Cooling off Koji

I'm making the assumption that Koji Uehara doesn't have warm memories of his last visit to Arlington. The temperature is much higher. The steam's still rising off them. Reach too close and you'll singe the hair on your arms. Uehara wilted in the heat during his May 19 appearance, removing his cap and gasping for air between pitches, and we didn't see him on the mound again until June 29. He went on the disabled list with a sore elbow, but his conditioning and durability again came into question. Uehara has allowed three runs and seven hits in three innings since the Orioles activated him. He hasn't pitched since Monday, so he'll be fresh tonight - at least until the game begins. Interim manager Juan Samuel hasn't tried using Uehara in back-to-back games, but that time could be approaching. I'd just wait until the team leaves Arlington. In case you've stopped checking the standings, and I don't blame you, the Rangers hold a 5 ½-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Just Off The Expressway Near Disney. It matches the largest lead at any point in a season in franchise history. The Rangers also led the Angels by 5 ½ games through 49 games last season. They went 57-56 the rest of the way, and the Angels won the AL West by 10 ½ games. Meanwhile... As expected, a judge ruled in favor of Sarasota County this morning in the lawsuit regarding the county's deal with the Orioles to move the team's spring training home to Sarasota and renovate Ed Smith Stadium. Nolan Reimold has played first base in his last 14 games with Triple-A Norfolk. Due to vendor error, the Orioles' planned giveaway for July 17, a replica Brooks Robinson jersey, will not arrive in time for that night's game. To compensate for the inconvenience, the Orioles will give the first 25,000 fans 21 and over attending the game against the Blue Jays a Brooks Robinson jersey T-shirt and a voucher for the originally scheduled replica jersey. The voucher may be redeemed at Camden Yards or via mail once the replica jerseys arrive.