Getting a break at the right time
The All-Star break may turn out to be fortuitous for the Orioles, from a roster perspective, since it allows the club to buy some time while making room for the return of Cesar Izturis from the disabled list (appendectomy). With the break,, manager Dave Trembley and Rick Kranitz have the option of reconfiguring the starting rotation for next weekend, which gives Andy MacPhail the option -- if he wants it -- to option David Hernandez back to Norfolk temporarily without really losing a fifth starter.
Again, it would only be a quick fix. The club may still have to move either Felix Pie or Oscar Salazar off the roster at some point, but Hernandez would give the team a chance for the problem to work itself out. There's also the possibility of Aubrey Huff going on the DL with his strained groin, the severity of which remains to be determined later today.
If Huff went on the DL retroactive to Wednesday, he would miss the next three series and Salazar, Ty Wigginton and -- to a lesser extent -- Luke Scott would probably share first base.
Comments
Make the damn roster move already
Posted by: John L | July 10, 2009 11:25 AM
Just heard on XM that Trembley is getting some additonal time off himself since he's just been suspended.
Posted by: Jason | July 10, 2009 11:33 AM
Why would Hernandez be the one to go? Seems to me Berken could use the time down at AAA a lot more than Hernandez could.
Posted by: Bill on da Shore | July 10, 2009 11:47 AM
Bill,
he wouldn't actually be demoted to triple a. he would be put down there for a few days simply because 1) he has options left 2) his turn to pitch will not come up before the all star break. 3) the O's need an extra roster spot until they figure out who to move off of the 25 man roster.
so, since he wouldn't be pitching before the all star break anyway, it is a decent option as a temporary fix.
Posted by: Mike | July 10, 2009 12:03 PM
Just give the Cubs back Pie and be done with it.
Posted by: cb coach | July 10, 2009 12:20 PM
Now that they have suspended Trembley, when are they going to suspend the unpire who apparently did not know the rule?
Posted by: Nashville O's Fan | July 10, 2009 12:21 PM
Well the ump will have to answer to their bosses.
Interesting moves coming for the Orioles.
Posted by: cb coach | July 10, 2009 12:35 PM
We'll see how Berken does tonight. I feel that if he just can't perform again, especially against a team he has beaten already, he deserves the demotion. That would make room on the roster.
Posted by: Marc | July 10, 2009 12:52 PM
My hunch is that they trade Oscar to a NL team for a bull pen arm.
I would rather see Pie go. He is a valualbe guy as a pinch runner and he has been hitting much better but I like Oscar's bat. I am a sucker for a guy that can hit. They also may need him to spell Huff at 1st.
Posted by: birdfanman | July 10, 2009 1:05 PM
Pete
Why is it that everytime you as much put a comma in the wrong place 20 people call you on it but nobody says a thing about somebody spelling Arizona as Arazona?
Just wondering.
Posted by: TomC From Frederick | July 10, 2009 1:48 PM
He spelled Arazona correctly. Say it as spelled and the Batimore accent applies.
Perhaps more like this Arazonea
Posted by: randy | July 10, 2009 1:54 PM
Two effective starters and they are thinking about optioning one of them? Say it isn't so! To lose an option on Hernandez doesn't make to much sense to me. Pie, not Salazar please
Posted by: NormO's | July 10, 2009 2:21 PM
"Batimore" is one way of celebrating Oriole hitting.
Posted by: Barry | July 10, 2009 2:54 PM
Once again, the umpires didn't know the rules and blew the call. For all those naysayers of Dave Trembley, he was the one who got the call right.
Posted by: O's fan | July 10, 2009 3:23 PM
Please don't tell me Gary Thorne is coming back tonight. Its bad enough that we have to put up with another Oriole team out of contention by the all-star break but to have to listen to Gary's sometimes ridiculous knows nothing about baseball comments also is a little much.
Posted by: Donald | July 10, 2009 4:01 PM
Bring Tilman up. Bring all of the young arms up. He does not need more time in the minors. Jim Palmer was 20 years old when he debuted in the Bigs.
Patience? What patience? I've been waiting since 1997. Enough already. We haven't won the World Series in decades, when we should win a couple every decade.
Posted by: slugger | July 10, 2009 4:52 PM
Norm,
Options are by season, not each time a player comes and goes. Hernandaz can be brought up and down as much as they want, and it only counts as one option for this season.
So this is the right move. He will be back, we just do not need him to pitch until after the Allstar break, other moves will have to be made.
Posted by: Doug M | July 10, 2009 5:16 PM
Since Hernandez got sent back down, does that mean Rich Hill is no longer in the bullpen till after the break?
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Yes, Rich Hill gets another chance to start tomorrow night, but it's because Guthrie is sick.
Posted by: Chuck in Hawaii | July 10, 2009 5:21 PM
Speaking of All-Stars, what gave Trembley the idea that Adam Jones is already an All-Star. His play has not been very good the last 6 weeks, and his hitting style and percentages are headed south. Maybe you need representation at the game, and he is as good as anyone right now on the O's, however, he is not yet All-Star quality, hopefully with consistency he will be as he matures. He has tons of potential.
Posted by: Mike in HDG | July 11, 2009 11:50 AM