masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgThe Orioles are expected to release their spring training schedule next week. In the meantime, I’ve pieced together a few dates from the Grapefruit League’s tentative master schedule.

Yes, it’s a slow news day. And let’s keep it that way. No surprise surgeries, please.

Maybe it’s the crappy weather that’s got me thinking about Sarasota. And you’ll notice that I’ve conveniently skipped past the winter meetings, though they’re being held in Orlando in December. Still the worst…The Orioles are expected to release their spring training schedule next week. In the meantime, I’ve pieced together a few dates from the Grapefruit League’s tentative master schedule.

Yes, it’s a slow news day. And let’s keep it that way. No surprise surgeries, please.

Maybe it’s the crappy weather that’s got me thinking about Sarasota. And you’ll notice that I’ve conveniently skipped past the winter meetings, though they’re being held in Orlando in December. Still the worst assignment of the year.

Keep in mind that changes could occur to the spring training schedule. That’s what makes it tentative.

March 7: Phillies at Orioles
March 8: Red Sox at Orioles
March 12: Phillies at Orioles
March 14: Orioles at Twins (Fort Myers)
March 16: Orioles at Blue Jays (Dunedin)
March 17: Orioles at Phillies (Clearwater)
March 21: Braves (ss) at Orioles
March 22: Orioles at Rays (Port Charlotte)

The beat crew will be thrilled with the Clearwater trip, since the Phillies have the best lunch spread in the Grapefruit League. The key is for the Orioles to not schedule split-squad games that day, which would force most of us to stay back at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

The Orioles haven’t announced the date for pitchers and catchers to report, but circle Feb. 13 on your calendars. That’s the word on the street.

We’ve got plenty of time to decide the most interesting storylines in camp. We need to know the composition of the camp roster.

Let’s not rush the process – says the guy who’s already posting dates of exhibition games.

I forgot to mention that the Orioles are expected to play their Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk after breaking camp, and before the workout at Camden Yards leading up to opening day on March 31. More on that later.