Do I think it will happen? Not at this point, but I once had serious doubts that he'd still be pitching in late September. I did, however suggest from the very beginning that he had the stuff and the past experience to be a closer. I just wondered if he'd stay healthy and be given the opportunity. As I explained to one reader, I was under the mistaken impression that the reason Uehara became a free agent after his two-year deal expired, rather than remaining the Orioles' property, was because he signed out of Japan. That's not true. A bunch of writers sitting together in the press lounge about a month ago discovered at the same time, through a team official and after much debate, that the Orioles had to include the provision in his contract that he would become a free agent. I assume that's pretty standard in these circumstances, but it doesn't automatically occur. Live and learn. Meanwhile, it was raining sideways a few minutes ago. If the Orioles decide to postpone the game, they're hoping to do it relatively early - though perhaps not soon enough to spare some of us the drive to Camden Yards. I usually leave by 2:30 p.m., which might be pushing it. Carroll County schools are closing two hours early because of flood warnings and high winds. I know one teenager who's pretty happy about it, especially with a non-weather early dismissal also looming tomorrow.