Expanded thoughts

Manager Buck Showalter needs to go 0-24 to match Juan Samuel's record. The pressure's on. I like how Showalter walks into the interview room after the final out and asks for the time of game, as if he's hoping that his club took care of us. "Stay under three, right?" Exactly. Anything under three hours is good. And 2 ½ will make us do a happy dance. So I guess the Orioles took advantage of the soft spot in Boston's rotation last night. That must have been it. They get Jon Lester tonight, and he's 12-0 with a 2.00 ERA against them. Want to really send a message? Beat this guy and stop treating him like Cy Young. I'd settle for Curt Young. Now that would be a statement. That would tell me that this team's attitude has changed. Lester hasn't given up an earned run in three of his last four starts, but Toronto battered him for nine runs and eight hits in two innings on Aug. 20. That's not Cy Young or Curt Young. That's Burt Young. The lineup could be very interesting with rosters expanding. Robert Andino is expected to arrive, and he's 3-for-4 lifetime against Lester. Nolan Reimold is expected to join Andino, and he's 3-for-7 with a double against Lester. I wouldn't look for Andino, but could Reimold get an immediate start? Luke Scott is 0-for-8 with three strikeouts against Lester. Small sample size, I know. He singled, homered and drove in two runs last night, but he might sit. Nick Markakis is 9-for-44 (.205) with 11 strikeouts. He might want to stay home. However, Matt Wieters is 7-for-18 with a double, and Ty Wigginton is 7-for-18 with a double and home run. You know they're playing. I wonder how Showalter's going to use Reimold. Play him against certain left-handers? Against all left-handers? Against everyone? Strictly left field and DH? A few starts at first base? And is there one particular player who's going to lose at-bats with his arrival? I suppose that's worth asking during Showalter's pre-game session with the media, before he checks on the time of game.