Showalter on Rickard, O'Day and Hardy

Outfielder Joey Rickard is back in Sarasota after having his right thumb examined Monday in Baltimore. Back to the Ed Smith Stadium complex, the splint worn for another two-to-three weeks.

Back to reminding manager Buck Showalter how much his absence is felt on the team.

"I'm really hoping the two-to-three weeks is two weeks and hoping that he gets moving," Showalter said. "We miss him. We've been without him for quite a while. He brought a lot of things to us that we've been trying to replace."

The Orioles don't expect Rickard to come off the disabled list by Sept. 1 and will search their farm system for one or two players with a similar skill set to place on their expanded roster.

Plus speed and defense, with the ability to swipe a few bases as a pinch-runner.

"If we can find him," Showalter said. "That's why we took Joey in the Rule 5 because we weren't sure if we had anybody from within who could do what he was doing with Durham and Montgomery.

"We'll have one, maybe two. We'll figure it out."

A reminder here that players added in September must be placed on the 40-man roster. For example, Julio Borbon would be an asset, but the Orioles must make room for him.

Showalter doesn't know whether reliever Darren O'Day's shoulder injury is related to the hamstring injury that cost him seven weeks of the season. Showalter isn't a doctor and he doesn't play one on TV.

"You never know," he said. "Everybody's trying to connect dots to why and whatever. We do that, too, because you don't want something to happen again. But I don't know.

"I'm sure it's on his mind somewhat, but he's more interested in making sure he gets everything taken care of and being back there for us the last month of the season and plus, we hope. It's hard to say if one is connected or not. I'm sure somebody could put magnets on him and bio-mechanically and tell us exactly what stress is put on whatever, but I don't think so. Magnets won't stay on when they start sweating, we've found out."

Last night marked the sixth time that the Orioles hit at least five home runs in a game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the highest total since the 1996 Athletics totaled seven five-homer games and the Orioles totaled six to set a club record.

J.J. Hardy hit two of those home runs last night.

"It's his birthday today," Showalter said. "I asked him in the dugout last night, 'Are you sure your birthday wasn't today?'

"He was telling me his wife made his birthday breakfast today. Said he might be a little sluggish till about 7 o'clock."

Hardy's leadership never gets old.

"I think so many people miss that he's impactful to his teammates," Showalter said. "I think Jon and Manny would have reached their level eventually, but having guys like J.J. accelerates it. Just his presentation. There's no agenda. They know he's got a pure heart when he's talking to them and he doesn't take himself too seriously. He'll laugh with them.

"I was watching last night. He's got this home run thing with two guys now. I think it's great. J.J. knows the new songs. He's not some ancient ... I'm glad we've got him for another year and an opportunity to have him beyond that. He's impacted a lot of his teammates' lives and careers."