masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgKam Mickolio is angry – at himself.

Mickolio looked like a strong bet to make the club after impressing manager Dave Trembley in the early days of camp, but he couldn’t pitch because of a groin injury and was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Mickolio hurt more than his groin. He also hurt his chances by walking seven batters in 9 1/3 innings, which countered a 1.93 ERA.

“I’m disappointed and very mad at myself mostly,” he said.

“They said they’d like me to start working up to an…Kam Mickolio is angry – at himself.

Mickolio looked like a strong bet to make the club after impressing manager Dave Trembley in the early days of camp, but he couldn’t pitch because of a groin injury and was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Mickolio hurt more than his groin. He also hurt his chances by walking seven batters in 9 1/3 innings, which countered a 1.93 ERA.

“I’m disappointed and very mad at myself mostly,” he said.

“They said they’d like me to start working up to an inning-plus because they’ve got so many guys who just throw an inning, and just be more versatile out of the ‘pen.”

Mickolio has spent parts of the last three seasons at the Triple-A level. Now he’s returning for a fourth.

Asked why he’s angry at himself, Mickolio replied, “For all the hard work I put in this off-season, and then a groin injury the last week in camp put me down.”

The Orioles want Mickolio to stay healthy – he also was shut down in September because of a shoulder ailment – and to improve his control. They still believe he could evolve into a closer down the road.

Mickolio threw a bullpen session and is supposed to pitch in tomorrow’s intrasquad game, so the Orioles kept him off the disabled list.