masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgDouble-A Bowie reliever Dan Klein will be examined Monday by renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum in California.

Klein underwent an MRI in Baltimore two days ago that didn’t show anything conclusive in his shoulder, but there are concerns. He’s still bothered by discomfort that prevents him from throwing, and it looks like more than just simple biceps tendinitis. He could be dealing with a small tear in the labrum.

We should know for sure after Klein travels to the West…Double-A Bowie reliever Dan Klein will be examined Monday by renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum in California.

Klein underwent an MRI in Baltimore two days ago that didn’t show anything conclusive in his shoulder, but there are concerns. He’s still bothered by discomfort that prevents him from throwing, and it looks like more than just simple biceps tendinitis. He could be dealing with a small tear in the labrum.

We should know for sure after Klein travels to the West Coast.

Klein underwent an arthroscopic procedure in 2009 to clean out the shoulder, costing him a season at UCLA. Yocum handled the procedure, which is why the Orioles are sending Klein to him next week.

The Orioles kept Klein in the bullpen after drafting him last June, but there’s been talk of making him a starter down the road. That will take some time, however. He never threw more than 52 innings in a season at UCLA. He pitched 6 1/3 innings at short-season Single-A Aberdeen last year, and he’s totaled 32 1/3 this season between Single-A Frederick and Bowie. Stretching him out will be a process.

The first order of business is getting him healthy.

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum, which takes us back to the winter months and the dance between LaRoche and the Orioles.

The Orioles made him a two-year offer with a vesting option. LaRoche kept putting them off, hoping for a better one – and I mean an offer and a team. They lost patience and turned their attention to Derrek Lee.

The Orioles have gone through 13 pitching coaches in 17 seasons, including Ray Miller and Mike Flanagan twice. Is that a lot?

Still no Orioles in the Top 5 in the voting for the American League All-Star team. Adam Jones doesn’t crack the Top 15 among outfielders.

The Yankees occupy the top spots among catchers, shortstops, second basemen and third basemen. The Red Sox do the same among first basemen and designated hitters. New York’s Curtis Granderson is second among outfielders. Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury is fourth.

Should be a fun game.

The Orioles are batting .254 this season, which ranks 14th in the majors. They’re hitting .254 against right-handers and .254 against left-handers.

Who said this team isn’t consistent?

They’re batting .239 against left-handed starters, compared to .262 against right-handers, and they get Toronto southpaw Ricky Romero tonight.

Romero gave up five runs and 11 hits in 7 2/3 innings in a 5-3 loss to the Orioles on June 4. He’s 3-3 with a 3.88 ERA in nine career starts against them.

Robert Andino, who went 0-for-4 with a sacrifice fly and five runners left on base, is 1-for-10 with four strikeouts lifetime against Romero. Could Ryan Adams make a rare start tonight?

Vladimir Guerrero is 9-for-17 against Romero. Nick Markakis is 10-for-30 with three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs.

Nolan Reimold is 1-for-10, but that hit is a home run.

I mentioned last night that Bowie third baseman Brandon Waring has hit five homers in his last six games. He also has four in his last four games, going 7-for-15 with eight RBIs in that span.

He’s only batting .189, but there’s no denying that he’s heated up.

“I made an adjustment at the plate,” Waring said. “I moved my hands down, freed them up a little bit, taking the body out of the equation. It has let me see the ball longer and I’m getting some pitches to hit and I’m not missing them right now.”

Waring was the organizations minor league Player of the Year in 2009. The Orioles acquired him from the Reds, along with infielder/outfielder Ryan Freel and second baseman Justin Turner, for catcher Ramon Hernandez during the 2008 winter meetings.

Yes, I reference Justin Turner again. Sorry.