masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgARLINGTON, Texas – With the Orioles losing again last night to fall two games below .500, we’re left to sift through the rubble in search of the smallest gems. You won’t get rich off them, but they’ve got some worth.
The Orioles had two more outfield assists last night and now lead the majors with 39. Adam Jones picked up his team-leading 13th and Dariel Alvarez earned his first on the first ball hit to him in the majors.
Factor in Gerardo Parra, and the Orioles can put plus-arms in all…

ARLINGTON, Texas – With the Orioles losing again last night to fall two games below .500, we’re left to sift through the rubble in search of the smallest gems. You won’t get rich off them, but they’ve got some worth.

The Orioles had two more outfield assists last night and now lead the majors with 39. Adam Jones picked up his team-leading 13th and Dariel Alvarez earned his first on the first ball hit to him in the majors.

Factor in Gerardo Parra, and the Orioles can put plus-arms in all three outfield spots. The trick now is to re-sign Parra over the winter.

“And Stevie (Pearce) throws well, too, so it’s big weapon,” said manager Buck Showalter. “I think arms in right field are very underrated. Nickie (Markakis) was such a big contributor in right field with that. It’s not so much the people they throw out, but it’s the 90 feet they keep them from getting, the guys that stop because of knowing who can throw and who can’t.”

Parra wasn’t in the lineup last night and I had numerous fans asking if he was injured. Parra is fine. He’s supposed to play tonight.

“I wanted to get Dariel … And Steve’s swinging the bat pretty good. I want to get him out there,” Showalter said.

“I thought Gerry was in need of a day.”

Little-known fact: Parra is 9-for-16 pinch-hitting this year.

“That’s pretty impressive,” Showalter said. “And we need some off the bench.”

They need production in the lineup, as well. This stretch of futility is ridiculous. Three runs or fewer in eight of the last nine games isn’t going to get it done.

The lineup should be interesting with Parra back in it and the Rangers starting left-hander Martin Perez. Does Parra go back to left field, with Alvarez in right and Pearce serving as the designated hitter. Is Matt Wieters the DH after catching last night, with Pearce or Alvarez going to the bench? Does Pearce play first base and Chris Davis go to the bench?

Showalter hinted that Alvarez would play again tonight, but that’s not official.

Alvarez drew only 16 walks in 130 games with Norfolk. He’s known as a free-swinger, always in chase mode, and the Orioles prefer that he exhibit more patience. (I know, I know … )

dariel-alvarez-spring sidebar.jpg“What was interesting was some of the challenges he had with his strike zone management there,” Showalter said. “I think he walked like six or seven times in the spring and I was kind of going, ‘What are you all talking about?’ Sometimes, when guys go up to a higher level, if that’s your goal to get to in your life, there’s a certain calmness about finally getting there.

“I don’t know. I’m as curious as you all to see how it goes. We picked a really easy pitcher for him to break in against, but it’s the big leagues.”

Showalter was being sarcastic, of course. Cole Hamels presented an enormous challenge.

“I think it means as much to him as anybody we’ve called up,” Showalter continued. “I know he was pretty emotional about it with R.J. (Ron Johnson). R.J. said he’s had two or three of the best send-ups he’s ever had this year.

“The kid played hard every day down there. R.J. said there wasn’t a day that he didn’t post up and show up ready to go, and if you look at his background and what he’s been through to get to this point, you can see why he feels this way. Sometimes, with a guy with big arms, you can overuse them, too. I know he’s been guilty of that a little bit, but we’ll see. I’m looking forward to watching him play.”

Ten of Alvarez’s 16 home runs came at Harbor Park, which isn’t known as a hitter’s ballpark. I can still remember Brandon Snyder venting about the number of home runs he lost.

“Most of his power is pull power,” Showalter said of Alvarez. “He’s not going to have a lot of trouble with the fastball, like a lot of guys who come up here. We’ll see. There’s a lot of unknown, but there’s only one way to find out, right? Run him out there and see what happens.”

The Orioles optioned Jorge Rondon Thursday to create a spot for Steve Clevenger. Rondon has allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings over two stints with the Orioles.

“He’s been pretty good,” Showalter said. “He’s been in a good come-to-the-rescue mode where we’ve needed innings and keep our bullpen intact, especially when you go into places like Texas and Kansas City. We played these 20 games, in a row, we knew we were going to have to do some things to maintain the integrity of our bullpen. And guys like Jorge allowed us to do that. He’s presented himself well. I thought his two outings in Kansas City kind of gets your attention.”

Is this the night that Ubaldo Jimenez turns around his season and points it in the same direction that it was headed before the All-Star break?

We’ve sifted through the numbers. Jimenez posted a 2.81 ERA in 17 starts in the first half. He’s posted a 7.65 ERA in eight starts in the second half.

Jimenez hasn’t exceeded 5 2/3 innings in his last three starts. He’s allowed 14 runs and 24 hits over 15 2/3 innings with seven walks and 15 strikeouts. He’s gone 1-3 with a 5.88 ERA in five July starts and 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA in five August starts.

Jimenez is 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA in eight career starts against the Rangers and 1-1 with a 3.92 ERA in four starts in Arlington. Adrian Beltre is 9-for-23 with three doubles and two home runs, Will Venable is 5-for-15 and Mike Napolis is 4-for-13 with a double and two home runs.

Mitch Moreland is 2-for-15 with two doubles and Elvis Andrus is 3-for-18 with a double.

Perez is making his eighth start since undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow last year. He’s 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA in two starts against the Orioles, with six earned runs (eight total) and 15 hits in 12 1/3 innings.

The Orioles have limited exposure to Perez. Manny Machado is 2-for-6 with a home run against him, Wieters is 3-for-6 with a double, Davis is 1-for-5 with a double, Parra is 1-for-3 and Jones is 0-for-6.

Jonathan Schoop struck out in all four at-bats last night. His left hand and wrist were heavily wrapped before and after the game. No idea what that’s all about, but it’s worth checking.

Everyone is beat up. Davis has his right hand wrapped because of the blisters. Jones was packed in ice after Thursday’s game in Kansas City. And the Orioles are limping to the finish.

Do they have another run left in them? And I don’t mean offensively.