masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgInterim manager Juan Samuel made the move official that we anticipated: Brad Bergesen is being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for reliever Alfredo Simon.

Bergesen threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings today in relief of Mark Hendrickson.

“I think we’re doing him a disservice by keeping him in the bullpen,” Samuel said. “This is a guy that we think is going to be a starter here for a long time and he just needs to go down there and pitch. Since he’s been in the bullpen, he’s probably…Interim manager Juan Samuel made the move official that we anticipated: Brad Bergesen is being optioned to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for reliever Alfredo Simon.

Bergesen threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings today in relief of Mark Hendrickson.

“I think we’re doing him a disservice by keeping him in the bullpen,” Samuel said. “This is a guy that we think is going to be a starter here for a long time and he just needs to go down there and pitch. Since he’s been in the bullpen, he’s probably been out there a couple times. I think the best thing for him is to go down there and pitch, start games, and get back to the guy we know we saw here. And hopefully, he will be joining us up here soon.”

Simon might be given an inning in a less-pressurized situation before returning to the closer’s role. But again, the Orioles need a ninth inning lead before worrying about such things.