Showalter on roster move and more

Orioles manager Buck Showalter explained to reporters why the club designated first baseman Travis Ishikawa for assignment this afternoon and recalled pitcher Jair Jurrjens. "Just felt like we needed some coverage in our bullpen tonight after last night, and we're going to make a move with Brian (Roberts) tomorrow, anyway," Showalter said. The Orioles will continue their attempts to trade Ishikawa. If he goes through waivers and clears, he can choose to become a free agent. "Hoping it works out," Showalter said. "Would love to have Travis back in Norfolk, but there's 10 days, the way I understand it, and a lot of things could happen. I like Travis. And he's a better hitter than he's shown here. I know that. We know that." The Orioles chose to recall Jurrjens because "he was the most ready," Showalter said. "There were a couple other guys we considered, but this worked best." The Orioles could option Jurrjens on Sunday to create room on the roster for Roberts if they don't feel as strongly about carrying a long reliever in their bullpen with Chris Tillman making the start. "I usually just see how the game unfolds," Showalter said. "I've got a pretty good idea, but things happen during a game. Maybe Brian during BP or something and we're waiting another day or two. Maybe (Wei-Yin) Chen's situation tonight in Bowie. We'll have that information after tonight. Even Nolan (Reimold) has some bearing. All of it plays on it. I'd rather just kind of see where we are. There are three or four parts of it that should be revealed to us after tonight." Jurrjens was told last night that the Orioles were recalling him. "I was heading home," he said. "I got a call from R.J. (Ron Johnson), he said like, 'They needed arms in the bullpen.' and I turned back and got my bags. I woke up this morning and drove over here." Jurrjens said working out of the bullpen wouldn't be a major adjustment. "It's still the same - get people out," he said. "Whether you're starting or relieving, you still have to get the job done. And whenever the phone rings and it's my name, I'll try to get ready as quick as possible and try to get the job done." Jurrjens is prepared for a short stay in Baltimore. "You roll with the punches and when you get your chance, you try to do the most you can do and try to show them you can help the team out," Jurrjens said. There's nothing new to report on Wilson Betemit. He's not close to being ready for an injury-rehab assignment. "I think once the strength in the quad gets there, it should come," Showalter said. "That's why it's tough to put a timeframe on it. It's a pretty serious injury for one that didn't have surgery. And it's a long process. "He resumed baseball activities, which is good, because he was pretty sore the first time he tried it. He's feeling a lot better about it. It would be nice to get Wilson back, but I don't see a projectable date right now." The White Sox are listing left-handers John Danks, Hector Santiago and Jose Quintana as their starters for the three-game series against the Orioles that begins Tuesday night in Chicago. The Orioles are listing Jason Hammel, Miguel Gonzalez and TBA. As I wrote in the last entry, Chen could start Thursday in Chicago or Friday night in New York.