OAKLAND, Calif. - -With Cesar Izturis headed to the disabled list after having an emergency appendectomy Friday night, the Orioles are prepared to go with Robert Andino as their starting shortstop for the next several weeks.
Infielder Oscar Salazar's contract will be selected today from Triple-A Norfolk as the roster replacement for Izturis, though he would be used at shortstop only on an emergency basis. That leaves Andino, 25, acquired from the Florida Marlins in the spring training trade for Hayden Penn, as the only shortstop on the Orioles' roster.
Orioles manager Dave Trembley said the club has looked at other available shortstops on the waiver wire, and he didn't rule out the team making another roster move, but he didn't seem overly optimistic.
"It's just a very premium position," Trembley said. "There are a lot of teams in need of a guy who can play there on a regular basis and catch the ball. Right now, we'll go with Andino. ... All I want to see him do is make the routine play on a consistent basis. He'll get an opportunity to play. It would be nice if he took advantage of it and gave us something on a consistent basis."
While excited to get an opportunity to play every day, something he never got with the Marlins, Andino acknowledged that he has mixed feelings about the situation.
"I don't want nobody to get hurt," said Andino, who made his 13th start Saturday and was hitting .239 with three RBIs. "Izturis is one of the guys that I look up to, but I'm ready to accept the challenge. I'm just going to try and help this team win and have fun. I'm not trying to put all this pressure on myself."
Izturis underwent a successful laparoscopic appendectomy at California Pacific Medical Center on Friday. He remained in the hospital Saturday but is expected to travel home with the team after today's game. Trembley said Izturis, eligible to come off the disabled list June 19, will be out at least "two to three weeks."
At Norfolk, Salazar, 30, was batting .372 with 10 homers and 43 RBIs.
Injuries affecting decisions
When the Orioles decided to release Jamie Walker on Friday, they summoned Alberto Castillo from Norfolk. He became the obvious choice when Double-A Bowie left-hander Wilfrido Perez (1.61 ERA in 19 games) came down with a sore left elbow, an injury that will likely force him to the minor league DL.
