"Struggling outfielder Nolan Reimold took extra batting practice before Tuesday night's game, his latest attempt to try to correct mechanical issues with his swing. Reimold, who wasn't in the starting lineup Tuesday night with right-hander A.J. Burnett pitching for the New York Yankees, entered Tuesday hitting just .179 with one homer and eight RBIs. He went 1-for-4 with a double Monday, but he was coming off a homestand in which he went just 2-for-14 with two walks. "It hasn't been very fun, that's for sure," Reimold said. "I have an idea of what I'm doing. I'm just trying to work it out. I'll be all right. It's mechanical more than anything. I'm just not hitting the ball. I'm pulling off it a little bit, and pitchers are staying away. It's not a good combo." Reimold had left Achilles tendon surgery in late September, and Orioles manager Dave Trembley brought him along slowly this spring. He didn't start playing in back-to-back games until late in the Grapefruit League season. But Reimold says he's feeling better physically, and he wouldn't use his offseason surgery and slow spring as an excuse for his early struggles. He said his surgically repaired Achilles can be a factor in the field but not at the plate, and that was true of last season as well, when he hit .279 with 15 homers and 45 RBIs in an encouraging rookie year. "I'm not going to blame that," Reimold said. "That's just part of the game right now. I'm going to look and leave April behind me and have a good May and the rest of the year. I know there are a few things that I'm doing wrong with my swing. That's why I'm hitting early and doing extra work right now so I can work that out and bring that work into the game. It's one thing to do it in BP. It's another thing to do it in the game." Trembley said he was encouraged after watching both Reimold and struggling designated hitter Luke Scott take early batting practice. "I think whenever you fail to succeed or live up to the expectations you have for yourself, I think you press to try to get it all back," Trembley said of Reimold. "He had a very good early hitting session today. He's close. He's better swinging the bat than he has been. He needs to get on track for the game and give himself a little breathing room. He's certainly a much, much better hitter than how he's started out. I'll get him in there [this] afternoon, and hopefully he has a big day and takes it into Minnesota with him."" http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-notebook-0505-20100504,0,1455548.story
