Notes on Jimmy Paredes, Brian Matusz and Chris Davis

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jimmy Paredes said his left wrist feels much better, the plastic brace no longer worn, and he hopes to swing a bat within a week.

Paredes would be taking dry swings instead of facing live pitching, but it's a start.

Up to this point, he's only been cleared to swing with his right hand since an MRI didn't reveal any broken bones in the wrist, which he injured while diving for a ball on March 3 in Port Charlotte.

"It's doing pretty well," he said. "Every day it's getting better. It's getting better moving. I'm going to be fine."

Asked when he could swing a bat, Paredes replied, "Maybe in a week. I've been doing all my stuff, running and playing catch. I'm hitting with one hand. I'm on a throwing program. So, the only thing I'm not doing is hitting."

Paredes could start the season on the disabled list, a convenience of sorts since he's out of options. He'd like to play before the Orioles break camp.

"I don't know, maybe," he said. It's depending on the pain that feel when I start hitting. Maybe I can play in a couple games before spring training is over. It depends on how I feel when I start swinging."

Reliever Brian Matusz threw a 38-pitch bullpen session yesterday at "game effort," he said, and could pitch Saturday against the Rays in Port Charlotte. He's been limited to one game, on March 2, due to a strained muscle in his lower back.

Matusz is itching to get into a game and build up enough innings so he can be ready for opening day.

Chris Davis is in the lineup tonight on his 30th birthday. Being another year older didn't require more rest.

"I feel pretty good today," he said. "I feel like I've got a little spring in my step."

Davis seems pretty calm about reaching a milestone birthday.

"I won't necessarily freak out. I mean, if you call waking up crying in your bed freaking out, I guess," he quipped.

"I think people were like, 'Forty is the big one.' Like 30 doesn't (matter). I feel like 30 is a big deal. To me, it just sounds older. I think really in the baseball world it's a little bit older than it is in the real world, so to speak. I don't know. We'll see what happens.

"If I have to come out of the game because I'm cramping up or something like that, or my hip starts hurting, I'll let you guys know."

Davis offered an opinion on first baseman Adam LaRoche announcing his retirement after White Sox president Ken Williams no longer would allow the first baseman bringing his 14-year-old son into the clubhouse before each game.

"It was obviously shocking to hear something like that put on blast," Davis said. "I still have mixed emotions about. Roche is a player I have a lot of respect for, not only as a player, but as a man. I'm proud of him standing up for what he believed in. How is there not some common ground to be found right there?

"A guy that means that much to an organization, how are you not able to find some common ground? It's a little head scratching to me, but hopefully they'll make the best of it."

It's not uncommon for the Orioles to bring their children into the clubhouse. Yovani Gallardo's son has been here for the past few days.

"A lot of it has to be the timing of when he's here, when she's here," Davis said. "I think we have a pretty good understanding as a ballclub and really as an organization. We enjoy having our family around. We enjoy seeing other guy's families and seeing their kids in the clubhouse, but there's also a line that has been drawn and we understand that once you go out on the field.

"It's a sad situation. Baseball is really a father and son game, so when something like this happens, you have to really take a step back and see what's the underlying problem."