Rich Dubroff

Orioles place starter John Means on 10-day injured list because of shoulder strain

The starter with the best stats in the Orioles’ rotation, John Means, is out for the near-term. Means was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 17, because of a left shoulder strain.

Means, who is 6-4 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.146 WHIP, could return as soon as June 28.

He told reporters in Seattle that he first felt the shoulder tighten during last Sunday’s start against Boston. Means doesn’t believe the injury is serious and thinks he’ll be ready to return when he’s eligible.

Means was scheduled to start Friday against the Mariners, but manager Brandon Hyde told reporters that it would likely be a bullpen game for the  Orioles.

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To replace Means on the roster, the Orioles recalled right-hander Evan Phillips from Triple-A Norfolk. This is Phillips’ fifth stint with the Orioles.

Dwight Smith Jr. has been activated from the 10-day IL. Smith, who suffered a concussion in Texas on June 6, played two rehab games for Norfolk.

Pitcher Dan Straily was designated for assignment. Straily was 2-4 with a 9.82 ERA in 14 games. He gave up three home runs in Tuesday’s 16-2 loss to Oakland.

Mancini feels better: Trey Mancini, who suffered a bruised left elbow when he was hit by a pitch in Wednesday’s game in Oakland, told reporters in Seattle that he felt better and hoped to play on Friday.

Mussina to throw out first pitch: Three weeks before he enters the Hall of Fame, former Oriole starter Mike Mussina will throw out the first pitch before the June 30 game against Cleveland.

Mussina, whose cap on his Hall of Fame plaque will not feature an Orioles or New York Yankees logo, will be enshrined in Cooperstown on July 21.

More draft picks: The Orioles signed four more draft picks: Shortstop Darell Hernaiz (5th round), catcher Maverick Handley (6), shortstop Andrew Martinez (24), and left-handed pitcher Jake Prizina (32). They’ve signed 28 of 41 picks.

Former Oriole Update: The New York Mets fired pitching coach Dave Eiland and bullpen coach Chuck Hernandez and replaced them on an interim basis with Phil Regan, who managed the Orioles in 1995, and Ricky Bones, who pitched with the Orioles in 1999. Regan, 82, was the Orioles’ manager when Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played.

 

Rich Dubroff

Rich Dubroff grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of New York teams, but after he moved to Baltimore, quickly adopted the Orioles and Colts. After nearly two decades as a freelancer assisting on Orioles coverage for several outlets, principally The Capital in Annapolis and The Carroll County Times, Dubroff began covering the team fulltime in 2011. He spent five years at Comcast SportsNet’s website and for the last two seasons, wrote for PressBoxonline.com, Dubroff lives in Baltimore with his wife of more than 30 years, Susan.

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  • Evan Phillips has managed to keep his ERA around 8 without giving up a single HR this year. A tough feat to accomplish. Guess the 8 walks per 9 have something to do with that. If he ever solves that issue he may be useful because he clearly has some swing a miss ability.

    Bullpen day tomorrow? Rogers went 3 innings two days ago so I suppose he’s out. If I’m gambling I’m guessing it’s Yacabonis opening again with Gilmartin coming in as the bulk guy after that.

    Eshelman went 7 innings in Norfolk Wednesday only giving up 3 ER. The only problem is that all of those runs came via the HR. Im guessing he or Shepherd gets the call next time out if Means is still down . I can’t imagine we use the opener twice a week.

    Glad the worst pitcher in baseball is finally off the team. Straily was long overdue for an early vacation. I suppose he could’ve broke the single season HR record for a pitcher if we would’ve let him keep going.....

    • Eshelman seems to have found a little groove, and I think he’ll get a shot here pretty soon.

    • Well said Jigbie. Was written with so much despair and sarcasm I got myself a good chuckle out of it.

  • Great to hear Moose is back, maybe we could get him to pitch the whole game, love the O's

  • I know this article is about the untimely and hopefully short term injury to one of the very few bright spots (John Means) we've had in this year full of otherwise drearyt bylines, but it's one of the footnotes that caught my attention and ire this mornning.

    I know the vast majority of y'all won't agree with me on this one, but Moose choosing not to wear an Orioles cap in the HOF?

    OK ... that's his prerogative, but I say let him throw out the 1st ball in some other ballpark. This is ORIOLES Park at Camden Yards ... is it not?

    • I can understand his predicament. His career was basically an even split between two teams. How could he pick one over the other? Either choice would be controversial so he took the easy way out.

    • Boog I totally agree. I could walk right past Mussina without acknowledging him. Sad thing is that the Yankees fans could care less about him.

    • His best individual yrs were with the 0’s, don’t believe he ever was an all star with the yanks, had better team accomplishments with yanks, I like him, but am disappointed he chose not to wear an O’s hat in the hall, easy way out, again, we’re trying not to offend anyone today, treat em how they treated you I say, accordingly...

  • I’m surprised there’s not more celebration being expressed here about the DFA of Straily. Maybe we just don’t want to kick a man when he’s down. It’ll be interesting to see the reaction when they cut CD.

    • Reaction to cutting ties with Crush?

      I predict a parade will be held on Eutaw with an ad-hoc fireworks display to boot!

    • There's not much to celebrate about marginal guys losing their jobs. If his DFA were accompanied by the corresponding signing of Chris Sale, maybe. The issue is not Strally but the ability to evaluate talent by the people who brought --and bring-- him and his ilk onto the team. As everyone acknowledges, the team needs a big talent boost. When the people in charge bring in talent, it will be time to celebrate.

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Rich Dubroff

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