"Vladimir Guerrero's impatience at the plate was borderline maddening early in the season -- Detective John Kimble wasn't the only one complaining about a lack of discipline -- but right now, it's hard to take issue with Guerrero's happy hacking in the batter's box. The Orioles designated hitter is in a groove.

Guerrero went 2-for-5 and drove in the Orioles' lone run in Wednesday night's 4-1 loss to the Yankees. It was his fourth straight multi-hit game. Ten days ago, his batting average was .267. Now it's a team-high .298. His power numbers are down -- four homers, 16 runs batted in and a .429 slugging percentage -- but with five doubles in the Orioles' past four games, there is reason to believe more big hits are on the way.

As advertised, the 36-year-old slugger swings early and often. He is batting .309 when putting the ball in play in three or fewer pitches (and he has only struck out in three pitches twice). He is 4-for-26 (.154) on balls hit on the first pitch of an at-bat, 13-for-37 (.351) on the second and 13-for-36 (.361) on the third."