The longball has been lacking for the 2014 Orioles

So where have all the homers gone? The Orioles have hit 23 homers over their first 30 games. That ties for 12th in the American League and just five teams in the majors have hit fewer. After 30 games last season, the Orioles had hit 34 homers. Last year at this point, the O's had eight multi-homer games and now they have just four. This from the team that led the majors in 2013 with 212 homers, which was 24 more than Seattle, the next-closest team. The Orioles had four players hit 20 or more and were the only team in the majors to have two players hit 30 or more - Adam Jones (33) and Chris Davis (53). The 2013 Orioles led the majors with three Silver Slugger award winners as Davis, Jones and J.J. Hardy were so honored. No O's team had ever had three Silver Slugger winners before. So far, that trio has combined for just three homers in 282 at-bats. On this date last year, those three had combined for 18 as Davis had nine, Hardy five and Jones four. Since Davis has hit 86 homers the last two years, Jones has hit 65 and Hardy's 77 homers from 2011-13 led all big league shortstops, some homers will surely be coming for this group and soon. Davis' next homer will have to wait until he comes off the disabled list, of course. But of the Orioles' 212 homers last season, that threesome hit more than half with 111. So some homers will be coming. But why have the homers been so slow to come so far? Are pitchers pitching differently or more carefully? What are your theories? The wait on Wieters: We should find out more this afternoon about catcher Matt Wieters after his visit with Dr. James Andrews to check on his right elbow. If a scenario unfolds where Wieters can't catch for a while but can stay on the active roster, the O's would certainly need to add a player that can catch and Caleb Joseph has been summoned to St. Petersburg, Fla., just in case. Joseph has posted stunning numbers when facing lefty pitchers in the high minors since the start of last season. With Double-A Bowie in 2013, Joseph batted .416 with a .644 slugging percentage and OPS of 1.092 against southpaws. This season with Norfolk over 30 at-bats, those numbers are .467/.667/1.133 against left-handed pitchers.



A few notes before tonight's game
Ramos back in lineup, batting fifth against Dodger...
 

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