Reimold improves and left field playing time increases

If it seems like Nolan Reimold has been playing more regularly in left field, that is because he has. Reimold has started seven of the O's last 11 games in left and manager Dave Trembley said you can expect to see more of Reimold in left. "That's an indicator that we have to find out if he can do it or not. He's been able to respond health-wise. Now he needs to respond production-wise. He's passed the one hurdle, now he needs to break through on the other." Coming off last September's Achilles surgery, the O's used Reimold at the DH spot nine times in April. "You want to get him out there as much as you can to get through the struggles. You are not going to get through it on the bench," Trembley said. "But we needed to put him out there (in left every day) to see how he was. He's been fine and fine the next day. He's moving better. I sure would like to see him hit, though. There's been enough at bats now for all these guys." Reimold is batting just .203-2-10 in 28 games and 79 at bats. Reimold said his confidence is fine and he expects the hits to start coming soon. "I know it will be coming around. There is not a player in the game that hasn't gone through rough stretches. I've done it in the past, I've played well in the past. I know I can do it, I know it's in there. I'll pick it up." He said once again today, that the Achilles injury has not been the reason for his struggles on offense. "I don't feel it at all when I'm swinging. But in the rehab process in the off-season, I didn't prepare like I normally would be able to. But by the end of spring training I was hitting well the second half of spring and feeling good coming into the season. The injury hasn't made any difference with my swing. "It's disappointing when you are not living up to expectations, but you try not to press and know that eventually it will come around again. "I feel more comfortable running around out there. It's good to get into the flow of the game on offense and defense," the 26-year-old Reimold said. Reimold has hit .308 this year vs. left-handed pitching with an OPS of .849, but is batting just .151 with an OPS of .545 vs. right-handers. He looks forward to more starts in left. "I'm glad my manager has confidence in me. I have confidence in myself that I'll be fine." Minor league roster move: The Frederick Keys today activated RHP Oliver Drake from the disabled list while pitcher Brett Bordes has been transferred to the Aberdeen roster. Drake has pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings on the year, but has not pitched since April 13. Last year, Drake, a 43rd-round pick out of Navy in 2008, went 8-9, 4.34 in 24 starts for Delmarva. He began this year in Frederick's rotation and may return to the rotation when he builds up some innings.