A few pregame notes

A few pregame notes
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Manny Machado will become the fourth Oriole to start on opening day at 20 or younger, joining Brook Robinson, Ron Hansen and Boog Powell. Robinson was 19 on April 15, 1957. Did anyone here attend that game? Hansen (1958) and Powell (1962) were 20. The last Oriole to play on opening day at 20 was pitcher Wally Bunker in 1965. Brian Roberts is making his ninth opening day start at second base, passing Rich Dauer for the most by an Oriole at the position. Adam Jones is making his sixth consecutive opening day start in center field. The eight current members of the Orioles bullpen posted a 1.32 ERA in 68 innings against the Rays last season. Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland didn't face them, of course. Closer Jim Johnson didn't permit an earned run in 9 2/3 innings. The Orioles have won 11 of the last 19 games at Tropicana Field. The Orioles return the pitchers that made 151 of 162 starts last season. Joe Saunders (seven), Dana Eveland (two) and Randy Wolf (two) are no longer in the organization. Saunders signed with the Mariners, Eveland is pitching in Korea and Wolf is recovering from his second ligament-reconstruction surgery. Props to the Orioles' PR department for digging up these facts. Here are today's lineups, in case you missed them yesterday: For the Orioles: Nick Markakis RF Manny Machado 3B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Chris Davis 1B J.J. Hardy SS Nolan Reimold LF Steve Pearce DH Brian Roberts 2B Jason Hammel RHP For the Rays: Desmond Jennings CF Sam Fuld RF Ben Zobrist 2B Evan Longoria 3B Matt Joyce LF Yunel Escobar SS James Loney 1B Jose Molina C Kelly Johnson DH David Price LHP
Baysox set season-opening rotation, plus checking ...
Zach Wilt: A few words about opening day