Nolan Reimold

Left fielder Nolan Reimold, who has been out since April 30 with a bulging disk in his neck, met with specialist Dr. Lee Riley again Monday and a second epidural shot has been scheduled for later this week, Reimold said. He had the first one on May 11 and did not experience any significant progress. The shots are often given in three segments and he said he is “leaning toward just getting it and taking my chances” with the second injection. “It didn't work the first time.

First baseman Travis Ishikawa, a big league veteran who was having a strong season at Triple-A Norfolk, filed his written request to exercise the “opt-out” clause in his minor league contract on Sunday morning, according to his representation. If Ishikawa is not added to the Orioles' 25-man roster in the next 48 hours - by Tuesday morning - he will be given his release and will become a free agent eligible to sign with any team. He can still be traded during the 48-hour period, and the Orioles had been pursuing potential partners as the June 15 opt-out date loomed.

Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold, who left Sunday's game with right hamstring tightness, didn't play in Monday's series opener in Boston, but manager Buck Showalter still hopes Reimold can avoid the disabled list. Tuesday's off day in Boston will help. Showalter said he's also considering giving the right-handed Reimold Wednesday off against Boston right-hander Ryan Dempster so he can return Thursday against left-hander Felix Doubront closer to full strength. “We wouldn't have kept him off the DL if we didn't feel positive about it,” Showalter said.

Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold, limited to 31 games this season by a right hamstring strain, is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie on Tuesday. Reimold is scheduled to play every day for Bowie, but he will switch between outfield and designated hitter duties each day. The 29-year-old Reimold, who went on the disabled list May 18, won't return to the major league club until the Orioles are convinced he is 100 percent, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Thursday.

Left fielder Nolan Reimold, who hasn't played since April 30 because of a neck injury that required the removal of a bulging disk June 25, is progressing to the point that he could be released from his supervised rehab program in two weeks. And that means he could go into the offseason and work out the way he normally would. “He's got mostly all of his strength back. That's going well,” Showalter said. “He's got X percentage, I'm not gonna give it out publicly, but his strength is about X percent back, which is well above average, so he is getting there.

It's not exactly sunny Florida here today in Sarasota. It's been raining off and on most of the morning. The forecast has occasional thunderstorms predicted for 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. So, yes, there is a window to play. (I love writing window to play. Can't explain why.) Nolan Reimold is scheduled to play in left field today for the first time since March 1, when he first developed tightness is his right shoulder. He's been working up to this point while acting as the designated hitter for much of the spring.

Come on in, people. Pull up a stool. Welcome back. First drink is on me. Maybe the next five, for that matter. I owe ya. We also have a vat of Red Sox chicken in the back that you can dive into. I don't even care if you're working. I won't tell the Boston media. We'll start with an apology. Sorry the bar has been closed for so long. I'm afraid our dormancy has chased you to other places like Applebee's or, even worse, other blogs. We had all kinds of problems in this joint with shoddy plumbing, rodent infestations (I'd still avoid the burgers if I were you)

- Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold was back in the starting lineup Friday after missing one game with neck spasms. Reimold said he felt a grabbing pain after Wednesday's game and then woke up Thursday morning and couldn't move his neck from side to side. He received treatment on Thursday in Chicago and then visited a chiropractor on Friday morning in California. Reimold took swings in the afternoon and declared himself ready to play. "(The chiropractor)

Left fielder Nolan Reimold is scheduled to undergo an epidural injection in his sore neck Friday morning, but it appears very doubtful that he'll be ready to come off the disabled list as soon as he becomes eligible Wednesday. Manager Buck Showalter said during his pre-game news briefing Thursday that Reimold would have had the epidural sooner but for the nagging flu virus that has been making its way through the Orioles clubhouse the past several weeks. He said Reimold's epidural finally has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday.

Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold, who left Friday's game against the Pirates after just two innings with a sore right shoulder, said his throwing shoulder is feeling better. Showalter said he hopes to have Reimold DH on Tuesday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Reimold said he hasn't hit since the injury and has given his whole upper body time off. He's optimistic he can return to the lineup Tuesday following Monday's off day. “I had a lot of time off,” Reimold said. “I had neck surgery.

Triple-A Norfolk first baseman Travis Ishikawa, who was named the Orioles' organizational player of the month for May, has asked through his representation for an early opt-out of his contract, but it has not been granted. He can officially opt-out of his minor league deal after Saturday - and that almost certainly will happen. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter was not in Thursday's lineup for the Tides. “We had requested to their front office that if they weren't going to call him up, we'd like to    exercise the out a few days early, but they haven't granted that,” said Ishikawa's agent, Jim McDowell.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter provided the following updates during his pre-game session: Nolan Reimold (hamstring) has progressed to the point that he should be able to go on a minor league rehab assignment when the Orioles head on the road June 17. The Bowie Baysox are home from June 18 to 23, so that would be a possibility. Wei-Yin Chen (oblique) had his throwing session from a half mound in Sarasota, Fla., on Thursday. He'll throw from a full mound Saturday. If that goes well, he'll go with the Orioles on the road to continue his rehab.

Not a lot of stuff here early on Sunday. Here are some highlights: Taylor Teagarden had no problems with his eight innings behind the plate at Norfolk on Saturday. He is batting third and serving as the designated hitter today for the Tides. If all goes well - and he has no setbacks with his dislocated left thumb - Teagarden could be back with the big league club Tuesday in Houston, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. Showalter wouldn't commit to it, though.   Also on Tuesday in Houston, Pedro Strop (lower back strain)

The Orioles raised some eyebrows when reliever Pedro Strop was seen taking grounders at shortstop and making throwing to first before Wednesday's game. Strop, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain, was signed out of the Dominican Republic as a shortstop and was converted into a pitcher as a minor leaguer in the Colorado Rockies system. But the Orioles have no plans to return Strop to his original position. The drill, which Strop said was the idea of pitching coach Rick Adair, was performed in order for Strop to repeat his natural throwing motion.

Orioles outfielder Nolan Reimold has a slight tear in his right hamstring that's causing nerve pain in his upper leg, a club source said Wednesday. Reimold, who hasn't played since May 11, had MRIs on both his lower back and hamstring. The injury could keep him out for several more weeks. Given his ongoing discomfort, manager Buck Showalter said it would be a “challenge” for Reimold to return from the disabled list when he's eligible Tuesday. Showalter said he hopes Reimold will take batting practice while the team is away for a weekend series in Toronto.

The Orioles announced after Saturday's 10-6 loss to the Tampa Bay rays that they optioned infielder Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A Norfolk. Flaherty, 26, was hitting .133 with a .228 on-base percentage and a .233 slugging percentage in 90 at-bats over 30 games for the Orioles this season. He had two homers and six RBIs. Flaherty appeared in Saturday's game as a defensive replacement. The Orioles recalled Yamaico Navarro from Norfolk on Tuesday and he started the past two games at second base.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Nobody gets too excited about spring training batting practice - especially when the wind is blowing straight out from home to center field - but it was hard not to be impressed with the way Nolan Reimold was driving the ball before Wednesday night's game. Reimold hit one over the 30-foot batters eye in center field (400 feet away) and hit a number of others balls well out of the ballpark. This would not be unusual if Reimold weren't still rehabbing from neck surgery and still trying to regain full strength in his left shoulder and forearm.

Orioles leftfielder Nolan Reimold will go on a minor-league rehab before rejoining the team from the disabled list, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Sunday. Reimold, who has a herniated disk in his neck, hasn't played since Monday, and Showalter said he'd like for Reimold to get some at bats before returning. “I expect him to without a doubt,” Showalter said. “I'm hoping that somewhere near the end of the DL period, which would be the 14 th , something around there, he gets some at bats.

So closer Jim Johnson finally blew a save in the regular season . How long has it been? The last time he blew one Manny Machado and Nate McLouth weren't Orioles. You've got to go all the way  back to July 27, 2012 - not counting the one Game 3 of the ALDS - for a blown save by JJ. Here's a silver lining for you: Even when Johnson blows one, it's rarely ugly. He gave up four singles that were beat into the ground on Tuesday. It's not like they got a lot of lift off a guy who has made his living getting grounders.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Orioles earned a good win in Anaheim on Saturday afternoon. I'll admit that given the huge momentum swing that took place in the late innings at Angel Stadium, I thought it would surely end in an Orioles loss. Having covered this team since last year, I should know better than that. But when you struggle that much with runners in scoring position and you can't take advantage of the start that Freddy Garcia gave them - especially on the road in front of a crowd that grew louder with the Angels' comeback - I just thought the Angels had the Orioles number on Saturday.