The most interesting response at the annual “State of the Orioles” event, held before tonight’s game for season ticket holders, came when Orioles manager Buck Showalter was asked, “What do we have to do beat the doggone Yankees?"

“I can’t stand the Yankees, OK?,” Showalter said. “That stays between us right here. I don’t really care if they know. I think they can figure it out.

"Fearful of them? Afraid to play them? I look at it as an opportunity. Once we get better, it's going to snowball and they are going to hate coming into this ballpark, believe me.”

Orioles President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail was also asked about his expiring contract after the season. He gave a typical MacPhail response.

"I have always taken the position, unlike one my good friends in the game Jim Riggleman, let's just see how we do," MacPhail said. “Let's get to the end of the year and see how we do and take it from there.”

In other news, Jake Arrieta (right elbow inflammation) is scheduled to throw an extensive bullpen session tomorrow and if all goes well, he'll make Wednesday's start. Second baseman Brian Roberts, who had two wisdom teeth removed, had a good day according to Showalter, getting through all his conditioning exercises without any problems. Reliever Alfredo Simon (right hamstring strain) will throw one or two innings and no more than 40 pitches tomorrow for Double-A Bowie. He could be activated as early as Tuesday.