In his last ten games, Joseph has a .233 batting average, ten hits, five of them being home runs and eight RBIs. On the season he has a .278 batting average, ten homeruns and 36 RBIs.

Joseph was selected by the Orioles in the seventh round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Libscomb University. In his junior year at Libscomb, Joseph had a .261 batting average, 17 home runs and a .615 slugging percentage. Joseph was also named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference Team and was named MVP of the conference tournament that year.

In 2010 and 2012 he was awarded MiLB.com Organization All-Star, and in 2011 he was awarded Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star. While he currently plays first base for the Baysox, Joseph’s original position was catcher.

March 1, 2012; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Joseph Caleb (72) poses for a portrait during photo day at the spring training headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The theme of “the ups and downs of a 162-game season” is one often explored on this blog and other Orioles outlets. The Baltimore center of gravity for this is of course Buck Showalter. And as well, at the very heart of the successful leadership he brings to the club is this steady-as-she-goes navigational strategy. He really is the “skipper” of the ship.

Apr 11, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) on the field before the start of the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Though unable to have access to the clubhouse and see firsthand how Buck works with the players, it is safe to say that the guy we see in post-game interviews is likely the same fellow who sets the tone beyond the reach of the cameras. All of us have probably had the experience at some point in our lives of having to work in an environment with a Jekyll and Hyde sort of boss. You never know which of the several multiple personalities will be “out” that day or that moment. It makes for a difficult workplace.

There is no shortage is the sport of baseball of successful fiery managers. In Baltimore, we need look no further than our own Earl Weaver – memorialized by the number “4” patch on the uniforms this year. Consider also such as Billy Martin, Tommy Lasorda, Bobby Cox, and Ozzie Guillen. The list could go on and on. Probably most of these guys could not manage this current flock of orange birds – Weaver as much as said so on several occasions.

Though baseball differs greatly as a sport from, say, football or basketball, in terms of how a successful player needs to manage emotions and stay within himself much more, the current Orioles team is an extraordinary collection of mellow fellows. Think about it. Heading the Orioles’ all-mellow team are Nick Markakis, Jim Johnson, Matt Wieters, Miguel Gonzalez, Brian Matusz, Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy, Nolan Reimold, and Jake Arrieta to name a few. To find anything resembling a raucous personality, you have to look to the dry wit of Tommy Hunter or the fun-loving personality of Adam Jones. Overall, it is a rather flat-line group, and it certainly seems to me that Showalter is the perfect guy to guide such a team.

The passionate fan will at times find this to be a bit maddening – especially during losing slides such as we recently saw. There is then a knee-jerk reaction to suggest that someone needs to light a fire under this team. I’m not sure that will work with this group, as their fire is a steady pilot light within – far from plain view. However, a guy who might bring some new color to this rather bland landscape is tonight’s starter Kevin Gausman, who by all reports has some eccentricities and interesting quirks of personality.

All of this is to say that Orioles fans would do well to be a bit more emotionally mellow like the team, balancing the highs and lows. It is not a posture that comes easily to fans (a term that is short for “fanatics”). But there is no doubt that the past two games with wins and quality starts have given the residents of Birdland cause for a corporate sigh of relief. And we can hope for that trend to continue tonight. But don’t expect Showalter to alter his show emotionally if it does, or does not.

Mar 9, 2012; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (75) pitches during the game against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. The Orioles defeated the Red Sox 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

According to MASN.com & FoxSports.com, the team is preparing to call up highly touted starting pitcher & 2012 top draft pick Kevin Gausman to make the start in Toronto on Thursday against the Blue Jays.

Gausman, 22, rated as the team’s overall #2 prospect, may be coming up to the big leagues earlier than expected, but it doesn’t come as a huge shock, especially with the pitching struggles the team has dealt with this season. The team’s number one rated prospect, fellow pitcher Dylan Bundy, has been dealing with some lingering arm soreness and isn’t scheduled to start throwing again for a couple of weeks.

According to Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com,

Entering Wednesday, the Orioles had received three consecutive starts of six innings or more, but prior to that, the club endured a seven-game stretch in which it got five innings or fewer from its starter six times. The O’s have already used 10 starting pitchers, and Gausman would be taking the turn of Jair Jurrjens, who allowed four runs over five innings in his one start before being optioned on Tuesday.

While he is only 2-4 with a 3.11 in eight starts for AA Bowie this season, his current strikeout to walk ratio is the stuff that makes scouts drool, 49 : 5. It is that stat, according to FoxSports.com, along with Gausman’s command, that gives the team confidence that Gausman is ready to make the leap to the major leagues. He has pitched just 64 1/3 pro innings, but he has been pitching well as of late, fanning 10 batters in his most recent outing.

Gausman did spend a lot of time with the major league club during spring training, but here’s a quick video the Baysox put together to introduce him to Orioles fans.

It’s tough NOT to think about a comparison between Gausman and wunderkid 3rd baseman Manny Machado, who made the big league jump at age 20 last season and has started extremely well this season in the field and at the plate.

May 19, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) throws over to first base to get out Tampa Bay Rays first baseman James Loney (not shown) in the sixth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Gausman will need to be afforded some time to work out the kinks and butterflies that accompany being called up for the first time, but there’s a reason the O’s selected him so high last year. Be sure to check out the Orioles this Thursday, May 23 against Toronto as the seemingly never-ending game of musical pitchers continues and Gausman makes his first major league start.

Cofirmation: Kevin Gausman is getting the start Thursday at Toronto to begin his big league career. Last year’s No. 1 pick jumping from AA

— Dan Connolly (@danconnollysun) May 22, 2013

For those of you on Twitter, Gausman’s handle is @KevinGausman.