The Orioles have activated Ramon Hernandez from the DL.  This helps the Orioles out quite a bit….especially on offense.  In 35 games this season, Hernandez is 30 for 124 (.242 avg, .707 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 3 homers and 27 RBIs.  To make room on the roster, the Orioles designated Alberto Castillo for assignment.  Castillo played in 11 games this season for the Orioles and he was 5 for 31 (.161 avg, .552 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 1 homer and 3 RBIs.  The Orioles hope that Castillo will go unclaimed on waivers so they can send him back to AAA, but he might not make it through.

Miguel Tejada was hit by a Doug Brocail pitch Wednesday Night that caused a small non-displaced fracture in his left wrist.  He’s wants to play through it but doctors said he can make it worse by playing.  Tejada currently has the 5th longest longest consecutive games streak (1,152 games) in major league history which explains why he wants to try to play.  He has played in 72 games this season and he’s 87 for 284 (.306 avg, .783 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 7 homers and 41 RBIs.  The Orioles shouldn’t let him play as he could really wind up hurting himself worse, plus it will definately effect his play on the field.  If he winds up going on the disabled list, look for Chris Gomez to replace him as the starting shortstop.  Gomez has played in 39 games this season and he’s 16 for 59 (.271 avg, .656 OPS) with 7 runs, 1 homer and 10 RBIs.

The Baltimore Orioles have called up Paul Shuey and Rob Bell and have demoted Corey Doyne and Jamey Hoey to the minors.  Rob Bell has been very effective as a starter in the minors but he will pitch out of the bullpen for the Orioles.  Bell has started 10 games this season in AAA ball and he was 4-3 with a 2.97 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP so far.  He threw 66.2 innings in AAA ball and he allowed 61 hits, walked 17 batters and has whiffed 59.  Paul Shuey has not been that effective in the minors.  He has pitched in 22 games and he’s 0-0 with 1 save, a 4.50 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.  In 24 innings, Shuey has allowed 30 hits, walked 9 batters and whiffed 24.  It’s amazing to me that the Orioles decided to send the young guys down and bring up a couple of journeyman pitchers at best.  The only thing I can think of is that they hope Bell and Shuey pitch good so they can trade them.

With the Orioles in last place they have a little more than a month to straighten themselves out or they might conduct a firesale for the ages.  They have a lot of trading chips that would appeal big-time for contending teams.  Corey Patterson, Jay Payton, Kevin Millar, John Gibbons, Steve Trachsel, Danys Baez, Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker and Scott Williamson could all be had for a decent prospect each.  But the cutting could go much deeper than that and involve players like Miguel Tejada, Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff and Ramon Hernandez.  Owner Peter Angelos has spent a lot of money on the payroll this season and he has to be disgusted by the team’s performance so far.  After all, they are behind the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the American League East!  A major firesale is on the horizon unless the Orioles get hot soon.

The Baltimore Orioles have fired manager Sam Perlozzo as the Orioles are in the midst of an 8-game losing streak.  The Orioles are currently 29-40 which has them in last place in the American League East, 15.5 games behind the Red Sox.  Perlozzo replaced Lee Mazzilli in 2005 and he compiled a 122-164 (42.7%) record as manager of the Orioles and that was quite frankly not good enough to keep his job.  Perlozzo will be replaced by bullpen coach Dave Trembley for now as he was named the interim manager of the Orioles.  Joe Girardi has flown to Baltimore to interview for the Orioles manager’s job.  He was the N.L. Manager of the Year last season for the job he did with the Florida Marlins.