What's right and wrong with roster

The Orioles made another roster move yesterday, optioning Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk and recalling reliever Evan Meek.

If you're catching a whiff of fumes, it's just the shuttle going back and forth again.

The Orioles don't have a true long reliever again after optioning left-hander T.J. McFarland, but on any given night, manager Buck Showalter could call upon Meek or left-hander Troy Patton to go multiple innings. Maybe Tommy Hunter, as well, now that he's not closing.

It might only be two innings, but Showalter will piece together the rest of the game if a starter leaves early.

Zach Britton has gone multiple innings in the past, but the Orioles just want him to get three outs in the ninth.

Ideally, Josh Stinson would be here to handle that role. He'd have to be returned to the 40-man roster, but Showalter always says that's not an issue.

Stinson took the loss yesterday at Norfolk by allowing three runs and four hits in three innings to leave his ERA at 4.35. He also threw two wild pitches and hit a batter. Guess he's not back to his second half form of 2013.

Ideally, Steve Johnson would be here to handle that role. He underwent an MRI on his right shoulder yesterday and will need to get rid of the inflammation and build up his innings.

Ideally, the starters would routinely clear seven innings and the Orioles could just stock their roster with one-inning relievers.

Every team needs that swingman type, just in case.

As for the position players, the Orioles have five left-handed hitters on the 25-man roster and they all made it into last night's lineup against Royals starter Yordano Ventura. Showalter has pointed out that the club is right-handed heavy without switch-hitting Matt Wieters.

It hurts that David Lough is batting .167 in 29 games and Ryan Flaherty was batting .205 in 24 games.

Steve Lombardozzi is a switch-hitter and he's carrying a 10-game hitting streak at Norfolk. How long before he's called up?

Lombardozzi also has been playing left field at Norfolk, which increases his value.

Former first-round pick Brett Wallace has caught fire with the Tides. He bats from the left side of the plate, but he plays first and third base, and the Orioles are fairly set at those positions. However, he could be a left-handed DH on occasion.

Before going 0-for-3 yesterday, Wallace was batting .373 (25-for-67) over his last 18 games, with four home runs, 16 RBIs and 14 runs scored. He had seven multi-hit games in that span, raising his average by 120 points.

Go ahead and give me the roster moves that you'd make if you were general manager. But please, don't suggest optioning a guy who's out of options or releasing a guy who can be optioned.

I found it interesting that MLB Daily Dish reported last night that the Orioles are among four teams attempting to sign reliever Heath Bell, who was released by the Rays.

They had zero interest in Bell over the winter when the Rays contacted them after signing Grant Balfour. The Rays were checking around the league.