masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgIt seemed like a curious move when the Orioles optioned Double-A reliever Wilfrido Perez to Double-A Bowie while also adding 17 players for tomorrow’s two split-squad games.

Manager Dave Trembley offered the following explanation:

“The situation with him is, the minor league games have started. Let’s get him pitching in the games. He’s right on track to start pitching. A guy coming off arm surgery, he’s done very well. Left-handed, has a lot of value and is important to us. Needs to go…It seemed like a curious move when the Orioles optioned Double-A reliever Wilfrido Perez to Double-A Bowie while also adding 17 players for tomorrow’s two split-squad games.

Manager Dave Trembley offered the following explanation:

“The situation with him is, the minor league games have started. Let’s get him pitching in the games. He’s right on track to start pitching. A guy coming off arm surgery, he’s done very well. Left-handed, has a lot of value and is important to us. Needs to go pitch. Has two things going for him: He can throw the breaking ball and he can throw the changeup. Needs more experience, needs to pitch.”

Perez won’t be part of the group that offers depth for the split-squad games. He’ll remain at the minor league camp.

Also, Trembley said Brian Roberts hit soft-toss from the right side yesterday. Roberts was hoping to hit off a tee today. He experiences more discomfort from the left side.

Trembley repeated that Koji Uehara is day-to-day with a left hamstring strain.

“Let’s get him back out there. He’s had a great spring. We need him.”

Asked if he’s worried about Uehara being available for Opening Day, Trembley replied, “I’m not concerned about it because I’ve been told it’s…I don’t know what they call it; Grade 1, Grade 2. Whatever it is, he should be OK. Let’s hope he’s OK. He was pitching very well. We need to get him back out there. He’s a value to us in the ‘pen.”

Trembley watched Mike Gonzalez throw today in the Triple-A game.

“We’re very encouraged,” Trembley said. “I had a nice conversation with Mike the other day. Mike’s going to be ready when the season starts. He’ll be 100 percent. I was very encouraged today, what I saw.”

Phillies lineup (no DH):

Jimmy Rollins SS
Shane Victorino CF
Chase Utley 2B
Ryan Howard 1B
Raul Ibanez LF
Jayson Werth RF
Greg Dobbs 3B
Brian Schneider C
Kyle Kendrick RHP