Showalter on the offense, Gentry's return, Mel Didier and more

TORONTO - Convinced that his team can still make a run to get the second American League wild card, Orioles manager Buck Showalter today talked about his team's struggling offense.

During a four-game losing streak, the Orioles have scored just five runs on 23 hits with two home runs.

Have the Orioles just faced pitching that was real good or have they contributed to their recent team-wide slump?

"It's both," Showalter said. "I'm always going to give credit to the opposition, but the combination - we haven't swung the bat well here lately after having a long stretch of really swinging it well. Every team goes through it, you just don't want to see it happen in September. But you are always a day away from that changing.

"This time of year, it's a snowball time of the year," he said. "Ask the Dodgers, ask the Indians. Ask three or four clubs. There is such a fine separation from teams that are going to win 100 and lose 100. People roll their eyes at that, but you have to stay mentally and emotionally strong to not let it snowball negatively.

"You don't look at standings and go 'We have to win X-number of games.' You have to win tonight. You can't get involved in, 'We have to go X and X to get there.' I still believe that if we get it going, it's still going to be there for us."

Meanwhile the offense will add a weapon tomorrow, but not one that can swing a bat right now. Outfielder Craig Gentry has been cleared to run the bases and pinch run. He's been on the DL since Sept. 2 with a fractured right middle finger.

Can he help the team without the ability to hit or play the field? Showalter says definitely.

"We've got to get somebody on base," he said. "But anytime you have a player that makes the other team play to a different speed. Whether the pitcher has to be faster to the plate, catcher has to speed up and that might take away some pitches. Might not want to throw a breaking ball or changeup, that is slower to the plate. He really helped us on defense and was a big upgrade for us. He was really swinging the bat well too at the time. We'll take that one skill this time of year."

Showalter was asked if Gentry is going to be able to bat or play the field before the season ends?

"I don't know that far. I hope so. If he can, I'm not going to broadcast it," he said.

Showalter was asked today about the future of right-hander Miguel Castro in terms of him moving to the starting rotation. He made it sound very possible, even if that doesn't happen for this season.

"Roger (McDowell, pitching coach) and I, we have planned the whole thing for it," he said. "There is a lot of thought put into it, not just for the rest of this year, but for next year too. Like all of young pitchers, they are precious commodities and we want to make good decisions about them. Because we don't have many to pick from right now."

Showalter spent several minutes today reflecting on the life of Mel Didier, who died at age 90. He spent over 60 years in the game as a player, executive, coach and scout. Upon his passing, he was a senior advisor for the Toronto organization the Orioles play tonight.

He worked with the Arizona Diamondbacks when Showalter managed that team from 1998-2000.

Didier passed away Sunday night at his home in Phoenix. Showalter had spoken to him just in the last few days. Didier once worked for the Orioles along with Expos, Mariners, Dodgers, Indians and Rangers.

"I go way back with Mel. He was our farm director in Arizona," Showalter said. "He was the epitome of a baseball man and never had a bad day. He was scouting just two or three months ago. He impacted a lot of lives. Real sharp and very sincere. This is tough.

"Boy he loved the game, everything about it. He was a great ambassador of the game. Everything that is good about our game, Mel stood for.

"I feel bad for a lot of people, the way front offices are now, they are not able to have a Mel Didier around to show them the parts of scouting that are as important as the number crunching," Showalter said. "And Mel could crunch the numbers as well as anyone. He bridged both. He was ahead of his time. He was a rock."