July 09, 2010|By Dan Connolly, The Baltimore Sun
ARLINGTON, TEXAS —
After shortstop Cesar Izturis started nine straight games for the Orioles and 20 of the team's past 21, interim manager Juan Samuel decided to give him a break from playing in the midsummer heat, moving Julio Lugo to shortstop and putting Scott Moore in at second base Thursday.
"I am trying to take care of all these guys. We have played some long games and it was very humid and hot in Detroit and now we are here for four games," Samuel said. "So we are trying to pick our spots to give these guys off days and keep them fresh."
Izturis said, "Obviously, it is something I am fine with."
Izturis, however, took a seat Thursday while holding claim to an unusual title for the glove-first veteran: the Orioles' hottest hitter.
In May, Izturis batted .194 with one extra-base hit; he was slightly better in June, hitting .238 with four doubles. In seven July games, however, Izturis is batting .360 (9-for-25) with a .407 on-base percentage. He has a six-game hitting streak -- all coming on this road trip -- and has lifted his season average from .218 to .245 in his past 14 games, during which he hit .354.
"I feel good; it's one of those stretches that I'm playing pretty good and everything is going good," Izturis said. "And I am getting base hits when you need them."
A career .258 hitter, Izturis said he was frustrated early this season, but he wasn't letting himself get down.
"You know you can do better, but hitting is the hardest part of baseball, and every time I go up there I try to do my best," Izturis said. "But you know it isn't easy."
Samuel said he could see Izturis' recent surge coming a few weeks ago.
"Probably for a whole month, Cesar has been swinging the bat well, he has hit some balls right at people," Samuel said. "He's obviously getting hits, and his confidence is going up like a lot of these hitters'. And Cesar has gotten his share as of late and he is swinging the bat well."
Izturis pinch ran for Ty Wigginton in the eighth inning Thursday and went hitless in one at-bat.
Unofficially, Tillman up, Bell likely down
The Orioles still aren't making it official, but Chris Tillman will be promoted to pitch Saturday against the Texas Rangers and third baseman Josh Bell likely will be sent back to Triple-A Norfolk to play every day.
Samuel said the club considered having reliever Mark Hendrickson make the start, but with the bullpen getting a lot of use recently and four straight games against the heavy-hitting Rangers, it decided to promote someone from the minors.
"We will probably make the change Friday. We feel like we needed to bring somebody up to start that game," Samuel said.
Tillman, who will be on regular rest Saturday, is 3-0 with a 1.66 ERA in three starts with the Tides since he was sent down June22. He was 0-3 with an 8.40 ERA in four starts with the Orioles.
Samuel also acknowledged Thursday that the corresponding move would be a position player so he can keep another pitcher in the bullpen. Therefore, the most likely candidate for demotion is Bell, the club's top hitting prospect, who has made just two starts at third base and two starts at designated hitter since he was recalled July 1. He has three hits, all singles, in 14 at-bats.
"If he is one of our future [regulars], he definitely needs to play, and we are trying to find ways to get him another game here, maybe Friday," Samuel said.
Favorable ruling in Sarasota
Florida Circuit Judge Bob Bennett ruled Thursday that the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners did not purposely or egregiously violate the state's open-government laws when three commissioners discussed via e-mail the $31.2 million deal to bring the Orioles to Sarasota for spring training.
The judge ruled there would be no sanctions against the commissioners and that the county may issue bonds on the stadium construction project. Two citizen watchdog groups had filed a lawsuit, which held up the bond issuing until a ruling was rendered. However, Sarasota found other funding options so it could begin construction, which is under way.
The ruling could be appealed by the citizens groups, which could further delay the bond issuances. Still, the Orioles believe the construction will be done by February.
"Today's ruling by Judge Bennett confirms the Orioles' confidence in Sarasota that the club has held," said Greg Bader, Orioles communications director. "The club is pleased to continue the progress which has already started to transform the spring training venue into a world-class facility. Construction is under way, and, by next spring training, Ed Smith Stadium will be one of the finest spring training venues in all of baseball."
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