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 (29)
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 (119)
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
        

Once again, the Ravens have scheduled their annual cheerleader tryouts while I'm out of town, which I'm starting to think is not an accident. I'm guessing they're afraid I'll upstage everybody with my amazing agility and pep.

Meanwhile, they don't even make Nestor try out anymore.

Here's the Ravens news release with the details:

Baltimore Ravens Cheerleader Tryouts This Weekend

The Baltimore Ravens will host auditions for their 2011 cheerleading squad on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 at the Downtown Athletic Club. Saturday registration will be held between 9:30-10:45 a.m., and material will be taught from 10:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Tryouts will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and run from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

“Entering our 14th cheerleading season, we are excited,” said Ravens director of cheerleading Tina Galdieri. “Cheerleading tryouts are not only a time when new people can step up and join our team, but veterans are also expected to improve their skills to remain on the team. As a coach, it is always inspirational to see people work hard in order to achieve their goals. We look forward to seeing even more talented athletes this year who will strive to become a part of the Ravens’ organization.”

Approximately 150-200 male and female hopefuls will participate in open tryouts with 60 making the final squad. All participants, as well as coach Galdieri (prior to 10:45 a.m.), will be available for interviews on Saturday and prior to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Additionally, tryouts for the Playmakers squad will be held on Sunday, March 6 at the Downtown Athletic Club.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football
        

The lineup for today's Grapefruit League opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates features J.J. Hardy in the leadoff slot, Felix Pie second and Mark Reynolds batting third. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you'll never see that combination during the regular season.

Brian Roberts was never scheduled to play in the road opener at McKechnie Field, so draw no conclusions from that. Nick Markakis rolled into the clubhouse this morning on skate shoes, so he's obviously fine. The regulars don't make a lot of spring road trips, but we've been told that designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero wants to play a lot. He'll make his Orioles debut in the cleanup spot, followed by Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold. The wind is blowing out hard to left, so I'm predicting Reynolds hits three pop ups and drives in six runs.

Brandon Snyder gets a chance to make a good first impression at first base, since it will be a few days before Derrek Lee makes his O's spring debut.

Today's crappy cellphone photo is of the home plate area of McKechnie Field in Bradenton, one of the truly historic spring training ballparks.

Instant update: The O's are off to a good start. Felix Pie just sliced a double over third base. moved over to third on a groundout by Reynolds and scored on an infield hit by Guerrero. If you recall, Guerrero had two infield hits in the intrasquad game, but this was no seeing-eye grounder. He hit a shot to the right of Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez and he barely knocked it down to keep in on the infield. I'm not doing inning updates, but thought you'd like to hear about Guerrero's first Orioles RBI and the long home run Nolan Reimold just hit to lead off the second.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Just baseball
        

The Orioles are getting on the bus right now to head for Bradenton for their first game of the Grapefruit League exhibition season. It's a split-squad day for the Pirates, who also play the Rays in Port Charlotte today, but the Orioles have taken a representative squad that includes Vladimir Guerrero, Mark Reynolds, Adam Jones, J.J. Hardy and Felix Pie.

Of course, tomorrow is the big day in Sarasota -- the debut of the newly renovated Ed Smith Stadium. Keep an eye out on the Web site for Jeff Zrebiec's comprehensive story on the grand opening and the two-decade quest to get to this point.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Since I've had to suspend my "News item" column for a few weeks during spring training, it's only fair that we spend a little time on current events in the blog. Here are some of the morning headlines that caught my eye:

Wooden's great grandson makes final basket at Pauley Pavilion

Well, at least the current version of Pauley Pavilion, which is being closed for renovation. Bruins walkon Tyler Trapani was in Saturday's game at the end of a lop-sided upset victory over No. 10 Arizona when Jack Haley Jr's three-point shot missed everything and fell right into his hands. He put it back up for the final Bruin basket at the old Pauley, leading coach Ben Howland to tearfully claim that the old coach was still in the house. Who knows?

Nice story.

NFLPA plans to decertify in advance of owners lockout

This is a routine threat in big-time sports labor battles and the NFLPA has the approval of players to decertify. The problem is, federal law technically requires that the decertification is a sincere attempt to disband the union and not just a collective bargaining ploy. If it stands up in court, it carries with it all kinds of legal implications. If nothing else, it would likely lead to an injunction delaying the lockout.

I've pointed this out before, but everything that happens during the collective bargaining process has happened many times before. When it's all said and done, they'll have to come to an agreement to keep this from impacting the 2011 season.

Bad day for Top 10 teams:

Duke wasn't the only top NCAA mens team to go down yesterday. No. 4 San Diego State lost to BYU for the second time this season, No. 5 Texas lost to Colorado and No. 10 Arizona lost to UCLA.

More proof that this year's NCAA tournament is ripe for a couple of surprise Final Four teams.

Jenks, Guillen feud heats up

The running war of words between former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks and manager Ozzie Guillen reached the boiling point this week when Guillen reacted to a Jenks comment with a tirade that included this pithy quote: "I wish I was mad about it because I will rip his throat (out)."

Nice.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (48)
Categories: News of the day
        

If you know me, you know I'm always up for a little cultural enrichment, so I spent Thursday evening at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Sarasota Bay with actor and comedian Bob Newhart.

No, I didn't go there with him. It wasn't a date. He was there doing a classic standup show, which was hilarious. Newhart is 81 years old, but you would never have known it -- except for the rest of the crowd. I was there with a fiftysomething friend and we got carded at the bar.

It wasn't a one-man show. The opening act was Deana Martin, the daughter of famous Rat Pack crooner Dean Martin. She delivered a 40-minute set dedicated to her dad and sang a duet with a video of the King of Cool.

Though the heydey of the Rat Pack was a bit before my time, I still got a bit nostalgic. Maybe I was a big band crooner in a previous life.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

There's a new addition in the Orioles clubhouse -- a brand-new, high-quality table tennis table, which quickly drew a crowd and some hot competition. Nick Markakis held the table early, but new shortstop J.J. Hardy appeared to emerge as the top ping pong player on the roster. Of course, we haven't seen everybody yet, and I'm going to take a wild guess and predict that coach and conditioning consultant Brady Anderson eventually proves again that he's one of the truly great all-around 40-something athletes by schooling these kids.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Just baseball
        

If Brian Roberts isn't on the field today, I think you're going to see some people around here start squirming. That stiff neck has kept him sidelined just long enough to send some readers back into the archives to see what we were saying about him at this time last year.

The answer: Basically the same thing, though we were talking about his lower back. The headlines are eerily similar, with O's officials trying to act unconcerned and Roberts saying that he'll be ready to play.

Don't panic. Roberts might be out there today and he might be fine this spring, but his injury nightmare last year makes it too easy to wonder if he's in for another season of pain and uncertainty. Can't blame fans for worrying, because his status is extremely important to the Orioles' chances of building on last year's late-season turnaround.

Instant update: Good news. Roberts just told everybody that he hopes to be out there for today's workout and said that he probably would have been out there earlier if the team were not treating him with kid gloves. The O's take the field at 10.

Another instant update: Roberts is on the field in full uniform and going through early warmups with the team.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (30)
Categories: Just baseball
        

There's still a lot to be done before the Orioles christen their newly renovated spring training stadium on Tuesday afternoon, but I thought I'd put up my latest cellphone photo of the project.

Instant update: I just walked by the loading dock and there was a truck there unloading food. Have to admit. It brought a tear to my eye.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson visited the Ed Smith Stadium training complex on Thursday morning and addressed the team before the workout. The message was about the importance of spring training and making the most of the opportunity to fully prepare for the season.

“He can command a room,’’ Showalter said, “and you can tell he has a real affinity for the Orioles.”

Though many of the players were not born when Robinson was fashioning his terrific playing career, Showalter said he sensed that they knew they were in the presence of someone very important, perhaps because he gave his lecture standing under the No. 20 plaque that is right in the middle of the row of retired Orioles numbers that decorate the east wall of the major league clubhouse.

“I know Jimmy (Tyler) was excited to have him sign that plaque,’’ Showalter said.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (57)
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It would appear, on the surface, that there is no connection between the news that Cardinals 20-game winner Adam Wainwright may have elbow reconstruction surgery and the Albert Pujols contract impasse, but I'm not the only one who thinks the loss of the Cards' pitching ace might actually push Pujols out of town.

My former Baltimore Sun colleague, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, speculated the other day that a dramatic downturn in the potential of the 2011 club might make Pujols more open to waiving his no-trade clause and allowing the Cardinals to move him to a big-market contender.

I've been pondering the other side of the equation. The Cardinals are facing the possibility of losing Pujols to free agency next year, so they've got to consider whether there's any point in taking that risk if the club's playoff hopes are seriously diminished. Pujols has the hammer, but -- as Ken pointed out -- he might be more open-minded if he were presented with an opportunity to move to a bigger stage and get his big deal early.

Nobody in St. Louis wants to think about a future without Pujols, but he might bring enough talent in return to restock the relatively thin minor league system and give the club a head-start on its long-term future.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)
Categories: Just baseball
        

It's certainly reasonable to be on high alert after manager Buck Showalter revealed this morning that Brian Roberts woke up with some neck soreness and headed out of camp for an Xray about a half hour ago. However, this is one of those situations where there's no point in speculating about whether this is connected to the lower back problems that cut deeply into his availability last season.

It might be, but that will become apparent in its own time. What's more important is that the Orioles prepared pretty well for the possibility by bringing a bunch of reserve infielders into camp this spring.

Cesar Izturis took Roberts' place at second base in the first infield workout today. The O's also can work Robert Andino, Nick Green and Brendan Harris out there if necessary.

Instant update: Roberts returned and insisted that there's nothing seriously wrong with him. The X-rays showed no disk-related problem in Roberts' neck and Showalter says he's day-to-day. He could be back on the field as soon as tomorrow.

Intrasquad update: Showalter indicated today that Sunday's intrasquad game likely will be moved back to the main stadium field so that the players and staff can replicate a 1:05 exhibition start.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (127)
Categories: Just baseball
        

When Buck Showalter revealed his pitching plans for the first five games of the Grapefruit League season, there were three games in which two starters were piggybacked to work multiple innings. Conspicuous by his absence was hot prospect Zach Britton, but that apparently was an oversight. Britton will be paired with Justin Duchscherer in the third exhibition game and Rick Vandenhurk will be paired with Jeremy Guthrie in the home opener at Ed Smith Stadium.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Just baseball
        

The Hall of Fame announced this week that former Orioles GM Roland Hemond will be the second recipient of the Buck O'Neil Award, which is presented to an individual for "extraordinary efforts to enhance baseball's positive impact on society."

I can't think of a more deserving candidate, other than O'Neil himself, who was the first recipient of the award named for him after he was left out of the final class of Negro League players inducted at Cooperstown.

“Roland Hemond has touched the lives of so many throughout the baseball family in his 60-year career, always exemplifying the traits that made Buck O’Neil such a revered figure in our sport’s history,” said HOF chairman Jane Forbes Clark in the announcement. “The Board’s decision to award Roland with this tremendous honor recognizes the profound impact he has had on the game, for his baseball intelligence as a keen talent evaluator and in building winning teams, to the universal respect he has earned for mentoring generations of baseball executives, past and present.”

Let me put it a little more simply. Roland is one of the truly great guys in the game and one of its great characters. He worked alongside legendary baseball showman Bill Veeck and infected many organizations with his positive attitude and energy.

Congrats.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
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During a conversation with Nolan Reimold this morning, I was chiding him for being a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and -- despite his Pennsylvania roots -- accusing him of being a frontrunner when he proved he was not a frontrunner with the revelation that he's a big Cleveland Cavaliers fan.

When I stopped laughing, he told me about the time he was assigned to cover some kid named LeBron James in a high school showdown between Kennedy Catholic (Hermitage, PA) and St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

"He was a sophomore and I was a junior,'' Reimold said. "It was right before he got huge. We lost by one point, 51-50. He had 20 points, but he was averaging 28."

Pretty cool memory. Reimold said that he was a big LeBron fan right up until "The Decision," then he started choosing his words carefully.

"Let's just say I was disappointed,'' he said, with an expression that signalled that he was making a tremendous understatement and struggling to hold his tongue. I'm just going to guess that his second-favorite NBA team right now is whoever is playing the Miami Heat.

If you're wondering, Reimold said he dropped 17 points in that game, which isn't bad for a baseball player.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
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I don't get many complaints, being perfect and all, but one of my readers came down to Sarasota and read me the riot act over my recommendation of Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant and Marina over on Longboat Key.

I'm not going to get into the specific complaint, but I felt that I had to go over there on Sunday night and make sure it's still one of my favorite gulf coast restaurants...and it is.

Maybe Stone Crab claws are an acquired taste. They bear no resemblance or gastronomical similarity to the other members of the ocean crab family and they are generally served cold with a mustard dip. I ordered the $49 platter and thought it was terrific. The crab bisque was pretty good, too.

Since I went there for purely journalistic reasons, I'm pretty sure I won't get a lot of static from my boss when I put the check on my expense account, but I'll keep you posted.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 6:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

Nick Markakis was one of the last position player to report to Ed Smith Stadium, but that was not for lack of enthusiasm for what's ahead.

"It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be exciting,'' he said. "We have a great foundation to start from, and the new additions – from top to bottom – are going to help us out tremendously. I’m just looking forward to kicking off spring and getting our work on and getting ready for Opening Day."

Markakis is looking forward to hitting in a lineup full of run-producers after a 2010 season in which his run-production numbers sagged badly in a batting order that lacked punch and lost Brian Roberts for most of the season.

"For the most part, just seeing it on paper is enough,'' he added. "You know what these guys are capable of doing and what they bring to a ballclub. Having them on our side is pretty exciting."

Buck Showalter's team-building field trip on Sunday night was another signal of a welcome change in the attitude of the entire organization.

"It was different, but it definitely got things kicked off in the right direction,'' Markakis said. "It was a good way to get started. It was a good meeting, good video overall. We’ve never done something like that before, but it was cool."

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (66)
Categories: Just baseball
        

Since I spend much of every day watching The Weather Channel down here -- because it's too warm to go outside -- I'm aware that the Baltimore area is expecting a few inches of snow overnight. And, of course, I'm jealous.

I'm sure you understand. It can get a little old going to the ballpark every day under a boring, cloudless sky with the temperature invariably 75 degrees. Day after day after day this is what I see when I step out onto my porch (right). It's like working in a mine, except you're outside and there's always a balmy tradewind that invariably pushes your perfect eight-iron shot to the edge of the green.

It gets so bad, I sometimes have to duck into one of the beachfront bars to reduce the amount of UV radiation exposure and get rehydrated.

If I hadn't promised to bring you up-to-the-minute coverage of the Orioles for the first month of spring training, I'd come home right now, though my flight would probably be canceled and I'd have to stay here anyway.

I'll try to bear up.

Crappy Sun cellphone photo by Peter Schmuck

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck
        

The Orioles are completing their physical examinations today, with the latest reporting position players going through the whole routine and the rest finishing up with their dental and vision exams.

Brian Roberts just tweeted that he had completed his physical and passed "with flying colors. Now, time to get to work."

The first full-squad workout will begin at about noon.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
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Had to laugh when Mark Teixeira said on Saturday that the Yankees are "the underdogs" this season. Give me a break.

It's pretty hard to be the underdog when you've got a $200 million payroll, unless you're MySpace or maybe the Iraqi army during Desert Storm. The Yankees may not be the favorite to win the American League East this year, but I don't think they'll be able to show up at the World Series trophy ceremony and say that nobody gave them a chance.

Here's a link to the ESPN.com account of Teixeira's comments on the day Yankees position players were scheduled to report to the Legends Field training complex.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (49)
Categories: Just baseball