Tejada tested early (updated)

Tejada tested early (updated)
It probably won't come as a shock to anyone that the first ball put in play by the Rays managed to find Miguel Tejada at third base. Tejada fielded Jason Bartlett's grounder and made a strong throw to first. It's all downhill from here. Carl Crawford showed bunt on the next pitch, but pulled back. Kevin Millwood threw 18 pitches in the first inning, 10 for strikes. He fanned Evan Longoria on a 91 mph fastball with the count full to strand Ben Zobrist at second base. The Orioles made...
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Soaking up the atmosphere - if you can find it

Soaking up the atmosphere - if you can find it
As I sit here in the second row of the Tropicana Field press box, I join my fellow scribes in wondering why it doesn't feel like Opening Day. Maybe if they could open the roof. It's so different on a Monday afternoon at Camden Yards. This could be any other game on any other night. I'm half expecting Aubrey Huff to be batting for the Rays and Jorge Julio to be one straight fastball away from a blown save. It's good to be here. It's just...different. I hope that makes sense. You'd...
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Roberts stayed true to his word

Roberts stayed true to his word
Brian Roberts kept telling everyone that he'd be ready for the opener, that he could get his body ready while dealing with a herniated disk in his back. Rather than experiencing a feeling of satisfaction today, Roberts described it more as "relief." This is one time when he really wanted to be right. "I'm very thankful that I am here," he said while standing at his locker before batting practice. "The training staff has been great, the doctors have been great. Everybody's gone above...
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Opening odds and ends

Opening odds and ends
Only 11 players from last year's Opening Day roster remain with the club tonight: Matt Albers, Jeremy Guthrie, Mark Hendrickson, Cesar Izturis, Jim Johnson, Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Felix Pie, Brian Roberts, Luke Scott and Ty Wigginton. Miguel Tejada ended the 2009 season with a 21-game hitting streak with the Houston Astros. If Tejada gets a hit tonight, he'll become only the third player in major league history to have a streak of 20 or more games spread over two leagues, according to...
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Lineup reminders

Lineup reminders
Is Tiger Woods doing anything interesting this week? I might be out of the loop. In case you forgot or just want to check them out again, here are the lineups for tonight's opener at Tropicana Field: For the Orioles: Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Felix Pie LF Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP For the Rays: Jason Bartlett SS Carl Crawford LF Ben Zobrist RF Evan Longoria 3B Carlos Pena 1B B.J. Upton CF Pat...
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The Orioles' Opening Day stats

The Orioles' Opening Day stats
I've put together some stats to see how the Orioles players have fared in their careers on Opening Day. Right-hander Kevin Millwood will make his 7th career Opening Day start tonight. He is 2-4, 3.34 in previous openers. Last year, Millwood and Texas whipped Cleveland and Cliff Lee 9-1 in the opener as Millwood allowed just one run over seven innings. Millwood's Opening Day starts: 2003 - Philly at Fla: 6IP, 4H, 3R, 2ER, 1BB, 4K 2004 - Philly at Pitt: 6IP, 7H, 2R-ER, 0BB, 4K 2006 - Tex...
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For Rowell: Back to the dirt

For Rowell:  Back to the dirt
Billy Rowell is changing positions again. He's moving back to the infield and back to third base. Also, Rowell will begin this year with the Class-A Frederick Keys instead of playing for Bowie as some had speculated he might. Rowell, the Orioles first-round pick in June of 2006, played in right field at Frederick last year. In his first three seasons in the organization he played at third base. "I feel like this is a good plan. The new farm director John Stockstill has a plan for me in...
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Steve's official predictions for the 2010 season (plus a Rowell update)

Steve's official predictions for the 2010 season (plus a Rowell update)
Billy Rowell update - I spoke with Billy Rowell tonight and he confirmed that he is moving back to the infield and will start this season with Class-A Frederick. The 21-year-old Rowell is moving back to third base, a position he played from 2006 through 2008 in his first three years in the organization. He played right field at Frederick last year. He may spend some time in the DH role early in the year as he re-adjusts to infield play. Rowell played outfield for the most part in spring...
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Aubrey staying

Aubrey staying
Michael Aubrey has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Aubrey didn't get into many games this spring because of a minor medical procedure on his back and a groin injury suffered while running the bases in Tampa. He eventually was sent to the minor league camp without giving himself a real chance to crack the 25-man roster. It was a long shot to begin with, but he didn't even go down swinging. Now it's up to Norfolk manager Gary Allenson to find at-bats for...
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We can work it out

We can work it out
Manager Dave Trembley met with reporters a few minutes ago and indicated that he'll reveal his opening lineup after the workout. That's what happens when you ask nicely. If Nolan Reimold plays first base this season, it will happen "way down the road," according to Trembley. "We're just kicking the tires on that," he said, adding that first base would be another way to get Reimold's bat in the lineup. It also shows how much Felix Pie has progressed in the eyes of the...
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Rollin' with Nolan

Rollin' with Nolan
If Nolan Reimold is going to play first base this season, he'll need to take care of an important piece of business. "I don't even have a first baseman's mitt yet," he said, grinning at his locker. Reimold took grounders at first on the last day of spring training, which created quite a stir after manager Dave Trembley and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail kept insisting all winter that he was strictly an outfielder. "People asked why we waited until the end of the camp....
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Getting Miggi with it

Getting Miggi with it
Craig Tatum is taking throws at first base. Should I read anything into that? Kidding. Miguel Tejada said he's become a lot more comfortable at third base since the start of spring training. "That first game, the intrasquad game that we played, I felt a little bit different," he said. "Now I feel like I'm ready to go." Tejada heated up at the plate over the final weeks of camp, as we expected him to do, and raised his average to .274. All of a sudden, the ball's exploding off his...
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Making their pitch (updated)

Making their pitch (updated)
Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell will throw out the ceremonial first pitches before Friday's home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Orioles are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1970 World Series championship. Having Brooks and Boog together on Friday is a wonderful and appropriate gesture. Boog was the American League's MVP. Brooks was the Series MVP. Perfect. Gates open at noon. The Orioles will take batting practice from 12:25 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. The Blue Jays will take BP...
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Rays lineup for tomorrow

Rays lineup for tomorrow
Jason Bartlett SS Carl Crawford LF Ben Zobrist RF Evan Longoria 3B Carlos Pena 1B B.J. Upton CF Pat Burrell DH Sean Rodriguez 2B Dioner Navarro C James Shields RHP It must seem strange for Orioles manager Dave Trembley to be overseeing a workout on the day that most teams are starting their seasons. "You play the schedule as it's given to you," Trembley said. "Just like I tell people, I wish I was 29 again, 6-3 and had a full head of hair. Not going to happen. No sense crying over...
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The Opening Day lineup

The Opening Day lineup
Brian Roberts 2B Adam Jones CF Nick Markakis RF Miguel Tejada 3B Luke Scott DH Matt Wieters C Felix Pie LF Garrett Atkins 1B Cesar Izturis SS Kevin Millwood RHP Manager Dave Trembley was asked earlier today whether he's confident that Mike Gonzalez will turn it up once the lights come on and the games count. "Well, he's the closer," Trembley replied. "He's going to get the opportunity to save the games. If it's a save situation, he's going to pitch and I'm confident that he's going...
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Pie vs. Reimold

Pie vs. Reimold
It's become the most interesting battle in the AL East. Forget the Yankees and Red Sox (and I keep trying). Orioles fans seem more worked up about Felix Pie unseating Nolan Reimold as the starting left fielder. Has he really done it? Reimold was brought along slowly this spring because of the Achilles surgery. He told me that he wouldn't be 100 percent until mid-summer, though he ran the bases much better as the Orioles were preparing to break camp. Reimold also started to look more...
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Luke Scott's spot in the order

Luke Scott's spot in the order
As expected, Luke Scott is batting fifth tonight against Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields. The lowest that he figured to drop was sixth behind catcher Matt Wieters, but fifth seemed to be his most likely destination. I had an interesting conversation with Scott earlier this spring - and most of them are interesting because the talk often shifts away from baseball - about his placement in the lineup. He actually suggested that he would make an ideal No. 2 hitter. Scott has accumulated...
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Weekend preview: Angels at Orioles

Weekend preview:  Angels at Orioles
Game Preview LA Angels (68-44) at Orioles (47-67) With the Orioles struggling and the Angels surging, this may not be the best time for the Orioles to challenge the two-time defending AL West champs. But, ready or not, the clubs begin a four-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Camden Yards. Pitching Probables for the LAA Series: Fri, 7:05p - Chris Tillman (0-0, 5.19) v. Jered Weaver (12-3, 3.73) Sat, 7:05p - Brian Matusz (1-1, 7.04) v. John Lackey (5-5, 3.88) Sun 1:35p - Jeremy Guthrie...
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A ray of hope for Chris

A ray of hope for Chris
Chris Ray has not had too many good days during this 2009 season. When he looks at the stat sheet he sees an ERA of 7.16. But there have been better days lately. Ray has not allowed an earned run over his last seven games, covering 8 1/3 innings. "I feel good," the 27-year-old right hander said. "It's a lot easier to pitch when your arm doesn't hurt. I'm on a pretty good roll right now and hope I can keep it up. I've been more consistent lately." Ray did not pitch in the Majors...
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Tonight's pitchers: Tillman vs. Weaver

Tonight's pitchers:  Tillman vs. Weaver
RHP Chris Tillman (0-0, 5.19) tonight will make his 4th Major League start of 2009, his 2nd at home and the 1st of his career vs. the Angels. In Tillman's first two starts, he gave up a combined 8ER and 14 hits in 10 2/3 vs. KC and Detroit. Last Saturday at Toronto, Tillman pitched very well, allowing just four hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings for his first career quality start. He walked three, fanned four and threw 110 pitches. Tillman, still looking for his first win or loss, has...
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