masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgI’ll admit that they’re scarce today.

There wasn’t much news coming out of manager Buck Showalter’s pregame session with the media.

Showalter indicated that reliever Jim Johnson could get a few starts late in the season, depending on the composition of the rotation past the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline and the Aug. 31 deadline for teams to set their playoff rosters.

Johnson hasn’t thrown enough pitches and innings in his relief appearances to immediately take on a starter’s…I’ll admit that they’re scarce today.

There wasn’t much news coming out of manager Buck Showalter’s pregame session with the media.

Showalter indicated that reliever Jim Johnson could get a few starts late in the season, depending on the composition of the rotation past the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline and the Aug. 31 deadline for teams to set their playoff rosters.

Johnson hasn’t thrown enough pitches and innings in his relief appearances to immediately take on a starter’s workload, so it would be a gradual process to stretch him out. However, Showalter wants Johnson going into the offseason knowing his likely role for 2012, rather than being told over the winter or in spring training.

Second baseman Brian Roberts and infielder Cesar Izturis were on the field in Sarasota today when Showalter tried to contact them. That’s a good sign.

Izturis is still slated to begin his injury rehab assignment Friday with the Gulf Coast League team. No timetable for Roberts, however.

Vladimir Guerrero still hasn’t swung a bat while recovering from a fractured right wrist. He could grab a bat this weekend.

It appears that pitcher Justin Duchscherer is leaning toward undergoing another hip surgery.

The Orioles have scored 30 runs in the last four games, their highest run total in a four-game span this season.

For the Red Sox:
Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Adrian Gonzalez DH
Kevin Youkilis 1B
Josh Reddick RF
Carl Crawford LF
Marco Scutaro SS
Jason Varitek C
Yamaico Navarro 3B

Andrew Miller LHP