Welcome to Sept. 1 and the always popular, always unforgettable roster expansion. I liken it to wearing your stretchy pants on Thanksgiving. Two pitchers are joining the Orioles today from Triple-A Norfolk, according to manager Buck Showalter. He hinted that one may not be on the 40-man roster. I'll repeat that Ryan Webb and Joe Saunders are pretty strong candidates to find a locker inside the home clubhouse this morning. Infielder Kelly Johnson will show up and immediately check to make certain that the Brewers haven't returned to the American League East. Showalter is confident that the news guys, including outfielder Alejandro De Aza, will blend nicely in the clubhouse. It's usually a seamless transition due to the welcoming nature of the teammates. Anyone needing a clean slate gets it. Johnson and De Aza aren't in that predicament, but remember how Nelson Cruz immediately felt right at home in spring training? Same with Alfredo Aceves, though he creeped out a few guys - and a couple of reporters. "There's nothing stronger in a lot of ways in society in general than peer pressure," Showalter said. "One of my things is, if a guy doesn't care what his teammates think and it's not important for him to please them, then I'll pass. I'm passing. Pleasing me or the coaches, that works for a short time. It's about pleasing your teammates." Teammates who don't need to worry whether they're being phased out by Saturday night's trades. "We'll keep everyone in the flow," Showalter said. It's going to be an even flow. And that's my pearl (jam) of wisdom for today.

Jimmy Paredes fits right in, and not only because he's 5-for-11 with two doubles and a home run since being called up. Bud Norris yelled across the clubhouse after spotting Paredes in the far corner, bringing a big smile from the infielder. Norris knows Paredes from their days together with the Astros. "When I saw him in Houston, I was extremely excited with his talent," Norris said. "I saw a lot of guys come through the system and I've seen a lot of trades. First of all, he's a raw talent. He can play. He plays every position, he switches from both sides (of the plate), he has speed and everything else." The Orioles claimed Paredes from the Marlins on Feb. 15 and lost him two days later to the Royals. They got him back over the summer. "When I saw we had him in spring training - (Dan) Duquette had him for a couple of days - and I told Dan, 'Wow, keep this guy. He can play. Give him really good coaching,'" Norris said. "I'm excited to see him back in an Orioles uniform. I really like the player that he is and I think he can be very, very good. And in an organization like this, he has an opportunity to succeed. He's a great player and I think he could have a very good career. "With Houston they moved him a lot and then he started to even play the outfield, but it tells you how raw he is and how athletic he really is. You can ask him what he wants to play, but he'll tell you he wants to play anything. "He's just young. He's a guy who's got a lot of ability. If he learns the game the right way with the coaching staff and the minor league coaching staff that we have in the system, I think they can teach him the game the right way. The sky's the limit for him, too."