David Hernandez

WHERE DID IT GO? From the second the ball left Nolan Reimold's bat in the fifth inning, Nationals left fielder Josh Willingham had no idea where it was. So Willingham threw up his hands, prompting center fielder Willie Harris to sprint all the way over. He had no play. Reimold's towering fly ball cleared the wall and bounced into the second row of the left-field seats, turning a 3-1 Orioles deficit into a one-run lead. It was Reimold's ninth home run, and three of them have been three-run shots.

Orioles right-handed reliever David Hernandez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a sprained left ankle, meaning that his lone appearance on the mound for new manager Buck Showalter was a rough one in which he could get only one out. "I'm more disappointed more so just because we got a different manager and you kind of want to show him what you are able to do," said Hernandez, who allowed two hits, a walk, a wild pitch and a...

In an organization that has been burned by rushing prospects, the case of outfielder Nolan Reimold is a study in patience. For him and for the Orioles. Drafted out of Bowling Green in the second round in 2005, Reimold has progressed level by level. Wherever he has been, the 6-foot-4 right-handed swinger has garnered attention with his raw and consistent power. Now 25, Reimold is in his first month at Triple-A, and he's again making noise with his bat. Last week, he was named International League Batter of the Week after going 13-for-28 with a homer, nine RBIs and a .515 on-base percentage.

Dave Trembley said last weekend in Toronto that converted starter David Hernandez would be used in long-relief situations for the time being, but it took only one outing for the Orioles manager to change his mind. Trembley said after Tuesday's series-opening 3-1 loss to the New York Yankees that Hernandez, who pitched 11/3 scoreless innings in the game, would most likely be used late in games, particularly in the seventh and eighth innings. "I think he's looked a lot more comfortable than I expected he would look coming out of the bullpen this early," Trembley said when asked what changed his mind about Hernandez's role.

This week, the Milwaukee Brewers made a bold move by trading for pitcher CC Sabathia, surrendering four minor league players to the Cleveland Indians to acquire the reigning Cy Young Award winner and pending free agent. They haven't seen the playoffs since beating out the Orioles on the final day of the 1982 season. They're going for it in 2008. (They're also finding out that Sabathia doesn't look any slimmer in their uniform, but I digress.) The Chicago Cubs, trying to hold off the Brewers in the National League Central, delivered a counterpunch Tuesday night by acquiring pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, outfielder/infielder Eric Patterson and a minor league catcher.

The starting pitching woes of their parent club have been well documented, but the Double-A Bowie Baysox certainly cannot relate to the Orioles' problems. For all the talk about Eastern League Most Valuable Player Lou Montanez and top prospect Matt Wieters, the Baysox's rotation has been the backbone of the Southern Division champions. Bowie will start its playoff run tomorrow as a best-of-five series against the Akron Aeros begins at Prince George's Stadium. "There's been great continuity," Baysox pitching coach Mike Griffin said.

A more anticipated major league debut comes tonight, when Orioles top prospect Matt Wieters takes his first big league swings in front of a packed crowd at Camden Yards. The ballpark was only about a quarter full Thursday night for the start of another Oriole's major league career, but that hardly mattered to David Hernandez. The right-hander allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings, and Luke Scott connected for two homers and four RBIs as the Orioles downed the Detroit Tigers, 5-1, before an announced 11,937 on another wet night in Baltimore.

David Hernandez got to Camden Yards early Saturday to play catch and settle back into his locker, but he had to wait another day before his return to the rotation was official. Hernandez will be recalled in time to start today's series finale against the Washington Nationals with Koji Uehara going to the disabled list because of a right elbow strain. It will be the third major league start and fourth appearance for Hernandez, who is 3-2 with a 3.30 ERA in 11 starts with Triple-A Norfolk.

David Hernandez felt no pain in his throwing shoulder during a side session on Tuesday, meaning he will make his scheduled start Friday in Washington. "It went really good," said Hernandez, who had his start Sunday skipped because of a pinching discomfort in his right shoulder.  "I threw what I'd normally throw in any given side day. I had no pain, so that's good. The Orioles expected Hernandez to miss just one start, but wanted to make sure Hernandez was pain-free.

When asked during his pre-game media conference about the importance of David Hernandez's start against the Washington Nationals on Friday, Orioles manager Dave Trembley offered four words. "It speaks for itself." Trembley wouldn't specifically say that Hernandez needed to pitch well to keep his rotation spot and hold off Triple-A Norfolk starters Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta. But the implication was made. What Trembley and the Orioles witnessed in their 5-3 win over the Nationals was the best and worst of the 25-year-old right-hander.

David Hernandez didn't know the exact number of consecutive losses he had heading into Friday night;s game against the Washington Nationals, but the young right-hander knew what was at stake. He knew he had to prove that he still belongs in the rotation. Hernandez, who won the club's fifth starter role out of spring training but has scuffled with his command much of the season, pitched a one-hitter as the Orioles beat the Nationals 5-3 in front of 27,378 fans at Nationals Park.

David Hernandez felt no pain in his throwing shoulder during a side session on Tuesday, meaning he will make his scheduled start Friday in Washington. "It went really good," said Hernandez, who had his start Sunday skipped because of a pinching discomfort in his right shoulder.  "I threw what I'd normally throw in any given side day. I had no pain, so that's good. The Orioles expected Hernandez to miss just one start, but wanted to make sure Hernandez was pain-free.

Right-hander David Hernandez was scratched from Sunday's start against the Cleveland Indians with shoulder discomfort, but he and the club expect he'll be ready to pitch this week against the Washington Nationals. "I got fired," Hernandez joked when asked about being scratched. "I've just got some discomfort in my shoulder. They are just taking precautionary measures and giving me off a start." Hernandez, who is 0-5 with a 5.84 ERA and has lost 11 straight decisions, said he first felt a pinching in his shoulder "almost two weeks ago" and attempted to pitch through it because it didn't bother him during games.

It was somewhat surprising Tuesday afternoon when the Orioles showed up at the home clubhouse at Camden Yards as the same group that boarded the team charter Sunday in Minnesota. As the loss total mounts and the hopelessness rises, it becomes more and more difficult to imagine the Orioles sticking with this current roster. Starting pitcher David Hernandez and left fielder Nolan Reimold, two of the players on the shakiest ground, both had forgettable games Tuesday night as the Orioles were beaten by the Seattle Mariners, 5-1, in front of an announced 12,614 at rainy Camden Yards.

- Chris Tillman saw it coming, but that didn't make it any easier to accept. So as the 21-year-old discussed the most difficult day of his young career, his eyes became watery and his voice cracked. Tillman, who is considered one of the organization's top young pitchers, arrived at spring training as the clear favorite to win the fifth starter's job. However, he was informed Tuesday that the job would go to right-hander David Hernandez, and he would begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.

Chris Tillman saw it coming, but that didn't make it any easier to accept. So as the 21-year-old discussed the most difficult day of his young career, his eyes became watery and his voice cracked. Tillman, who is considered one of the organization's top young pitchers, arrived at spring training as the clear favorite to win the fifth starter's job. However, he was informed Tuesday that the job would instead go to right-hander David Hernandez, and he would begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk.