Opening Day is next week and while everyone in Birdland is wondering about the pitching, I am happy to see baseball back. It feels like Spring Training has gone on for three months rather than only seven week or so, but at this time on April 6th, the Yankees will take on the Orioles at the Yard which will televised on ESPN.
I don’t know if I am so excited to see the Orioles, or hope the team exceeds expectations; however, the games start to count next week.
On the other hand, the Baltimore offense once again stayed hot as they downed the Mets, 5-1. Although both teams suffered through a lengty rain delay — Koji Uehara, who started for Baltimore, only lasted an inning and Mike Pelfrey for the Mets only lasted a 1/3 of an inning — the Oriole bullpen did their job and kept the Mets off the board for the most part.
Chris Ray, Jamie Walker, George Sherrill and Danys Baez all threw scoreless innings in relief, and Radames Liz gave up Baltimore’s only run in the top of the sixth inning.
On the offensive front, Luke Scott homered again — for the fourth time in Grapefruit League action — in the fourth inning. Robby Hammock — who is competing for the backup catcher spot — left an impression as he launched a long home run (a two run shot) in the sixth. Both Adam Jones and Cesar Izturis had two hits; meanwhile, Aubrey Huff also had an RBI.
There was a funny thing that happened — I tried listening to the game on the radio, it aired during the first inning, and never resumed after the rain delay. Well, the Sun’s Ray Frager has an answer from play-by-play guy Joe Angel.
There’s been a player missing in the Orioles lineup as of late — Brian Roberts. He was out sick for the past few days with a cold and upper body infection, but now he’s having back spasms; however, he says that he should be ready Opening Day.
