The Washington times., 1934-03-22
CRON|N TO GIVE
ROCKIES REAL
MOUND TEST
BY GARRETT WATERS
Times Staff Correspondent

BILOXI, Miss, March %.
"The rookie pitchers will be
given every chance from now
on to show whether they should
be kept by the club this year."
This bulletin was the important
talk around camp headquarters
today as Manager Cronin stressed
the work to be accomplished in
the several exhibition games
ahead. Said Cronin today:
"We've just got to find out
what the rookie group can or
cannot do. And I believe the
best way is to pitch 'em in the
exhibition games. It's true, I
could make several assignments
in our regular Yannigan' af-
fairs, but I believe q better
line can be gathered on their
appearances in important con-
tests against such clubs as the
Cleveland Indians, New Orleans
Pelicans, Memphis Chicks and
Others"
So it is with this thought that
Cronin decided today to send the
rockies, Ray Prim and Eddie
Linke, against the Cleveland In
dianS in tomorrow's official open
ing exhibition game of the spring
season.
Prim to Hurl Five Innings
The pair will work the entire
contest unless aid is needed, with
Prim scheduled to pitch the first
five innings, Linke, the following
four, Still, if that aid is neces-
sary, Cronin said today that he'd
turn first string relief duties over
to Mark Filley, the Albany young
ster, here to land a big league
job, if ever a rookie was out to
snatch such a job.
Later on, Cronin plans giving
Mike Radonovich, Andy Sierra,
and Leonard Phillips assignments.
Theirs will probably come next
week when the entire team jumps
over to New Orleans to meet the
Indians in games of Tuesday and
Wednesday.
Then, not to forget Bob Burke
and Alec McColl, whose respective
futures are still uncertain, Cronin
has it in mind to give them i'm
portant assignments before the
training grind is ended, especially
Alec McColl, who has taken things
very easy in his conditioning work
to date.
Unexpected Appearance
To Jump back to Burke, the
slender left-hander, made an un-
expected appearance on the
mound in yesterdays Regular
Yannigan game which the Reg
ulars won by 11-to-1 count. Bob
got the assignment on his own re-
quest even though he realized he
had a soreness in his elbow and
that it would cause him no little
pain to pitch.
Cronin gave in to the south
paws request because he liked
Bob'S anxiouSneSs to work himself
out Of his rut. In short, Burke
knows his chances of sticking with
the Griff men this year are Slim
mer than ever before and because
of the fact, believes-at least he
believed as much yeIterday-that
actual work on the mound might
help him.
Thus, he hurled the last three
innings Of yesterdays inter-club
fracaS and pitched despite the
fact that his elbow panied him at
every pitch.
Today, Bob's elbow was still
sore, but he was enthusiastic that
his efforts helped to the extent
that it won't be so very long be-
fore he'll be ready to "open up"
as he should.
The game yesterday was quite
despite the one7sided
score. Both sides played spirited
baseball while it brought to at
tention the fact that General
Alvin Crowder, Monte Weaver and
Jack Russell are even more
ready" than earlier thought.
Whitehill and Stewart didn't
bear down" as much as they will
later, particularly WhitehiI1, who
was combed for four runs in the
first two innings. But their
"showings" were pleasing on the
whole in that their arms were
''loosened" and their
speed and curves in good working
order for real pitching later.