The transition is coming faster than originally scheduled, but it is coming in fits and starts. Brad Bergesen was the first plug-in, and he has been an unqualified success. Nolan Reimold came next and got himself named American League Rookie of the Month for June, but he has slumped recently and was held out of the starting lineup Saturday night because manager Dave Trembley feels that he's pressing. Wieters arrived in late May and struggled out of the box before getting more comfortable at the plate.
The Orioles also have brought up Jason Berken and David Hernandez as they phased veterans Adam Eaton and Mark Hendrickson out of the rotation, and now have promoted about a quarter of the major league roster from Triple-A Norfolk since Opening Day. The fans who are clamoring for them to "Play the kids!" are getting their wish, and the transition could accelerate over the next few weeks.
It could speed up considerably if MacPhail decides to aggressively market veterans Aubrey Huff, George Sherrill and trade-restricted Melvin Mora before the July 31 deadline for making deals without waivers, but that would just exacerbate the club's competitive ebb and flow.
The team would get a lot younger and, over the short term, probably less able to go toe-to-toe with the other four teams in the AL East, but it would also begin to assume the form it will take for the foreseeable future. If the chatter on the blogs and message boards is any indication, the fans are ready for that to happen, but the team runs the risk of discouraging them further with another late-season swoon.
That's what MacPhail has said he wants to avoid, which puts him on a tightrope that is being pulled in both directions.
Listen to Peter Schmuck weeknights at 6 on WBAL (1090 AM) and check out "The Schmuck Stops Here" at baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog.
