Baltimore Orioles Team Report

INSIDE PITCH Monday was full of questions for the Orioles but devoid of answers. How did Luke Scott's MRI turn out? Will he be forced to the disabled list by a bad shoulder? Who will take his spot? Does promising Nolan Reimold get a shot? The Orioles could go a number of directions should Scott's self-diagnosed rotator cuff injury require a trip to the disabled list. The club could go with Lou Montanez currently battling a nagging thumb injury and Ty Wigginton as the designated hitters, with Felix Pie and Montanez splitting time in left. They could recall a minor-league journeyman like Oscar Salazar (.371, five homers and 25 RBI at Class AAA Norfolk) and let him share some at-bats. Recently acquired outfielder Joey Gathright could be purchased from Norfolk to provide support off the bench. They could opt to go back to 13 pitchers and activate Rich Hill from the disabled list a few days earlier than anticipated. The most intriguing option is to recall Reimold, who was batting .381 with eight home runs and 25 RBI in the minors. The Orioles envision Reimold as a full-time player, which would likely mean the end of the Felix Pie experiment in left.NOTES, QUOTES1B Aubrey Huff ripped a three-run home run in the first inning Sunday, a lead that would stand into the seventh inning. Huff mocked Yankees RHP Joba Chamberlain, pumping his fist in Chamberlain-like fashion as he rounded first base and repeating the motion as he crossed the plate.RHP Jim Johnson on Sunday was charged with his first blown save and second loss of the season, allowing three earned runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. Johnny Damon's three-run homer scored the first run against Johnson in his last seven innings.BY THE NUMBERS: 5 Consecutive quality starts, through Sunday, by RHP Koji Uehara.QUOTE TO NOTE: "For a couple of days there, I pretty much thought that I threw my last game. A lot of things run through your mind." RHP Dennis Sarfate, on his mindset between feeling numbness in his right middle finger and the promising results that he'll return in July.ROSTER REPORTLHP Jamie Walker is struggling at his lone task: getting tough left-handed hitters out. Lefties are hitting .364 in 11 at-bats against the Oriole' situational reliever.INF Ty Wigginton pinch-hit for OF Luke Scott and was hit by a pitch Sunday. At least he got on base. Orioles pinch hitters are a combined 0-for-13 with eight strikeouts this season. The Orioles are the only American League team without a pinch hit.OF Felix Pie went 2-for-3 Sunday as the starting left fielder. His average has climbed to .183, a 28-point improvement from two weeks ago. His playing time has decreased, though. He has sat out four of the Orioles' past six games. MEDICAL WATCH: OF Luke Scott (sore left rotator cuff) left the May 10 game and will have an MRI taken on May 11. RHP Dennis Sarfate (torn artery in right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 2. He might be able to return around the All-Star break. RHP Alfredo Simon (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list April 15. He had season-ending Tommy John surgery in early May. LHP Rich Hill (left elbow soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list March 29. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Frederick on April 24. ROTATION: RHP Jeremy Guthrie RHP Koji Uehara LHP Mark Hendrickson RHP Adam Eaton RHP Brad Bergeson BULLPEN: LHP George Sherrill (closer) RHP Chris Ray RHP Jim Johnson RHP Bob McCrory LHP Jamie Walker RHP Danys Baez RHP Brian Bass CATCHERS: Gregg Zaun Chad Moeller INFIELDERS: 1B Aubrey Huff 2B Brian Roberts SS Cesar Izturis 3B Melvin Mora INF/OF Ty Wigginton INF Robert Andino OUTFIELDERS: LF Felix Pie CF Adam Jones RF Nick Markakis DH Luke Scott OF Lou Montanez