Pregame notes on Tillman, Castro, Hardy and loyalty

Orioles manager Buck Showalter indicated today that Chris Tillman's next start could come Sunday afternoon against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Tillman returned to the rotation on Sunday against the Angels and allowed four runs with six walks in 5 1/3 innings.

"I know where we are on Friday and Saturday in Boston," Showalter said. "We're waiting to see one thing today before we make that decision, see how batting practice goes."

The BP session was going to be abbreviated due to the intense heat. The Orioles won't hit Wednesday before a day game and they're off Thursday. Rain interrupted their session yesterday.

"It's almost unhealthy to be out there today," Showalter said. "We're going to really shorten things up. There are some guys who won't even get out."

Reliever Miguel Castro is traveling today and will rejoin the team on Wednesday after going on bereavement leave. A roster move is coming.

"We'll get a rested arm tomorrow in Castro," Showalter said, "and the decision will be whether we stay with six down there or send somebody else out, a position player."

Eliminating a bench player would be tricky, since Ryan Flaherty and Craig Gentry can't be optioned. Rule 5 pick Anthony Santander would have to clear waivers and be offered back to the Indians. So, it's more likely that a reliever - probably Alec Asher - will be optioned.

Showalter said reports were positive on shortstop J.J. Hardy, who's batting fifth again tonight at Triple-A Norfolk. Charlotte is starting former Orioles pitcher Steve Johnson.

Hardy played nine innings last night, as he vowed to do, and went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. He hadn't played in two months and no one is obsessing over his stats.

"Things went well with J.J. last night," Showalter said. "He told me he was going to play nine innings last night. He really wanted to get a gauge on where he is. He talked to Bobby (Dickerson) today. I think he's going to play six tonight, somewhere around there, and tomorrow, and then either DH or take the morning game off on Thursday. But it went well.

"That's a good start. Glad to see that."

Showalter will trust Hardy to let him know when it's time to come off the disabled list.

"With the experience he has and the player he is, he'll know. He'll tell us," Showalter said.

"He and Bobby talk every day a couple of times. He knows what it takes to play here and when he's right and when he's not. We're waiting for that nod.

"When guys go on rehab like that with major league service time as he has, they kind of dictate the number of days that they will agree to to go out. I know with pitchers it's different than hitters. You can't make them go down there for two or three weeks. Don't want to.

"A guy like J.J. will tell us when he's ready. There's so much respect for him in the clubhouse. I know everybody's looking forward to getting him back."

One of the biggest criticisms of Showalter among fans is that he's "too loyal" to certain players. Showalter seemed puzzled by it when asked earlier today.

"So, loyalty to another human being is a bad trait, but not to the point where it jeopardizes the Orioles success," he said. "I don't know. If that's the worst thing they can say about me, I'm OK with that.

"I think you have to have a long memory here, but you also have to have a short memory sometimes. I probably stand accused of that. Because I know a lot of things that other people don't know about players. It's tough. I'm trying to think what an example would be. Sticking with Adam Jones and letting him play? I don't know. Who am I too loyal to? That's pretty good. I'm OK with that.

"Has there ever been someone accused of not being loyal enough? I don't know. Which one would you pick of the two? I depends how you define loyalty. Is it a blind thing or is it someone merits that? You earn that stuff, you earn that type of thing. It's an imperfect world, an imperfect sport played by guys who aren't perfect. Neither are coaches or managers. But there has to be a sense of consistency. They have to know what they're going to get. You can't be up, down, up, down, what have you done for me lately? But there also has to be a sense of urgency. At some point that leash gets shortened, right?"

For example, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo moving down in the order.

For the Athletics
Boog Powell CF
Jed Lowrie 2B
Matt Joyce RF
Khris Davis LF
Ryon Healy DH
Matt Olson 1B
Chad Pinder SS
Matt Chapman 3B
Bruce Maxwell C

Paul Blackburn RHP