Trumbo update and Hart's return

BOSTON - Mark Trumbo sat at his usual locker this afternoon inside the cramped visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park, ready to work out but unsure when his right quadriceps muscle will heal to the point where he can play gain.

The Orioles removed Trumbo from his injury rehab assignment after one game at Double-A Bowie. Manager Buck Showalter said it wasn't a setback that led to the decision and Trumbo confirmed it today.

"I think it's accurate," he said. "The timeline that kind of roughly was established, we're still well within that. I just think when I played in a game the other day, it didn't feel quite ready to put it under complete game stress. So, I just thought it was better to say something than try to grind through it and maybe not ever get to that point where I was completely ready to go."

Trumbo will stay with the Orioles on a road trip that also includes a stop in Detroit.

"Progress through some of the stuff we were doing before," he said. "And I think by that time, maybe by the end of this road trip or whenever actually that it is possible to really cut it loose totally pain-free, I think that's kind of the plan."

The Orioles will return Trumbo to his rehab assignment to get more at-bats - he accumulated 23 in spring training and three at Bowie - before activating him.

"I think that probably makes sense," he said. "That's probably what we'll do."

Trumbo was subjected to the cold weather in Bowie and Sunday's temperatures in Boston are supposed to settle in the 30s, with precipitation most of the day that carries into Monday. Conditions that aren't suited for baseball might seem to be a hindrance, but Trumbo won't use them as an excuse. He says they're not impacting his schedule or health.

"Once you get loose and once you're in the game and you've broken a sweat, even if it is cold ... the only way I can put it is I don't think the weather has anything to do with it," he said. "If it's still painful and not healed, it's going to be exposed in any conditions."

Donnie Hart also is in the clubhouse today after the Orioles recalled him from Triple-A Norfolk and he'll be available in the bullpen tonight.

The Orioles were intent on adding a left-handed reliever before tonight's series opener, but Hart wasn't paying attention to it.

"Not at all," he said. "I had a job to do down there. My focus was to get guys out there and do what I can to get here."

Getting Hart to Boston, besides a flight, was his production with the Tides that included one hit and seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings scoreless innings. Left-handed hitters were 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.

"I think the biggest thing was just getting back to being more aggressive," he said. "Especially right now, hitters are anxious, it's cold, it's early in the season, so guys are still trying to figure their way out. So are pitchers, but I think the biggest thing was just being more aggressive."

The Orioles optioned Hart in spring training after allowed three runs and 10 hits, walked three batters and struck out 11 in eight innings.

"Surprised, no. Disappointed, yeah," he said. "But it's part of it. There's a lot of things you can't control in this game in terms of stuff that goes on around you. Could I have had a better spring? Yeah, absolutely. But if you keep on pitching and keep getting guys out, you're always going to get a chance, so that's what you've got to do. You can't feel sorry for yourself when something like that happens."