Koji Uehara

When Koji Uehara, the Orioles' first dip into the Asian talent pool, arrived in Baltimore in 2009, one of my favorite things to watch that season was Koji interacting with his new Orioles teammates, especially the awkward high fives like the one pictured above (a photographer snapped that one last August). In my defense, should-have-been relievers Mark Hendickson and Alfredo Simon and the immortal Adam Eaton joined Uehara in the Opening Day rotation that year, so pretty much any distraction from the actual baseball part was quite welcome.

Chris Davis' astonishing start to this season hasn't occurred by accident. Through 12 games, he's putting up numbers that are only fit for video games. But it's the result of the 27-year-old Orioles first baseman's realizing that he can truly get more with less. It's a result of countless discussions that Davis has had in the indoor batting cages with hitting coach Jim Presley, who told Davis to look at his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame and realize he could hit homers without having to muscle a ball out. And it's the result of knowing he's going to be in the lineup every day - that's he's here in the big leagues to stay as a key piece of the Orioles and their success.

Despite it being the club's primary strength last season, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has not ruled out the possibility of improving his bullpen - and one consideration is a reunion with popular former Oriole right-hander Koji Uehara. The Orioles have already met with Japanese free agent closer Kyuji Fujikawa, who would be a set-up man in the majors, and they are at least considering other late-inning relievers, including Uehara, who played with the Orioles from 2009 until he was dealt away in July 2011.

Chris Davis was one of the hottest hitters in baseball in the first week of the season, though he has cooled off over the past couple of games. Still, his historic four-game start to the season probably prompted casual sports fans across the country to ask themselves, “Who is this Chris Davis guy and where did he come from?” Well, everyone here in Baltimore knows that the Orioles acquired him from the Texans Rangers before the trade deadline in 2011. But Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has shared some interesting details from the deal . As it turns out, the Orioles more or less bought the slugging first baseman from the Rangers for $2 million.

— Not wanting to take any chances with a 35-year-old who has an extensive injury history, there was a time earlier this season when the Orioles wouldn't pitch Koji Uehara on back-to-back days. But not only has Uehara's role changed — from setup man to closer — but so has his workload. Uehara pitched in six of his team's past eight games before he was given the afternoon off in the Orioles' 6-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers today. With Uehara unavailable, Orioles manager Buck Showalter never had to tip his hand on whom he would have used in a save situation because the Tigers scored five times in the eighth inning to turn a one-run deficit into a four-run lead.

Koji Uehara might not be the same pitcher he was several years ago, but he can still be an effective member of a major league rotation, according to Japan's most famous American baseball personality. It's tough to gauge whether a Japanese player can make the transition to the major leagues until it happens, said Bobby Valentine, the former big league skipper and player who manages the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League. But Valentine believes Uehara, who is expected to take a physical early next week in Baltimore before his two-year, $10 million contract with the Orioles is announced, is a smart investment for a club that desperately needs starting pitching.

— The Orioles' plan before the season began was to pitch Koji Uehara late in games, allow him to face both left-handed and right-handed hitters, and occasionally use him for multi-inning outings. It's taken about four months for Uehara to settle in that role, but it's proven to be a good fit. Not experiencing any problems with his right elbow, the right-hander has posted an 0.61 ERA and struck out 15 in his last 12 appearances spanning 14 2/3 innings. He threw two shutout innings and retired six of the seven hitters that he faced in the Orioles' 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday and he's now strung together 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

Chris Davis was one of the hottest hitters in baseball in the first week of the season, though he has cooled off over the past couple of games. Still, his historic four-game start to the season probably prompted casual sports fans across the country to ask themselves, “Who is this Chris Davis guy and where did he come from?” Well, everyone here in Baltimore knows that the Orioles acquired him from the Texans Rangers before the trade deadline in 2011. But Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has shared some interesting details from the deal . As it turns out, the Orioles more or less bought the slugging first baseman from the Rangers for $2 million.

Koji Uehara had a history of leg problems, so Japanese reporters were not surprised he was getting treatment yesterday for a hamstring strain. He says he'll have plenty of time to build his stamina for the regular season. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog)

Wed Yankees, 7:05 p.m., MASN Starters: Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang (8-2. 4.07 in 2008) vs. Koji Uehara (6-5, 3.81 for Yomiuri Giants) Thu Yankees, 1:35 p.m., MASN Starters: Yankees' A.J. Burnett (18-10, 4.07) vs. Alfredo Simon (0-0, 6.23) Fri Rays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Rays' Andy Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38) vs. Mark Hendrickson (7-8, 5.45) Sat Rays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Rays' TBA vs. Guthrie (1-0, 4.50 in 2009) Sun Rays, 1:35 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Rays' TBA vs. Uehara

Let's agree that the Orioles are saying all the right things as they get ready for Tuesday's season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. They're saying last year's 93 wins were no fluke. They're saying they're hungrier than ever after finishing second in the American League East and making the playoffs for the first time since 1997. They're saying all this talk about "regressing to the mean" is hogwash and they'll be better than ever with all their experience and with Brian Roberts and Nolan Reimold back.

Tommy Hunter, the Orioles' affable and outspoken right-hander, has a simple plea for team management as it begins to craft the 2013 roster. "I don't want to go anywhere. Don't trade me away. That's all I am asking," Hunter says with a smile, ratcheting up his voice an octave for wistful effect. "I don't want to leave. I like Baltimore. I like the city. This is a good fit. The guys are good and they bring in people that care. " No question Hunter cares. As goofy as he can be off the field, he's the opposite on it, a fierce competitor who, like most young pitchers, sometimes can be his worst enemy.

How much is a good closer worth? Well, the Orioles believe $6.5 million. That's what Jim Johnson will receive for 2013 after notching a league-leading and franchise best 51 saves last year. Who knows if the 29-year-old Johnson will be able to repeat his tremendous performance this season? It certainly won't be easy. And there are a whole lot of people out there that think big money for a closer is a waste given the volatility of the position and the success achieved by non-closers when thrust into the role.

Despite it being the club's primary strength last season, Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has not ruled out the possibility of improving his bullpen - and one consideration is a reunion with popular former Oriole right-hander Koji Uehara. The Orioles have already met with Japanese free agent closer Kyuji Fujikawa, who would be a set-up man in the majors, and they are at least considering other late-inning relievers, including Uehara, who played with the Orioles from 2009 until he was dealt away in July 2011.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Chris Davis was on the roster of two Texas Rangers teams that eventually went to the World Series. He didn't make the postseason cut in 2010 and was traded to the Orioles halfway through 2011. On Friday, he'll play the first big league postseason game of his career in Arlington, but he'll be on the visitor's side. "It's good to be back," said Davis, who still lives in Dallas and returned to Rangers Ballpark earlier this season with the Orioles. "I think it helped playing here in August to get all the emotions out, coming back to a place that I was here for a while.

The last time Koji Uehara was around the Orioles, he was saying tearful goodbyes in the visitor's clubhouse at Yankee Stadium last July. This week, Uehara was back at Camden Yards, this time with the Texas Rangers, the club that acquired him from the Orioles for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter at the nonwaiver trade deadline. There were some hugs and handshakes this week, but Uehara said, he is a Ranger now. Uehara, the former Japanese star who spent his first 21/2 big league seasons in Baltimore, didn't fare as well in two months in Texas.

All games on 105.7 FM Wednesday vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m., MASN Starters: Yankees' Chien-Ming Wang (8-2. 4.07 in 2008) vs. Koji Uehara (6-5, 3.81 for Yomiuri Giants) Thursday vs. Yankees, 1:35 p.m., MASN Starters: Yankees' A.J. Burnett (18-10, 4.07) vs. Alfredo Simon (0-0, 6.23) Friday vs. Rays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Rays' Andy Sonnanstine (13-9, 4.38) vs. Mark Hendrickson (7-8, 5.45) Saturday vs. Rays, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 Starters: Rays' Jeff Niemann (2-2, 5.06) vs. Guthrie (1-0, 4.50 in 2009)

Chris Davis strolled to his locker in the Orioles clubhouse Monday and was immediately surrounded by a large scrum of TV cameras, tape recorders and notepads. He looked at the media mob and flashed an amused smile. “What do you guys want to talk about?” he asked. “Hitting?” Uh, not exactly. No, in the hours before the Orioles began a four-game homestand against the Texas Rangers, Davis' two-innings of improbable relief pitching in the O's thrilling 9-6, 17-inning win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday was still the main topic of conversation at Camden Yards.

After getting swept by the New York Yankees this week to end Baltimore's season-opening, six-game homestand, the Orioles need to get away, right? Maybe not. The Orioles will open their first road trip of the season - a three-city, 10-game swing - in the House of Horrors that's otherwise known as the Rogers Centre. Maybe the ghost of Cito Gaston still haunts the O's. Maybe it's years of lingering hangover from the end of the 1989 “Why Not?” season. Whatever it is, the Orioles have been horrible north of the border.