The Orioles are about to take the field for their offday workout at Tropicana Field, which wouldn't be happening if the ballpark did not have a roof. The Tampa/St. Petersburg area is being crushed by a huge thunderstorm and it's deafening even inside the stadium.

The highlight so far was watching MASN's Roch Kubatko arrive in the press box a while back with his jeans soaked up to his calves. I got into the building just before the deluge, but almost got hit by a flying trash can on my way in from the parking lot.

In a little less than 30 hours, the Orioles will unveil their upgraded and potentially power-packed lineup against Rays ace David Price, which should be quite a test, but catcher Matt Wieters said today that it's not about first impressions.

"I don't think it matters who you're going against,'' he said. "We're excited about this lineup for the whole season, not just one night."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (44)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Just checked out the new Web site for this year's Preakness infield party and I've got just one thing to say:

Is that the guy from "East Bound and Down?"

No, it's Kegasus, the half-horse, half party manimal that has been unveiled as the new spokes-centaur for the infield celebration at 136th Preakness Stakes, and he's already generating just the kind of buzz that you'd expect.

The Maryland Jockey Club did the same thing last year with it's "Get Your Preak On" campaign, and it was so successful it pulled the event back from the brink after an attempt to make the infield more family friendly in 2009 caused infield attendance to crater.

"Kegasus" is being billed as the "Lord of the InfieldFest," and the Jockey Club is already taking more heat for embracing an image that clearly is encouraging twentysomething race fans to come out and get liquored up. He's not exactly Joe Camel, but the whole thing is not terribly subtle either.

I've got no big problem with it. Everybody knows what goes on in the infield at Pimlico, and the new infield beer rules do allow a measure of control over what used to be a totally out-of-control situation.

If co-opting a mythological beast and putting a beer in his hand (hoof?) will keep Maryland's thoroughbred industry from going the way of the chariot races, I'm going to have to give the marketing campaign my blessing. If they had gotten Danny McBride to play the character, it would have been even better.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: News of the day
        

Just wanted to put everybody's mind at ease. Most of you have noticed that I haven't been around much lately and you obviously weren't fooled by the claim that I was "on vacation," since it should have been obvious to all that I was in exile because (a) Peter Angelos doesn't like me; (b) the radio rights deal between the O's and WBAL included a clause that forced me into early retirement; or (c) they're going to need somebody to run Libya for awhile.

Frankly, (A) and (C) are actually true, though I'm just one of many candidates to be the new president of Libya.

You see, nobody really takes a vacation from the Internet, so if somebody tells you they are on vacation, they're probably hiding behind a grassy knoll in Dallas or hanging out with Elvis somewhere. I'm sure you already knew that, but just wanted to let you know you're not really crazy.

The Orioles are supposed to be off today, but they are having some kind of camp game so they can get some of their pitchers a little more work. (See, you can't believe anything.) I'm sort of off, even though I'm back from vacation, because I'm getting ready to head back to Florida for the opening weekend series against the Rays. I'll be writing columns every day and will be posting here and at Orioles Insider and basically getting psyched up for Opening Day on Monday at Camden Yards.

Don't really care about the team, but I hear they have a bunch of new concession items.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (43)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Since I reluctantly have returned to work this week -- and head back to Florida on Thursday for the season-opening series between the Orioles and Rays -- I thought you might like some proof, so check out my first Baltimore Sun column since I humanized Luke Scott for all my liberal friends on Mar. 13. You can read it right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Just baseball
        

The Orioles are about to play the Toronto Blue Jays in their final game of the Grapefruit League season, leaving just a couple of workout days between the exhibition finale and the regular-season opener against the Rays at Tropicana Field. I'm just hoping the new Kevlar vests that have been ordered for the pitching staff will arrive in time.

Not funny.

The line drive that popped Brian Matusz on the left bicep probably won't cause him serious harm, but the Orioles didn't need another big question mark heading into the real games. They're still waiting to see how Brad Bergesen bounces back from that line drive off his right arm. He'll pitch in the squad game tomorrow, though it'll be hard to locate his pitches with his fingers crossed.

For the moment, only Jeremy Guthrie's name is written in ink as a starter in the opening serie, but things figure to be clearer tomorrow afternoon.

Today's lineup is pretty much what you're going to see on Opening Night, and it's a pretty formidable batting order. Once again, it's going to be about keeping enough of these guys healthy to score consistently. I know we say that every year, but it's because it's true...and fairly obvious.

By the way, I'm back from vacation, so I'll be posting more regularly, both here and on Orioles Insider. Thanks for your, er, patience.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Just baseball
        

There's already quite a buzz around here about the April edition of Men's Journal, in which Orioles manager Buck Showalter takes a few pointed swings at the well-heeled Yankees and Red Sox.

Showalter will make headlines in New York for some pokes at Derek Jeter, but the most interesting comment was his shot across the bow at Red Sox GM Theo Epstein:

"I’d like to see how smart Theo Epstein is with the Tampa Bay payroll. You got Carl Crawford ’cause you paid more than anyone else, and that’s what makes you smarter? That’s why I like whipping their butt. It’s great, knowing those guys with the $205 million payroll are saying, ‘How the hell are they beating us?’ ”

Of course, there's a lot more to being the GM of the Red Sox or Yankees than spending all that money. Epstein will always be considered a genius in Boston because of his role in reversing the Curse of the Bambino, and the Red Sox have drafted and developed some very good players.

It's pretty obvious what Showalter is doing here, and you have to like it if you're tired of getting kicked to the bottom of the AL East standings every year. He's trying to change the culture in the Orioles organization. To use a line I usually throw out when I'm getting killed at Texas Hold'em, "it's time to change the emphasis from losing to winning."

The Orioles aren't going to beat the Yankees and Red Sox because Showalter put a chip on their shoulder, but it can't hurt to erase the air of resignation that has surrounded this organization since the Yankees started spending $200 million per year on payroll and the Red Sox decided to try and keep up.

That attitude adjustment was apparent during the final two months of the 2010 season and Showalter wants to take it to another level. I don't know if he'll succeed -- there are a lot of questions that remain unanswered about this O's roster -- but it's pretty obvious that he's not willing to settle for less.

I like the fact that he's not willing to kiss anybody's ring. I'm just glad he didn't tell them where they could kiss him.

Associated Press photo

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (177)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Pardon me for being too positive here, but I'm not particularly worried about the Orioles pitching staff right now, even though I concede that the inconsistency of some of the starters is disconcerting at this late point in spring training.

Jeremy Guthrie is going to be Jeremy Guthrie, and with a stronger offensive team, he should be able to win quite a few games this year. He's a way better pitcher than his combined won-loss record the past couple years, and I think you're going to see proof of that pretty quick

Brian Matusz is going to live up to the hype and Jake Arrieta is the real deal, though I suspect he'll run over some potholes this season because of his inexperience. The big question marks are Brad Bergesen and Chris Tillman, and the Orioles aren't the only team trying to figure out the end of their rotation.

Bergesen is allowing too many baserunners this spring, but he's all about commanding the lower quadrant of the strike zone. When he does that, he gets people out and pitches well. When he doesn't, it isn't pretty. I think you're always going to see both Brad Bergesens at times during the season, but he does need to be more consistent this season to hold his place in the rotation.

Tillman has pitched okay this spring, but he has a big problem. He's always going to be evaluated based on the out-sized expectations he brought with him from the Seattle organization. And people forget he's actually younger than top minor league prospect Zach Britton.

Which brings us to Britton, who will start against the Yankees in about an hour from now. He is good enough to make this rotation, but that creates a tremendous dilemma for the organization. Should the Orioles throw him out there and try to get off to the best possible start this season or hold him back a few weeks and try to preserve a year of service time.

I'm sure the fans want to see him as soon as possible, and I think the coaching staff feels the same way. But I think you open the season with him in the rotation only if you are fantasizing that this club can compete for a wild card playoff berth this year. If not, you wait six or seven weeks and make sure you've got the guy under reserve for seven seasons instead of six.

Tough call. What do you think?

By the way, I'm still on vacation, so this is a bonus blog post. Now, get back to work.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (111)
Categories: Just baseball
        

...the New York Mets released 35-year-old Gold Glove second baseman Luis Castillo today and the Orioles promptly denied any interest in picking him up as insurance against the lingering back problems that have kept Brian Roberts out of the spring lineup.

Obviously, the O's -- or some other team -- could sign Castillo for the minimum major league salary, since the Mets are on the hook for his $6 million guaranteed salary. I'm guessing the O's are not currently interested because they have a whole bunch of utility infielders in camp and are about to cut the spring roster, but I'm a little surprised they seem to be ruling him out completely.

Castillo doesn't have the same range or offensive potential that made him a three-time All-Star and Gold Glover, but he has a higher career batting average and on-base percentage than Roberts and would figure to be a dependable replacement if worse comes to worse.

Right now, the middle infield candidate making the most noise in camp is Ryan Adams, but it remains to be seen if Buck Showalter would be comfortable with a guy with virtually no major league experience.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (36)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Funny story out of St. Petersburg, where Sun columnist and gardening nut Susan Reimer is on vacation while her USA Today sportswriter husband and Friend of Schmuck (Gary Mihoces) toils at the NCAA wrestling championships.

Seems, Susan and two of her friends were at the fancy Vinoy Resort and wanted a photo taken of them under the portico, so they asked a guy if he would take a picture. The guy shrugged, walked up the steps and stood between Susan and one of the other ladies, who found that to be curious.

"You're adorable,'' the friend said, "but we wanted you to take a picture of the three of us."

So, Tampa Bay Rays star -- and former Red Sox and Yankees outfielder -- Johnny Damon dutifully took the camera and snapped the photo. It wasn't until he got his car from the valet and left that somebody told them who he was.

Damon's a nice guy and no egomaniac, but he just assumed they knew who he was and wanted to have their picture taken with him. Honest mistake on both parts.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Just baseball
        

If you haven't already, check out my "Week in Review" column in today's print edition or on the Web site right here.

I'm basically going to be on vacation for the next week or two before returning to Sarasota, but I'll have another column up later today on Orioles right-wing statesman Luke Scott. Check that out when it pops up.

By the way, you can also follow me on Twitter. My handle is SchmuckStop, but I'm largely using it to deliver cheap shots to various sports and media figures. If you want O's updates on Twitter, follow JeffZrebiecSun or DanConnollySun. If you want Charlie Sheen updates, you're probably already one of the 2 1/2 million people who are following him. Don't you feel special?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

My time is up in Sarasota. I'll be heading home later today and Sun colleague Dan Connolly has arrived to join Jeff Zrebiec for the final three weeks of spring training. I'll return at the end of the month for the regular season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.

If you get a chance, my last story from camp went up on the Web site last night. You can still take a look at it right here if you haven't already.

I'll be reviving my "News item" column in Saturday's paper and will have a column for Sunday, then I'm going to take some time off. Fill in your own blog joke here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (85)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

It's funny, but just about everybody who's struggling at the start of spring training will claim that they are just working on stuff and feel great...except Luke Scott. He has yet to get a hit in 12 Grapefruit League at-bats and has struck out five times and he's not happy about it.

"Of course it bothers me,'' he said, "because I'm a competitor. I do not like not seeing the fruit of my labor."

Scott says that his timing has been off at the plate during games, though his batting practice sessions have been fine. He pulled out one of his bats to show me where the ball marks are, pointing out how few are right on the sweet spot.

"In the games right now, my front hip is leaving early, which is causing the problem,'' he said. "If it stays in, I'll be where I want to be. My timing is off. In the games, I'm speeding up and jumping at the ball."

To put it all in proper perspective, Scott just has to look back on spring training camps past and compare his performances between exhibition season and the regular season.

"The best spring training I ever had was in 2005 and I had the worst season I ever had in the big leagues,'' Scott said.

Associated Press photo

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (53)
Categories: Just baseball
        

The Orioles came from ahead again in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Phillies at Bright House Field, but I wouldn't get too excited. The major league relievers pitch earlier in the game during the first half of the exhibition season, so these games are getting away with minor league pitchers on the mound.

In this case, the reliever was Rule 5 draftee Adrian Rosario, who did not retire a batter in the ninth inning.

The Orioles are now 4-4-2 in Grapefruit League competition, which would be pretty good in the NHL.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (61)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Jason Berken's comeback from a labrum tear is going well, from a rehab standpoint, but he has struggled a bit on the mound. He has pitched three times and given up three runs on three hits and three walks over three innings.

"It's a process,'' he said. "Obviously, you don't want to give up runs and hits, but healthwise, I feel really good. Do I need to be better? Do I expect to be better? No question."

Berken figures that a little rust should be expected after seven months on the shelf. He just started throwing pain-free about a month ago.

"To an extent, spring training is a time to work on stuff and get things right,'' he said. "You want to go out and pitch well, but I don't think it's time to over-analyze things. I just have to find things I can improve on."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Pardon the interruption, but federal law requires that I take a day off once in awhile, so I let Jeff Zrebiec go to Fort Myers all by himself yesterday to cover that barn-burner against the Minnesota Twins. Good thing, too, because if I had chosen to take the first Fort Myers run instead of today's, Jeff might be too overwhelmed by last night's victory by the New York Knicks to concentrate on Chris Tillman's (below) second start of the spring.

While we're talking NBA, which I almost never do, since there is no professional basketball team in the Mid-Atlantic region, I'm amazed like the rest of you that some members of the all-powerful Miami Heat burst into tears after losing to the Chicago Bulls yesterday.

Huh? I could understand if it was college basketball. I burst into tears almost every time I watch the Terps these days, but we're talking about a regular season NBA game, which -- by definition -- nobody cares about. Not even the players.

Back to baseball. I'm going to be doing double duty today because the Orioles are going to play twice -- this afternoon in Fort Myers against the evil Red Sox and tonight on MASN against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. First time under the lights at the newly renovated ballpark. Hope they stay on.

Zach Britton is scheduled to start the feature game, but I doubt there's any great significance to him staying home and Tillman going on the road. There's a long way to go this spring and the Orioles haven't even signed Kevin Millwood yet.

Love to stay and talk some more, but I-75 awaits.

Associated Press file photo

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (56)
Categories: Just baseball
        

The Red Sox have arrived at Ed Smith Stadium, but if you were hoping Brad Bergesen would get to face a representative lineup, you're going to be disappointed. It's a split-squad day for the Sox, so they only brought a pair of regulars -- Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury.

The O''s can't complain, of course. They took a skeleton squad to Lakeland on Friday and have traveled very lightly during the first week of the Grapefruit League schedule. And, it won't get better soon. They'll travel to Fort Myers tomorrow, then go back to Fort Myers on a split-squad day Monday (with the Yankees playing on MASN Monday night). The Orioles also have a split-squad day on Wednesday, so they'll be stretched pretty thin.

There will be shortage of intrigue, however, now that it appears Justin Duchscherer could make his Grapefruit debut on Tuesday. Brian Matusz also is expected to pitch Tuesday if he experiences no day-after difficulties with the wart he had zapped in Philadelphia yesterday. He threw today in the bullpen and said he expects to be fine.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (90)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Took the day off on Thursday and got in 18 holes at nearly Palm Aire Country Club with Orioles broadcaster Joe Angel. If you want to know just what kind of golfer I am, Joe gave me 20 strokes and still smoked me. He shot a 71. I shot him a number of dirty looks. My score is confidential.

Hard to brag when you shoot your IQ.

The highlight of the day was on the way to our first hole. Passed one of the ponds on the course just in time to see a big alligator pop out of the water and chomp on a huge black bird. I mean, you could hear the crunch from 20 feet away.

So, the freaking dinosaur lizard got one more birdie than me.

Florida. Can't beat it.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (35)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Former Orioles manager Juan Samuel is back with the team that originally brought him to the major leagues, but he had nothing but good things to say about his time with the Orioles -- even though negotiations to return him to the coaching staff broke down over the winter.

"I thought I was heading back here (Baltimore), but it didn't happen to work out,'' he said before today's Grapefruit League game between the Orioles and Phillies at Bright House Field. "We couldn't get on the same page."

Samuel said that he was very happy -- and grateful to Andy MacPhail -- for the opportunity to get some managerial experience and bears no ill will torward the O's. He is one of two former Orioles managers on the Phillies coaching staff, along with Sam Perlozzo.

Of course, the thing I was wondering about when we -- the Orioles media contingent -- spoke to Samuel this morning was what he was thinking as the O's took off on a big winning streak immediately after Buck Showalter took over the team.

"We had some players just getting ready to come back from rehab,'' he said. "Brian (Roberts) was a big part of that lineup. Obviously, Koji started pitching well. I was just happy those guys could finish up on a positive note after a very troubled year."

This year, he said, should be better with all the Orioles' offseason acquisitions.

"I still keep an eye on them,'' he said. "They did very well. They should be able to score some runs."

Associated Press file photo

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (122)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Heading out in a few minutes on the first real road trip of the spring. I realize the Orioles' opened the Grapefruit League season on the road, but Bradenton doesn't count since you could ride a bike there from Ed Smith Stadium.

We're going to Bright House Field in Clearwater to watch Chris Tillman make his first spring start against the Phillies, and you're not going to see us big-timing the road trip like most of the starting Orioles players. Both me and Jeff Zrebiec will be there to bring you all the info and action.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Just baseball
        

This is the view of the Ed Smith ribbon cutting ceremony, which was MC'd by Gary Thorne and featured Andy MacPhail, city and county officials and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce who facilitated the deal that brought the Orioles to Sarasota.

The festivities also featured a tribute to long-time Orioles umpire attendant Ernie Tyler, who passed away in early February at the age of 86.

Sorry for the fuzzy cellphone photo, but that's why they don't pay me to take photos. Karl Merton Ferron's photos and gallery of this event will be up on at baltimoresun.com presently.

Instant update: Apparently, the Orioles players felt a little left out, because they continued the christening of the newly renovated stadium by hitting three home runs in the first inning. Nick Markakis hit a towering homer to right. Vladimir Guerrero sent a screaming liner over the left center field fence (really, it was screaming in pain) and Adam Jones launched a satellite over the new party deck behind left field. Give Brian Roberts a little love, too, for opening the Orioles first with a line single to right. Good omen's all.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (53)
Categories: Just baseball
        

What are the odds? The skies were crystal clear and the temperature was in the mid-70s for the first 15 days of training camp, but the clouds have opened up on the debut of the newly renovated Ed Smith Stadium.

The Orioles were just forced off the field as the morning shower intensified, but the game probably will get in. There are brighter skies on the horizon,but here was the view from the dugout just a few minutes ago (right).

There is a lot of ceremony on tap, with city and county officials taking part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. I know this because I saw the giant Orioles scissors a couple of days ago. Where do you buy something like that?

The rain has been sporatic, as if it's taunting the grounds crew. The guys unrolled the tarp in right field and then the showers suddenly stopped. There are rumors of a second weather front coming in later, but not until late in the game.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Just read on Ravens Insider that Steelers receiver Hines Ward has agreed to compete on Dancing With the Stars, and I've got to say, I can't wait. I used to draw the line at The Bachelor (which is gripping television, by the way), but the prospect of seeing that obnoxious grin every week is just too much to pass up.

I'm guessing it'll be about Week 3 when Hines delivers a flying axe handle to the back of his 90-pound dance partner and somehow she gets called for unnecessary roughness.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck