Cruz on his good start, signing a one-year deal and more

The Orioles are not exactly tearing it up on offense so far, batting just .194 (12-for-62) as a team and with just four runs scored. The O's have just two extra-base hits in two games and both were homers and both by Nelson Cruz. The rest of the team has no extra-base hits in 56 total at-bats. Cruz, who signed a one-year deal for $8 million dollars on Feb. 24, is enjoying his first few weeks as an Oriole. "It's going good. I feel really blessed," he said this afternoon in the Orioles clubhouse. "The fans and teammates have embraced me real well. So far it's been good" Cruz, according to Elias, is the fifth Oriole to homer in his first two games with the team. According to Elias, that list also includes Frank Robinson (1966), Rafael Palmeiro (1994), Pete Incaviglia (1996) and Sal Fasano (2005). Cruz became the ninth Oriole to homer in the first two games of a season. That has happened the last three years with Nick Markakis in 2012 and Chris Davis last year. The Orioles have three RBIs so far and Cruz has all of them and they've scored four runs and Cruz has three of those. Now it's time for some others to get into the act. "We've struggled the first two games but today should be a good day to go out there and do our thing, score some runs and give the pitcher a chance to win," Cruz said. "They've thrown well, so give some credit to their pitching." Cruz entered this past offseason hoping to cash in a big contract as a free agent. He turned down the one-year qualifying offer of $14.1 million from Texas. But, in part because teams would have to give up a draft pick to sign him, he didn't sign with anyone until the O's got him after spring training had started. Did Cruz ever consider sitting out this season or signing after the season had started as others may do? Is he motivated by getting only a one-year contract? "Everybody is different," he said. "I made my own decision and I can't tell why they (other players) didn't sign. Every year is a new season, every year is a challenge. Every year you have expectations and try to do good."