SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles sent out a new lineup this morning, with Chris Davis and Manny Machado moving up in the order and Jimmy Paredes dropping down to seventh.
The names remain the same.
For the Orioles
Everth Cabrera SS
Steve Pearce LF
Adam Jones CF
Delmon Young RF
Chris Davis 1B
Manny Machado 3B
Jimmy Paredes DH
Jonathan Schoop 2B
Caleb Joseph C
Kevin Gausman RHP
Manager Buck Showalter stated the obvious today, confirming that Chris Tillman will start opening day.
"There's a news flash," he quipped.
"We had some good people to pick from. Some guys had some good years last year, but we think Chris ...
"Let's face it, the one thing you get out of it is you get a chance to be out on the hill more over the course of the season. You've all seen the progression of Chris. He's kind of graduated to that type of responsibility."
Tillman was told about the assignment earlier today. No formal meeting inside the manager's office.
"That's kind of Chris," Showalter said. "No. I just had Griff (Mike Griffin) go out and tell Wally (Dave Wallace) to tell him on the back field so he'd be ready to answer your questions. That's just Chris. And he wouldn't say 'No (kidding).' He wouldn't say, 'Well, that was obvious. He would say it's an honor and he takes it for what it is."
Showalter knew at the beginning of camp that Tillman likely would get the assignment.
"I hoped so," Showalter said. "When I first came here, he was a guy that really caught the other side of it. He's very baseball savvy. He walks that fine line between respecting the game but also having a certain self confidence about himself. I like the way he looks on game day and I like the way he looks the other four days. He doesnt take himself too seriously. He has a real respect for how hard this is to do. I never heard him make one excuse or not hold himself to a high standard.
"He's kind of matured to the point where he knows what works for him and what doesnt. He listens to everybody, but he takes what works and what doesn't."
I'll pass along more from Showalter later this morning.
Showalter said he's more inclined to leave Manny Machado at third base, and he won't move Jonathan Schoop to short.