Joseph waiting on first RBI

Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph lined a double into the left field corner in the eighth inning of a May 11 game in Minnesota, rather mundane on the surface except that Nolan Reimold was motoring around the bases.

Joseph didn't have an RBI on the season. Reimold was in full stride as he reached third base and took a wide turn - then slammed on the brakes and went back to the bag.

Oh, so close.

It was likely the right decision. Reimold probably would have been out at the plate and third base coach Bobby Dickerson, unafraid of aggressive sends, put up the stop sign.

In his previous at-bat, Joseph struck out swinging after the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs. He earlier had lined out while leading off the inning.

Joseph remains in search of that elusive RBI after going 0-for-3 yesterday against the Mariners. He stranded Pedro Alvarez on second base to end the second inning, grounding out to shortstop Ketel Marte and putting on his gear.

Alvarez had just doubled off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field, narrowly missing a two-run homer. Jonathan Schoop raced home from first base and Joseph strolled to the plate.

It was the last at-bat for Joseph with anyone on base. He flied to left field with one out in the fifth and struck out leading off the eighth to lower his average to .204 in 18 games. He was removed in the ninth for a pinch-hitter, Hyun Soo Kim, who stood on deck as the final out was recorded.

Joseph drove in 49 runs last year in 100 games, his first RBI coming in his sixth game. It began a streak of RBIs in four consecutive starts. And there were plenty for Joseph while Matt Wieters recovered from elbow surgery.

Wieters is healthy now, but he's mostly been alternating starts with Joseph, who hasn't lost his sense of humor or perspective. He also retains the strong and accurate throwing arm, cutting down two more would-be basestealers yesterday to make him 6-for-20.

"The mythical first RBI," Joseph said with a grin. "I had quite a few last year, like 50-something. Maybe amped up a little bit now with guys on base, but I think overall I've been squaring the ball up pretty hard. And that's all you can ask for.

"I don't think the consistency has been what I've wanted it to be in terms of squaring the ball flush. Of course, everybody wants to go up there and hit every single ball flush every time, but that's what I'm really working toward is just trying to flush it every time and see what happens. There's a little bit of, I'm not going to say 'anxiety,' but I've had a couple opportunities to drive some guys in and it hasn't happened.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to that first RBI because I feel like they'll probably start coming in bunches after you get that first one down."

At this moment, Dickerson begins to walk past Joseph's locker and pauses to listen in on the conversation. The subject turns to the double in Minnesota, the stop sign, Reimold holding up.

Joseph, of course, can't resist.

"Yeah, it was Bobby's fault. Bobby didn't send him, so ..." Joseph said, another grin spreading across his face.

"No, I mean, you can't get one hit with a guy on first base and expect to get your first RBI. I've had multiple opportunities with guys on second base, easy RBI opportunities that I should have been able to capitalize.

"I think I just need to try to back leg one and hit one out of the stadium to get the first one going. Take it out of the third base coach's hands."

Dickerson chuckles and shakes his head. Joseph squared up that joke flush.