In a phone interview earlier today, starting pitcher Brad Bergesen, who was sent down to the minors after the Orioles' 8-2 loss on Monday, acknowledged that he was surprised by the demotion but said he understands why the move was made.
"I knew obviously I wasn't pitching well and if I didn't turn it around, it would have happened sooner or later," he said. "I obviously was a little surprised that it happened after three starts, but if you don't perform at the highest level of baseball, they're going to make some changes."
Bergesen was 0-2 with a 12.19 ERA in three starts. He acknowledged that he had lost some confidence, but he refused to pin his struggles on the shoulder injury he sustained in December, nor the shin injury he got last July. And he said there has been absolutely no psychological carryover from getting drilled by a Billy Butler liner last year.
"Obviously, I don't feel right right now, but it's not a health issue," he said. "It's a confidence issue. I'm putting way too much thoughts in my head right now. It obviously didn't help that my first bullpen session was in March, but it is what it is. It's the hand I was dealt, and I just have to overcome it. I just want to get back to being mentally strong."
Bergesen also said he's choosing not to look too far ahead and at the possibility that he could be recalled to make the start May 1, which is the next time the Orioles need a No. 5 starter.
"I'm not going to look ahead because I've been doing that too much lately," he said. "I'm staying positive. I'm going to go down there and work my butt off and try to get back up there.
"They'd like me to throw more sinkers and not as many sliders. I don't think it's a mechanical thing. I just think it's getting back to having the confidence in myself."