Evening star., 1933-03-23
BURKE NOT LIKELY
TO retain BERTH
Linke and Bud Thomas Make
Bosses Forget SouthpaW
With Lame Whip.
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

LOXI, Miss, March 23.-
X Now that all members OF
- the Nationals prospective
pitching "big five" except
ing Alphonse Thomas have had
their initial tests in formal COM
petition, Manager Joe Cronin
will turn to his reserve force for
slab service in the wind-up series
at Camp Griff.
Present plans for the two-game set
With the Cleveland Indians slated for
tomorrow and Saturday call for hurl-
ing by Luther Thomas Ed Linke, Bill
McAfee and Jack Russell.
The boy field boss has nominated
the younger Thomas and Linke for duty
against the Tribe in the first of the
gram originally made for them in New
Orleans last Sunday, a program washed
out by deluge.
This squad Of pitchers to 60 in the
last tussling with big leaguers the
Nationals will get until they face the
Boston Braves in Washington April S
now looms as the reserve force that
will be carried into the American
League championship campaign by the
washington club.
A T present 1t doesn't seem that Bob
"A Burke, who has been around the
club since 1927, will be among
those backing up the big five" when
the going gets hot IN the pennant
pursuit.
The stringbean southpaw at the out
set Of this training season was re-
garded q sureflre choice as member
Of the Cronin relief crew. It was
thought he had been polished sufi-
ciently by his nearly six seasons of
experience in big time to make con-
siderable headway and when he re-
ported at camp here in February
time since coming up from the Little
Rock club, those in charge of the Ma
tionals were elated over the prospect of
finally getting lot of good service out
Of Burke.
It was argued that lack Of stamina
more than anything else had handi-
capped the lanky left-hander in his
efforts to make the grade. With his
added weight. he looked a certain Sc
lection for the relief corps
But Burke hadn't been around camp
10 days before his arm went back on
him. He couldn't help the club and
HRRaA CAt1y 4AC COu1kll IlClp 1lllllScl1 Oll
the practice field. In the meanwhile,
Linke and Bud Thomas performed so
impressively they began making those
directing the Nationals conditioning
forget about the ailing left-hander.
At last Burke was left to look after
himself while the directorate devoted
Its attention to- the smart-appearing
youngsters.
YTpKE hoe 1aFf %Ina ~,
- ly, 'tis said-to get his arm re-
paired If possible. Unless the re-
pairing is done quickly and effectively,
his absence very likely will become
permanent. It is obvious that those in
charge of the Nationals now look upon
Linke and Bud Thomas as far brighter
prospects than Burke ever was and all
signs point to the continued carrying
Of these boys by the club.
While Linke looks the goods and Is
getting plenty Of praise from the pow
ers-that-be, an undercurrent Of opin-
ion down here rates the younger
port product. The lad from Virginia
seems equipped In every way to go
ahead He has size. power. speed and
canny pitching ability Thomas has
progressed far since he to.led for the
Olmsted Grill nine on the Washington
sandlots two seasons back
with this pair of youngsters going
great guns, the future SO far as the
Washington club IS concerned doesn't
look so rosy for Burke.
NH,AFEE Is the only pitcher at present
IVl that Burke may have chance to
oust, it appears, but to do this
siss stringbean would have to show
much more than he has-and in q
hurry, too. Since ridding his arm OF
the Slight indisposition that stopped 1t
for a few days, the husky right-hander,
who first gained mound prominence as
a member of the University OF Mich1-
gan nine not so many years ago, Is
swinging into promising stride.
Bill may not have so much as Linke
or Bud Thomas, but he knows pretty
well what to do with his stock in trade.
He made that known last season after
the Nationals picked him up from the
Braves by way of Montreal
McAfee declares he is right" now.
He'll get his opportunities to prove that
to Manager Cronin. If he does so to
the boy field boss satisfaction, it's
good bet that McAfee's name instead
Of Burkes will be hung up on the
board Of washington reserve hurlers.