Cabrera
Cabrera told Orioles manager Dave Trembley of his decision Friday, minutes before batting practice. Cabrera and New York's Edwar Ramirez were suspended and fined by the league for intentionally throwing at batters during their series earlier this week.
Ramirez has also appealed his three-game suspension, calling it "too much."
Cabrera, 7-6 with a 4.81 ERA in 23 starts, was also fined an undisclosed amount for throwing a pitch at Alex Rodriguez's head in the eighth inning Tuesday night. Cabrera was ejected.
Trembley didn't seem to have a problem with the suspension, only perhaps its length, after he talked with team president Andy MacPhail on Thursday.
"The rule is, from the commissioner's office, when someone gets ejected from a game for throwing at somebody it comes with a suspension," Trembley said before Friday night's series opener against the Mariners.
A second demoted member of Baltimore's rotation will not be pitching for the Orioles anytime soon. The team optioned Brian Burres to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday to make room for infielder Alex Cintron, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list.
Burres was demoted to the bullpen Monday after lasting only 1 2/3 innings in his most recent start, against the Los Angeles Angels on July 25. The left-hander allowed five runs and seven hits, dropping him to 7-7 with a 5.37 ERA.
"Our feelings are he has to go pitch and have some success. And he's got to do better against left-handed hitters," Trembley said.
The Orioles also ran out of patience recently with rookie starter Radhames Liz. They optioned the struggling left-hander to Triple-A Norfolk last weekend.
Baltimore has been going with a four-man rotation because of recent off-days. But Trembley said Liz's turn, which comes up again Tuesday against the Angels, will be filled by either one of two members of the current pitching staff or a minor league call-up.
Cintron is a switch-hitter who was batting .275 in 26 games before he strained his left hamstring running out an infield hit on June 30.
Trembley said Cintron will make occasional starts at Baltimore's troublesome shortstop position, which has had five different starters this season. The Orioles traded a minor leaguer to Colorado on July 19 for 36-year-old Juan Castro, thinking he'd be the next shortstop answer. But Castro entered Friday hitting .194 with two RBIs in 11 games.
O’s Cintron to start at shortstop after Bynum cut
CABRERA IN WITH HARRINGTON AND LOVE
Orioles place Albers on DL, activate Cabrera
