Nationals Notebook
Burke Glad To Shelve Offseason
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Monday, September 21, 2009
NEW YORK, Sept. 20 -- Days before Jamie Burke resumed his baseball season, he was actually beginning his offseason. He had returned home to Roseburg, Ore., resuming the family-and-errand routine. For three days last week, he spent time with his wife and three young boys; he did some yardwork; he installed shelves in the garage. "Just to get situated," Burke said.
Then, his situation changed. On Thursday night, the catcher-desperate Washington Nationals acquired the 37-year-old catcher from Seattle in exchange for cash considerations. Burke learned the news and packed his bags. On Sunday, he was in the starting lineup at Citi Field -- his first major league start since June 21.
"Oh, definitely it was a shock," said Burke, who was with Class AAA Tacoma until the minor league season ended. "I'd never been traded, ever. It was amazing. My mind-set was pretty much day-by-day: get some stuff done at home, spend time with the kids and wife -- but obviously, I'll take this any time."
Burke knows to temper his expectations. He went 0 for 1 Sunday with a strikeout and a walk, and he might not get another chance to start. The Nationals have only two weeks remaining in their season. Their primary catcher, Josh Bard, will play most games. And Wil Nieves, hobbled by a left hamstring pull, could be ready to play again by Tuesday. Burke is a short-term fill-in, a mercenary who will spend Washington's lone remaining homestand in a hotel.
Asked about his hopes for his time with the Nationals, Burke said: "Obviously I'd like to share some of my knowledge that I have just from being around. There are so many young guys here, and I'd like to lead them to where they want to be, maybe help give them some advice or maybe see something -- things I've learned from other people when I was coming up."
Another Chance for Detwiler
Rookie Ross Detwiler will get at least one more start this year, perhaps a final chance for the lefty to get his first big league win. The Nationals have slotted Detwiler (0-6, 5.80 ERA) to pitch Wednesday against Los Angeles's Chad Billingsley. Detwiler already has thrown 136 2/3 innings this year, counting the big leagues and minors, prompting caution about his workload in the final weeks of the season.
"I don't know that that will be his only start, but he'll get that one for sure," interim manager Jim Riggleman said.
