BOSTON - The Orioles are moving Ubaldo Jimenez to the bullpen following the shortest start of his major league career. Jimenez will be available in relief beginning on Wednesday night. Bullpen coach Dom Chiti summoned Jimenez into manager Buck Showalter's office this afternoon, where the right-hander learned of his changing role. There's no timetable regarding Jimenez. He's in the bullpen for an indefinite period while trying to work out his command issues. Jimenez allowed five runs in...

Jonathan Papelbon had never spent a day on the disabled list in his 12-year career, and he certainly didn't want to end that streak now after feeling a tug on his right side while throwing a warmup pitch before the top of the ninth of Sunday's game. But after meeting with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo, manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux late Monday night, Papelbon came to the realization a DL stint was in both his and the team's best interests. "I've taken a lot of...

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their tireless efforts to make their community a better place to live? If so, the Orioles want you to nominate them as a Birdland Community Hero. The process couldn't be easier - it's all online right here. Just tell the Orioles why - in 200 words or less - someone deserves the acknowledgement. Nominations will be accepted until 9:59 a.m. on Sept. 2. The Birdland Community Heroes program honors community heroes who inspire up through their...

The Nationals placed right-hander Jonathan Papelbon on the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander Matt Belisle from his rehab assignment. Papelbon has a intercostal strain. Belisle was out with a right calf strain. Manager Dusty Baker must now decide who will be the closer until Papelbon returns. "I don't know yet," Baker said. "That's the same question you guys asked me: How are we going to get our bullpen leaving spring training and what roles our guys are going to have? This is...

BOSTON - Vance Worley said he began to feel some discomfort in his right groin muscle while pitching to Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders in the second inning of Sunday's game in Toronto. He pushed through it, lasting 4 1/3 innings and surrendering two runs, and the decision was made today to place him on the 15-day disabled list. "Want to say it was the second pitch of the at-bat," Worley said today while standing outside the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park. "Started feeling it,...

BOWIE - Orioles shortstop J.J Hardy moves one step closer to rejoining the team soon, potentially as early as Friday, as he begins a minor league rehab assignment tonight with the Double-A Bowie Baysox. He is batting second and playing at shortstop. He said he expects to get at least three at-bats tonight against the Portland Sea Dogs, in his first game since May 1 with the Orioles. Hardy has been out with a fractured bone in his left foot. He has been rehabbing the injury at the Orioles'...

Buck Martinez was a broadcast partner of mine with the Orioles. He is a friend and a good baseball man. "Change Up" is a book he took great pains to get right. This book has a sub title: "How to Make the Great Game of Baseball Even Better." That is precisely what this book is about, with the wraparound stories and names that bring the ideas to life. Martinez is a traditionalist when it comes to how the game should be played and the responsibilities the players have to the game. As a fan,...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne (pronounced oh-DREE-sah-mer deh-SPAWN-yay) from Triple-A Norfolk and placed right-hander Vance Worley on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain (retroactive to June 13). Despaigne, 29, pitched to a 3.59 ERA (25 ER/62.2 IP) with 53 strikeouts over 12 starts with the Tides this season. In six starts since May 20, he posted a 2.20 ERA (8 ER/32.2 IP) with four Quality Starts, 28 strikeouts, and held...

BOSTON - Right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne is listed among the Orioles relievers for tonight's game. We don't know the corresponding move that will create a space for Despaigne on the 25-man roster for tonight's game, but right-hander Vance Worley is no longer listed among the relievers. We don't know who the starting pitchers are because they are not listed on the lineup card. Stay tuned. Update: Worley has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right groin strain. The move is...

The Nationals had plenty of reason to feel good about themselves last night after a 4-1 victory over the Cubs, one of their better wins of the season to date. But they arrived at the ballpark today to the news that they need to find a new closer for at least the next 15 days, with Jonathan Papelbon landing on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a right intercostal strain. We'll have to wait and see who Dusty Baker tabs as his ninth-inning guy for now, but it would be hard...