The Baltimore Orioles have wanted Nolan Reimold to stay back at AAA Norfolk, until he proved to be 100% healthy (mind & body), and started producing consistently.

A look at his production over the past 10 games provides plenty of ammunition to the argument that he is now producing well enough to return. In these past 10 games, Reimold has a .973 OPS, inclusive of a .553 on-base %. His on-base % is aided by the fact that he has walked in 9 of the 10 games, and has 14 walks overall in that stretch. His cumulative season numbers at Norfolk are never going to look impressive, but he again looks ready to produce for the O’s.

The question is where? The second question is when?

It seems to me that the O’s will look at this and take the easiest (and maybe correct) solution. It is already August 20th. The Orioles can just wait until the rosters expand in September, and bring Reimold up then.

If you wanted him up today for sporadic at-bats, you could promote Reimold and have him replace Patterson, or Fox on the roster.

Obviously if he replaced Patterson, you would be giving up a lefty bat with better speed. If you gave-up Fox, you would be giving up a 3rd player on the roster capable of catching.

If you wanted Reimold to come back to the bigs today to play everyday, there really is only one way for that to happen. Reimold would have to replace Bell in the everyday lineup, with Wigginton taking over 3rd, and Reimold sharing 1st and DH with Scott.

Part of me can admit to wanting to see that. Even though Bell has looked better over the past week (.702 OPS, first two walks, better footwork on defense), overall he looks like a player that is going to need more time back at AAA to start ’11. The .514 OPS in 72 at-bats is not overly concerning, because it is just 72 at-bats. The 27 k’s (and just 2 walks) in those 72 at-bats is harder to accept.

So, again part of me thinks get an extended look at Reimold everyday for the last 6 weeks. He might be the player more likely to help the team in ’11 anyway.

The conflicted side of me says there is nothing saying Wigginton will be back with the O’s next-year. You have gone through these initial 22 games, and 72 at-bats for Bell; maybe you need to continue that evaluation over the remaining 40 games. Bell only figures to get more comfortable, and see improved performance. If the performance did not improve significantly during those remaining 40 games, you would definitively know as an organization that Bell was not ready to be handed the position to start ’11.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

X