Random notes and thoughts

TAMPA - The Orioles have so much going on that they're probably still percolating on their day off.

The rotation is listed as day-to-day with six starters in the fold after Chris Tillman comes off the disabled list for Sunday's series finale in Detroit. The bullpen will gain Darren O'Day next week, but Jayson Aquino no longer is expected to be part of it, with manager Buck Showalter saying the left-hander will head down to Sarasota as part of the minicamp or taxi squad or whatever we're calling it.

Joey Rickard is taking dry swings at the Ed Smith Stadium complex as part of his hitting progression. I prefer a dry martini.

Chris Davis will be in Friday's lineup, according to Showalter, after sitting out yesterday's 7-6 loss to the Rays with a sore left hand. Adam Jones most likely will stay in the lineup, but his hamstring warrants constant monitoring.

We didn't get a chance to talk to him yesterday, but plenty of fans think he should have caught Corey Dickerson's RBI double in left-center field in the seventh inning. I only got one look at it and know he had a shot at it.

Figuring out the lineup is more challenging than the rotation with so many extra players. The Rays started left-hander Drew Smyly yesterday and there was no sign of Nolan Reimold, with Showalter choosing Michael Bourn for left field and Drew Stubbs for right. He wanted to get Mark Trumbo off the turf and used him as the designated hitter.

Bourn homered in the third inning - the ninth of his career against a left-hander and the first since Aug. 17, 2013, when he connected off Jerry Blevins.

Showalter knew that Bourn was 4-for-9 against Smyly and went with it. I didn't sense a lot of support for the move on Twitter, but it worked.

Bourn has homered for all six teams that he's played for, including the Diamondbacks, Indians, Braves, Astros and Phillies.

I've had lots of readers asking if Hyun Soo Kim is in Showalter's doghouse. I'll concede that Kim hasn't been a regular in the lineup, but he started Monday against the Rays and there were two solid reasons for his omission in the next two games.

Jake Odorizzi is a reverse-splits guy who was holding left-handed hitters to a .189 average and the Rays started Smyly yesterday. No doghouse that I'm aware of, but I'd be more careful with the sunflower seeds after home runs. It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

The Orioles will face three right-handers in Detroit and I'd expect Kim in the lineup Friday night. Rookie Michael Fulmer is holding left-handers to a .215 average, but right-handers are hitting .230. He's a challenge from both sides.

No one cares for my opinion, but I prefer Kim batting first or second.

Kim has turned out to be a better left fielder than advertised. He's not winning a Gold Glove and the style points are lacking, but he isn't nearly as bad as what I expected after hearing scouting reports and watching him in spring training.

Every fly ball hit to Kim in April warranted a tweet. Now, he's just another outfielder making the expected plays.

"I think Kim, there was a lot of unknown," Showalter said. "He's a very sure fielder, an accurate thrower.

"It really hit home the other night. He missed the cutoff man I think for the first time all year on a relay from the corner. It was like, not a shock, but it really hit home for me how good he's been at that and how many outs we've gotten because he got the ball to the cutoff man in a good spot. Top of the chest. Guys really like it."

I read the criticism of Showalter letting Caleb Joseph bat yesterday with Stubbs on first base and no outs in the eighth inning. He wanted Joseph to drop down a bunt and move up Stubbs, which is precisely what happened. I have absolutely no issues with putting the tying run in scoring position with one out and the top of the order coming up.

Jones and Bourn struck out. That's the issue.

Joseph still doesn't have an RBI this season, Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier robbing him yesterday, but he hasn't lost his sense of humor. He returned to his locker a few days ago after hitting in the cage and said he drove in four runs.

We can debate the relevance of the stat, but I'll just mention that the Orioles have hit 14 home runs in the first at-bat after the opponent brings in a new pitcher. It happened again Tuesday night.

They're far from the leader in that department. At last check, the Cardinals did it 23 times. But it's still somewhat interesting to me that they've ambushed relievers that many times.

I tweeted it yesterday and will share it here this morning: Yesterday marked the fourth time in franchise history that Orioles lost a game when their pitchers struck out 15 or more batters in a non-extra inning game.

The last time it happened was Sept. 23, 1999 against the Athletics in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Sidney Ponson accounted for eight of those strikeouts, but he also allowed six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.

B.J. Ryan struck out four in 2 1/3 innings, Gabe Molina struck out one in two-thirds of an inning and Mike Fetters struck out two in one inning.

Brady Anderson was the leadoff hitter that day and had a .412 on-base percentage. Albert Belle had a .950 OPS and issues.

Want to get under Showalter's skin? Insist that a tie at first base goes to the runner.

We grew up believing it, but it's not true. The runner is out.

Want to get under O'Day's skin? Ask about his shoulder after asking about his hamstring earlier in the summer.

It's killing him that he hasn't been able to pitch.

Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Dariel Alvarez led the International League with 38 doubles. He's the first Tides player to rank first since Oscar Salazar had 42 in 2008.

If you remember Salazar playing for the Orioles, you really are a fan. Kudos to you.

Alvarez also ranked third in the International League with 151 hits, but he wasn't recalled when rosters expanded and his spot on the 40-man roster is shaky at best.

I'm curious whether Christian Walker stays on the 40-man. He's blocked at first base by Davis, and Trey Mancini ranks ahead of him among prospects. He moved to left field this season, but that's still a work in progress.

Walker batted .264 with 29 doubles, 18 home runs, 64 RBIs and a .758 OPS. Teams checked on his availability over the winter and again in spring training. Maybe he's moved during the offseason if there's more interest.

DJ Stewart, the Orioles' first-round pick in 2015 out of Florida State, batted .230/.366/.352 in 62 games at low Single-A Delmarva. He moved up to high Single-A Frederick and batted .279/.389/.448 in 59 games. Six of his 10 home runs were hit in the Carolina League.

Maybe he's like the smart kid in class who needs to be challenged with tougher courses. I've heard stories about them.

If I'm with the Orioles, I'm encouraged by his combined .377 on-base percentage and 78 walks.

Keep an eye on Delmarva outfielder Cedric Mullins, a 13th-round pick in 2015 out of Campbell University who batted .300/.346/.480 with six doubles, four home runs, 12 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 24 games in August.

Mullins is listed at 5 foot 8, but there's nothing small about the praise I'm hearing. And some of it is coming from Showalter, who's brought up Mullins' name on multiple occasions.

In four September games, Mullins went 8-for-17 with two home runs and five RBIs. It wasn't just an August thing.