Orioles give Wieters a break from catching

By Dan Connolly

June 1, 2009

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Sunday was another first for phenom catcher Matt Wieters: his first time as a big league designated hitter.

"He did it in spring training, and he did it in the minor leagues," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said, "So I don't really see that it will be that big of a difference for him other than he's not putting the gear on."

As the club's DH, Wieters was hitless in three at-bats Sunday - a pop-up, strikeout and groundout - giving him two hits in his first 11 major league plate appearances.

He started his first two games at catcher, but Gregg Zaun was behind the plate Sunday. It was Trembley's way of keeping Baseball America's 2008 Player of the Year involved while giving him a breather.

"He's got to get a lot of information stored in his head, who he is working with, the other nine guys, the lineup he is facing," Trembley said. "This [DH decision] is basically he doesn't have to deal with that. He's got four at-bats, you prepare yourself for who you are facing. I think it is kind of a way to keep him fresh and get his bat in the lineup."

That's not to say Wieters took the assignment lightly. He was in the clubhouse at 9:30 Sunday morning watching video of Tigers starting pitcher Edwin Jackson. He continued to study once the game started.

"I like being involved with every pitch catching, but at the same time you can do that from the dugout," Wieters said. "Especially me, being new here, being able to watch and learn how Zaun is calling the game for [Jason] Berken. Or what their pitchers are going to do to our hitters.

"You can really learn from being in the game, but at the same time you can learn from being on the bench and watching the game go on."

Rest could help Uehara

Koji Uehara (left hamstring) threw a side session Sunday and will likely throw another on the West Coast this week. Trembley said Uehara most likely will not need a minor league rehabilitation assignment and is on schedule to start June 10 at home against the Seattle Mariners.

The 15 days of rest, Trembley said, could be good for Uehara, who pitched in just 89 2/3 innings last season in Japan's Central League and 62 innings there in 2007.

Uehara (2-3, 4.09 ERA) has already thrown 50 2/3 innings for the Orioles in the season's first two months.

"I think it is advantageous to him," Trembley said of the layoff. "I think it is still a process for him, being on a five-day rotation. I think he prefers the six or seven [in Japan]. We are trying to do everything we can to make sure he can pitch in August and September. … We have to be very smart about it."

Good weekend, bad weekend

With the two wins this weekend, the Tigers improved to 14-2 on Saturdays and Sundays this season. The Orioles don't enjoy the weekends nearly as much. They are 5-11 on Saturdays and Sundays, 1-7 on Sundays and 4-12 in day games.

Around the horn

Trembley said it was too early to discuss whether one of the club's young starters could be sent to the bullpen, instead of demoted to the minors, when Uehara returns to the rotation. … Because the move wasn't made until after MLB's office closed for the weekend Friday, the Orioles won't know until Wednesday whether catcher Chad Moeller has cleared waivers. If he does, he's expected to go to Triple-A Norfolk. … Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera was given a routine day off Sunday. … Orioles reliever Dennis Sarfate (circulatory issues) begins his throwing session June 5. He will not travel with the club to the West Coast.