Notes: Club could use four-man rotation
07/19/2006
BALTIMORE -- Over the next 15 days, the Orioles have three off-days -- meaning the team could use a four-man rotation during that span.
If they opted to go that route, it would keep most of their pitchers on normal rest, while veteran Russ Ortiz would likely be the odd man out. Manager Sam Perlozzo said no decision has been made yet.
"We'll see how we go in the next day or so; we'll see where we are," he said.
Ortiz made his third start with the Orioles on Tuesday night, with his outing cut short due to an hour-and-a-half rain delay. Ortiz has given up 12 runs in 12 innings with Baltimore, and has yet to pitch past the fifth inning in any of his three starts.
Perlozzo said after Tuesday's game that the decision on whether Ortiz will start again is not only his.
"That's pretty much an organizational decision," he said. "My job is to pitch him, if he's here. Until we all sit down and say he's not going to be pitching, he's in our rotation."
The Orioles signed Ortiz in late June after he was released by the Diamondbacks. Baltimore is paying Ortiz the prorated league minimum of $327,000.
One option to eventually replace Ortiz would be Daniel Cabrera, who was sent down to Triple-A Ottawa on Friday and made his first start there Tuesday night.
Cabrera pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs and seven hits. His control had been a problem all season long, and Cabrera walked three and struck out four with Ottawa. He leads the Majors in walks and wild pitches.
"His velocity was good. He still didn't have command of his breaking ball," Perlozzo said on the reports he received. "It's a start, it's a step. We'll get that game behind him and see how he does next game."
There is no timetable for Cabrera's return to the Orioles, but Perlozzo would like to get him back as quickly as possible. Before Cabrera returns, Perlozzo wants him to gain more control with his breaking ball.
"He really should dominate down there," Perlozzo said. "I think we'll give him the benefit of the doubt the first time out. He might not have been totally into it.
"I'm in a hurry to get him back. I just want him to show some improvement."
Another young pitcher the Orioles are watching in Ottawa is Hayden Penn, who is scheduled to start Wednesday. Penn was called up May 21 to start for the Orioles, but then had appendicitis, and was placed on the disabled list the next day. Wednesday would be Penn's first start since his bout with appendicitis.
"The biggest thing for Hayden is conditioning -- from being in a medical situation where he wasn't able to do as much running and getting in the sort of physical condition he needs to be in to be effective," Perlozzo said. "The more time he gets, I'm sure the better he's going to be physically."
Perlozzo didn't give a definite answer when asked if Penn would be with the team before the season ended.
Lineup shuffle: Brian Roberts was given the day off Wednesday, with Chris Gomez making his first start since being activated from the disabled list last week.
"He's probably been the only guy who hasn't had one for a while," Perlozzo said about Roberts. "It looks like he needs it."
Gomez batted eighth, and outfielder Luis Terrero took over Roberts' usual duties as the leadoff hitter. Terrero entered the game 1-for-20 this season with one walk.
It was Terrero's sixth start, and the third time he was in the leadoff spot.
Javy Lopez sat out for the third straight day, bothered by lower back problems. Perlozzo was not necessarily going to start Ramon Hernandez again, especially with a day game following a night contest, but the manager wanted to see what the weather was like and how Hernandez was feeling.
Byrdak throwing again: Reliever Tim Byrdak, who has been on the disabled list since mid-April with bone chips in his left elbow, made his first rehab appearance Monday with Class A Aberdeen.
In one inning, Byrdak gave up two hits and one run, and he struck out the side.
"I felt pretty good," he said. "I thought I threw the ball pretty well, and kept the ball down. My fastball velocity was a little down, but they told me that's going to be the last thing to come."
Byrdak threw a bullpen session in Baltimore during the Oakland series, and will pitch for Double-A Bowie on Thursday.
Byrdak said he hopes to be ready in a couple of weeks, but right now, he's working on building up his arm strength. There is no set number of rehab appearances that Byrdak will have.
"I'd love to come back here to Baltimore, and that's my goal," he said.
Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/
BALTIMORE -- Over the next 15 days, the Orioles have three off-days -- meaning the team could use a four-man rotation during that span.
If they opted to go that route, it would keep most of their pitchers on normal rest, while veteran Russ Ortiz would likely be the odd man out. Manager Sam Perlozzo said no decision has been made yet.
"We'll see how we go in the next day or so; we'll see where we are," he said.
Ortiz made his third start with the Orioles on Tuesday night, with his outing cut short due to an hour-and-a-half rain delay. Ortiz has given up 12 runs in 12 innings with Baltimore, and has yet to pitch past the fifth inning in any of his three starts.
Perlozzo said after Tuesday's game that the decision on whether Ortiz will start again is not only his.
"That's pretty much an organizational decision," he said. "My job is to pitch him, if he's here. Until we all sit down and say he's not going to be pitching, he's in our rotation."
The Orioles signed Ortiz in late June after he was released by the Diamondbacks. Baltimore is paying Ortiz the prorated league minimum of $327,000.
One option to eventually replace Ortiz would be Daniel Cabrera, who was sent down to Triple-A Ottawa on Friday and made his first start there Tuesday night.
Cabrera pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs and seven hits. His control had been a problem all season long, and Cabrera walked three and struck out four with Ottawa. He leads the Majors in walks and wild pitches.
"His velocity was good. He still didn't have command of his breaking ball," Perlozzo said on the reports he received. "It's a start, it's a step. We'll get that game behind him and see how he does next game."
There is no timetable for Cabrera's return to the Orioles, but Perlozzo would like to get him back as quickly as possible. Before Cabrera returns, Perlozzo wants him to gain more control with his breaking ball.
"He really should dominate down there," Perlozzo said. "I think we'll give him the benefit of the doubt the first time out. He might not have been totally into it.
"I'm in a hurry to get him back. I just want him to show some improvement."
Another young pitcher the Orioles are watching in Ottawa is Hayden Penn, who is scheduled to start Wednesday. Penn was called up May 21 to start for the Orioles, but then had appendicitis, and was placed on the disabled list the next day. Wednesday would be Penn's first start since his bout with appendicitis.
"The biggest thing for Hayden is conditioning -- from being in a medical situation where he wasn't able to do as much running and getting in the sort of physical condition he needs to be in to be effective," Perlozzo said. "The more time he gets, I'm sure the better he's going to be physically."
Perlozzo didn't give a definite answer when asked if Penn would be with the team before the season ended.
Lineup shuffle: Brian Roberts was given the day off Wednesday, with Chris Gomez making his first start since being activated from the disabled list last week.
"He's probably been the only guy who hasn't had one for a while," Perlozzo said about Roberts. "It looks like he needs it."
Gomez batted eighth, and outfielder Luis Terrero took over Roberts' usual duties as the leadoff hitter. Terrero entered the game 1-for-20 this season with one walk.
It was Terrero's sixth start, and the third time he was in the leadoff spot.
Javy Lopez sat out for the third straight day, bothered by lower back problems. Perlozzo was not necessarily going to start Ramon Hernandez again, especially with a day game following a night contest, but the manager wanted to see what the weather was like and how Hernandez was feeling.
Byrdak throwing again: Reliever Tim Byrdak, who has been on the disabled list since mid-April with bone chips in his left elbow, made his first rehab appearance Monday with Class A Aberdeen.
In one inning, Byrdak gave up two hits and one run, and he struck out the side.
"I felt pretty good," he said. "I thought I threw the ball pretty well, and kept the ball down. My fastball velocity was a little down, but they told me that's going to be the last thing to come."
Byrdak threw a bullpen session in Baltimore during the Oakland series, and will pitch for Double-A Bowie on Thursday.
Byrdak said he hopes to be ready in a couple of weeks, but right now, he's working on building up his arm strength. There is no set number of rehab appearances that Byrdak will have.
"I'd love to come back here to Baltimore, and that's my goal," he said.
Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/
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