Told he wouldn't make yesterday's start, Orioles pitcher Calvin Maduro found a seat in the bullpen and waited for more than an ending to the game.
He also waited to learn more about his status with the team.
Sean Douglass took Maduro's turn against the Seattle Mariners and was charged with three runs -- two scoring after he left -- in 5 1/3 innings. Maduro was demoted after permitting 14 earned runs in 14 innings over his past three starts.
"I'd rather be starting, but it's not my decision. I can't control it," he said. "They told me it's not set in stone that I'm going to be in the bullpen. Hopefully I can do something good soon and get back to the rotation."
Maduro, 2-5 with a 5.57 ERA, hadn't thrown since Tuesday before tossing a scoreless ninth yesterday. He indicated after Tuesday's game that he wasn't fully recovered from the right forearm stiffness that bothered him toward the end of spring training, but said the club hasn't approached him about returning to the disabled list.
"I can tell you without throwing in a game that I don't need to go on the DL because it feels OK now," he said.
Manager Mike Hargrove said the club isn't deliberating whether to put Maduro on the DL and clear some room on the pitching staff. The Orioles are expected to activate reliever Chris Brock from the disabled list today and option outfielder Luis Garcia to Triple-A Rochester. Jason Johnson is tentatively scheduled to start Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camden Yards, which could send Douglass to Rochester. Travis Driskill remains scheduled to pitch Wednesday in New York.
Griffey rumors unfounded
Cincinnati Reds general manager Jim Bowden told The Sun yesterday that "there have been no discussions whatsoever" regarding a trade that would send Ken Griffey to the Orioles -- or any team, for that matter.
"Ken Griffey was traded to finish his career with the Reds," Bowden said, "to go in the Hall of Fame as a Red, to go to the All-Star Game as a Red, and to help us go to the World Series."
Speculation arose last week when the Reds had two officials at Camden Yards for Wednesday night's game with Sidney Ponson pitching for the Orioles. Meanwhile, the Orioles had special assistant Danny Garcia scouting the Reds.
Cincinnati is one of several contenders keeping an eye on Ponson, but rather than trade Griffey, second-year outfielder/first baseman Adam Dunn or rookie outfielder Austin Kearns, the Reds more likely would try to package outfielder Juan Encarnacion with prospects.
"We're not trading Junior," Bowden said. "So whatever rumors there are, they're just fabricated."
W. Roberts on roll
Willis Roberts picked up the win Saturday night with two scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 1.91 in 25 games. He hasn't allowed a run in 13 of his past 17 appearances, with only four scoring in 26 innings.
A more effective slider, the result of some extra work on the side, and a more compact delivery have been keys in Roberts' turnaround. He's the team's primary right-handed setup man, but also has pitched in middle relief when needed. He tossed four scoreless innings against Seattle on May 24, allowing one hit, and 3 1/3 scoreless innings Tuesday against Oakland.
"It doesn't matter. When they call me in the bullpen, I'm ready any time. I'm doing my job, helping the team," he said.
"I don't know the situation. Sometimes it's one inning, sometimes it's two innings, a week ago it was four innings and then three innings. I don't know, but I'm ready at any time."
Though Roberts closed games last season, that job currently belongs to rookie Jorge Julio. Hargrove said he would prefer leaving Roberts in a setup role.
Around the horn
Outfielder Luis Matos, who had surgery in March to remove a broken hamate bone, will begin an injury rehab assignment tonight at Single-A Frederick. ... Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, lowered to third in the order, went 4-for-5 to raise his season's average to .533 (16-for-30) against the Orioles. He's batting .456 (31-for-68) against them since coming to the United States last season.