change of pace
But he simply can't get interested in
his work.
Reynolds Starting Slowly.
In past seasons, when Grifith has
cannily pulled strings to get slugger
for his Nationals, said "slugger" In
variably developed sinus trouble, a bad
arm or whatever it is that keeps a
slugger from hitting a ball within
throwing distance of the outfeld. Carl
Reynolds, the hardhitting right-hand-
ed outfielder, who was supposed to be
oisc big punch of the Griffmen this
season. has yet to come through with
any Of the power ut the plate credited
to him. He has done little or nothing
in batting practice, and has come
through with only one hit in the ex-
hibition games in which he has played.
Inasmuch as Sammy Rice is hover
ing in the foreground of the back
ground, just waiting for a chance to
sneak into the outfeld, Reynolds is
working overtime trying for his hits.
Griffith declares that Carl will come
around all right before the season
opens, but somehow he doesn't seem to
have his heart in his words.
The Griffs play Toledo this after
noon, with Carl Fischer and Monte
Weaver slated to pitch. Tomorrow
they meet Baltimore, with Springhill
College as their opponents Thursday