Socolovich optioned to Norfolk

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

August 12, 2012, 2:40pm

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The Orioles have optioned reliever Miguel Socolovich to Triple-A Norfolk. A corresponding roster move will be announced later. Socolovich has appeared in six games, allowing eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings for a 6.97 ERA. He let two inherited runners score last night after replacing starter Chris Tillman and also was charged with one run. Socolovich has posted a 1.90 ERA in 28 appearances with the Tides. He was chosen to the International League All-Star team. Could the Orioles be prepared to call up right-hander Jason Berken? He's been removed from Norfolk's rotation, as I reported earlier today, because the Orioles don't want him to reach his innings limit before joining them. Berken mostly has been a reliever with the Orioles, but they've stretched him out as a starter at Norfolk, which explains the cautious approach with his innings. He's thrown 121 1/3 this season, going 4-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 22 starts. Berken is on the 40-man roster, which would make a promotion less complicated. It's just speculation at this point, but Berken is a guess. As Showalter likes to say, we'll see.