masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgNORFOLK, Va. – Well, the weather has taken a turn for the worse in Norfolk. It is raining hard right now and the tarp has been put back on the field. An on-time start seems impossible and it could be that this game never gets played. Stay tuned.

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis will not play here today, we know that for sure, due to neck stiffness that developed on the plane today as the team flew here from Florida.

But asked if he could play with this on opening day, Markakis said,…NORFOLK, Va. – Well, the weather has taken a turn for the worse in Norfolk. It is raining hard right now and the tarp has been put back on the field. An on-time start seems impossible and it could be that this game never gets played. Stay tuned.

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis will not play here today, we know that for sure, due to neck stiffness that developed on the plane today as the team flew here from Florida.

But asked if he could play with this on opening day, Markakis said, “Yeah. I’ve never had this before a game but if I had to I could probably play.”

Is there no question he will play on Monday?

“I don’t think so,” Markakis said. “I don’t know what this is from. I was fine getting on the plane, but as soon as we took off it stiffened up on me.”

Markakis said this was not related to the shoulder tendinitis he had this spring but it could be to a slightly herniated disc in his neck from the 2013 season.

“No this has nothing to do with my shoulder,” he said. “The doctor said I could have sporadic flareups from my disc last year. An injured disc kind of heals, but there are always possibilities of it flaring up and getting a little bit of stiffness. Was fine this morning.”

Markakis is pleased with his spring. A spring where he hit .356 (16-for-45) with a homer and six RBIs.

“I was happy with it,” he said. “Got a lot of accomplished and a lot of things I wanted to get done. It worked out great and was a good way to prepare for the season.”

Orioles lineup
LF – David Lough
SS – J.J. Hardy
1B – Chris Davis
CF – Adam Jones
RF – Nelson Cruz
C – Matt Wieters
DH – Delmon Young
3B – Ryan Flaherty
2B – Steve Lombardozzi

RHP – Suk-min Yoon

Norfolk lineup
CF – Julio Borbon
2B – Cord Phelps
RF – Henry Urrutia
DH – Chris Marrero
1B – Brett Wallace
C – Caleb Joseph
3B – David Adams
SS – Alexi Casilla
LF – Quintin Berry

RHP – Zach Davies