masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles manager Buck Showalter is sticking with Joey Rickard in right field for tonight’s series opener against the Angels in Anaheim.
Seth Smith is in left field. Welington Castillo is catching.
Opponents are 3-for-32 against Dylan Bundy with runners in scoring position and two outs.
For the Orioles Adam Jones CF Manny Machado 3B Jonathan Schoop 2B Chris Davis 1B Trey Mancini DH Tim Beckham SS Seth Smith LF Welington Castillo C Joey Rickard RF
Dylan Bundy RHP
For the Angels Cameron Maybin LF…

mancini-rickard-gray-side-high-five.jpgOrioles manager Buck Showalter is sticking with Joey Rickard in right field for tonight’s series opener against the Angels in Anaheim.

Seth Smith is in left field. Welington Castillo is catching.

Opponents are 3-for-32 against Dylan Bundy with runners in scoring position and two outs.

For the Orioles
Adam Jones CF
Manny Machado 3B
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Chris Davis 1B
Trey Mancini DH
Tim Beckham SS
Seth Smith LF
Welington Castillo C
Joey Rickard RF

Dylan Bundy RHP

For the Angels
Cameron Maybin LF
Mike Trout CF
Albert Pujols DH
Kole Calhoun RF
Andrelton Simmons SS
Luis Valbuena 3B
C.J. Cron 1B
Martin Maldonado C
Kaleb Cowart 2B

J.C. Ramirez RHP

Condolences sent to the family and friends of former Orioles outfielder Don Baylor, who passed away this morning at age 68 after a 14-year battle with multiple myeloma.

Baylor spent six of his 19 seasons with the Orioles after they selected him in the second round of the 1967 draft. He was named American League Most Valuable Player with the Angels in 1979, his team losing to the Orioles in the Championship Series.

Baylor is survived by his wife, Rebecca (Becky), son Don Edward Jr., brother Doug; sister Connie and granddaughters Brooklyn and Nola Bee.

I never had the privilege of meeting Baylor, but I vividly remember the April 2, 1976 trade that sent him to the Athletics for Reggie Jackson and Ken Holtzman. The Orioles also surrendered pitchers Mike Torrez, whose only 20-win season came the previous summer, and Paul Mitchell, who cried after learning of the deal.

Baylor, too, was devastated. Meanwhile, Jackson wanted no part of Baltimore and didn’t appreciate his abbreviated season with the Orioles until long after he signed with the Yankees as a free agent.

There wasn’t a tougher player or better leader in baseball than Baylor. No one could break up a double play like him. No one commanded more respect, which only grew during his courageous fight with cancer.

Tremendous player and a better man.

“His son called me today,” said Nationals manager Dusty Baker. “I guess he passed around 4 o’clock this morning and I could kind of feel it, because I woke up to use the bathroom and knew something was wrong. The last time I had that feeling was when Bobby Welch died.

“It’s tough. We all tried to keep up with Donny. We used to play everything. I was a better basketball player, but he was a stronger baseball player. So, this week, they say death travels in threes. I just found out Darren Daulton left and David Loewenstein, Al Rosen’s kid, died last week and Lee May.

“I was just listening to Tupac today, and death around the corner. I don’t know if you all know that song or not, but indeed, you just don’t know how death is to all of us. Just treat each other right and try to do the right thing.”