Pregame clubhouse chatter from Chris Davis, Matt Wieters and LJ Hoes

Before he took the field and had an impressive batting practice session today, Chris Davis talked earlier in the Orioles clubhouse and wondered just how long his oblique injury has hindered his swing this year. "I've looked at a lot of swings from the first couple of weeks and my follow through just didn't look the same, just didn't look right. Felt good yesterday (hitting in an indoor cage) to get back on track," Davis said. Davis, who has just two homers in 22 games, indicated the injury may have limited some of his strength and power. "Not being able to extend through the baseball, that is one of the things that allows me to hit the ball away with power," he said. "And even pull power, you need to continue your bat path through the zone and extend. That is something I wasn't doing. I didn't realize until I looked at those swings." Davis had no previous oblique injury to compare this one to, but it's clear he is ahead of schedule. "I've been told I've recovered quickly and that everything has gone about as good it could. I'm happy. Tough to sit and watch, even though we're winning," he said. Meanwhile, Matt Wieters is not still not catching for the Orioles. He will serve as the DH again tonight. There is still no set timetable for him to once again work behind the plate. "We're not going to put a time frame on it," he said. "We want to get the treatment, rehab and strength back in it before we pick up a ball. The last thing we want is a setback. Right now, our focus is on treatment and DHing for a while and then when we feel we are at a good place there, we'll pick up a ball." Wieters took some ground balls at first base during pregame work yesterday. "Right now, we are just taking ground balls," he said. "Gives me something to do. I don't know how near in the future sometime I could spell a game there, but right now it's more get better on what you can get better at." Wieters said serving as the DH takes some getting used to. "It's definitely a different mindset," he said. "You have to battle the thoughts that you feel like you have a drive in a run every time you go up there. It is fun to work with Clev (Steve Clevenger) and Caleb (Joseph) and try to get them to be where they can be." Wieters is batting .337 with five homers and 18 RBIs in 24 games. As the DH, he is 3-for-9 with a homer and three RBIs. Former Oriole LJ Hoes is back in town with Houston. He was traded to the Astros last July 31 in the deal that made Bud Norris an Oriole. Hoes, who is from Bowie, Md., said he will have about 30 family members and friends in the stands at Camden Yards tonight. He was pretty excited to be back at the Yard. "It's a tremendous feeling," Hoes said this afternoon in the Houston clubhouse. "This is where I grew up watching baseball. Cal Ripken, Brady Anderson, guys I grew up watching. Glad to be back and see some old friends. "I talk to Adam (Jones) pretty much every day. Talk to Manny (Machado) and (Jonathan) Schoop a lot. Saw Manny some this offseason and spent some time with Jones this offseason. Good to be back and see those guys." Hoes is batting .180 in 20 games, mostly platooning against left-handed pitching. He had three hits yesterday and will start in left field tonight, batting ninth. After the trade last summer it took him awhile to adjust playing for a new organization. "It took a little bit," Hoes said. "Never had been that far away from home, all the O's (minor league) affiliates are pretty close. Now going halfway across the country. Pretty adjusted now and having lots of fun."