Activating Miguel Tejada from the disabled list yesterday was the easy part for the Orioles. Now they must decide where to bat him in the lineup and whether he'll return as their everyday shortstop.
Tejada hit fifth last night after the Orioles and New York Yankees concluded their suspended game from June 28. Nick Markakis remained the No. 3 hitter and Kevin Millar continued to bat fourth.
Interim manager Dave Trembley didn't give any assurances that Tejada would settle into the cleanup role, where he has started 43 games. He has hit third 28 times and second once - in his final game before going on the disabled list with a fractured left wrist.
Last night marked the first time Tejada batted fifth this season.
Will he stay there? "I'm going to put him in the lineup where I think it's best for the team and the other guys," Trembley said. "But I can tell you this: I'm not going to make the lineup out for any one particular guy."
Tejada played shortstop in both games last night, but it's possible he could be used as the designated hitter on occasion. He no longer has the longest consecutive-games streak in the majors, which makes resting him a lot easier.
"I don't think it's practical to put Tejada out there, after he's missed so much time, every day at shortstop," Trembley said. "I would think that Sunday might be a good time for Miggy to DH, a day game after a night game. Spring training, those guys don't play nine innings every day. Miggy's missed a lot of games. I know the enthusiasm and passion that Miggy has, I know what kind of shape he's in, but let's bring Miggy along the right way and make sure he can get back to who he was before he got hurt."
Tejada didn't sound enthusiastic about being on the bench yesterday, saying, "You guys know I don't like to be the DH. I like to be in the field every day."
The Orioles optioned outfielder Jon Knott to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Tejada on the active roster. They chose to keep infielders Brandon Fahey and Luis Hernandez, giving them a surplus of shortstops, including Chris Gomez.
The Orioles have been impressed with Hernandez's defense at shortstop. As a bonus, he was hitting .321 in 11 games before last night.
"To be honest with you, and I don't say this very often, I think Hernandez earned the opportunity to be here," Trembley said.
Knott shuttle continues
Knott knows the routine by now: Get called up to the majors, spend most of your time on the bench and head back to Norfolk.
It never gets any easier, though.
Knott has accumulated 14 at-bats in three stints with the Orioles this season. He's hitting .214 with one home run and four RBIs.
"I've been working on stuff with Crow [hitting coach Terry Crowley] and hopefully it helps, and getting consistent at-bats helps me out and I can get something going and get back up here," he said.
Bynum, Mora take batting practice
Freddie Bynum and third baseman Melvin Mora took batting practice yesterday for the first time since going on the disabled list. Bynum is recovering from a strained left hamstring, Mora from a sprained ligament in his left foot.
"We're getting more and more baseball activities with Melvin," Trembley said. Bynum took ground balls at shortstop and did some running. Trembley said both players will need to go on injury rehabilitation assignments before being activated.
Sarbanes leads 'Ripken Way' drive
Rep. John P. Sarbanes introduced a bill last night to rename a section of Interstate 395 in Baltimore "Cal Ripken Way." The stretch of highway is between the junction with I-95 and Conway Street as it passes in front of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. "I hope my colleagues agree that this is a fitting tribute to one of the best-loved and most enduring figures in the history of baseball," Sarbanes said on the House floor.
roch.kubatko@baltsun.com