Opening days past and present

We've reached another opening day, my 20th on the Orioles beat.

There's rain in the forecast, but I've covered openers in the snow. Rain isn't going to faze me.

In 2003, the Indians' Ellis Burks hit a fly ball to right field in the third inning that Jay Gibbons lost in the flakes. Second baseman Jerry Hairston sprinted after the ball, knowing that Gibbons couldn't find it. First base umpire Chuck Meriweather ran up the line and ducked, unsure whether it was going to bounce off his noggin.

Burks was credited with a run-scoring single off Orioles starter Rodrigo Lopez.

"I had no idea," Gibbons said afterward.

The Orioles won the game in the 13th inning when Indians center fielder Milton Bradley misjudged a Gary Matthews line drive with the bases loaded. Jose Leon crossed the plate for a 6-5 victory.

Rick Bauer, Buddy Groom and Jorge Julio combined for four scoreless innings. Kerry Ligtenberg gave up the tying run in the 12th.

How did this team only win 71 games?

Will the Orioles win enough games this season to get back into the playoffs? It starts today at 3:05 p.m.

Pedro Alvarez will be in the lineup as the designated hitter in his first opening day with the Orioles. He's heard good things about them.

"It's a great ballpark, a lot of history, such a historic franchise," Alvarez said. "I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity to be up here with the guys and get the year started.

"I'm optimistic for the opportunity. I know what I can do, I know that when I'm right, any ballpark can be constructed to my swing. But again, just very happy to be here and very fortunate to have this opportunity."

It starts today with an introduction and a jog down the orange carpet before a packed house, Alvarez's first ovation at Camden Yards.

"I think that all the opening celebrations are pretty cool," he said. "You go to different parks and they all have their different ceremonies. I think they're pretty neat. It's a special day for each team and to go out there and enjoy your home opening day is pretty special. And going on the road and seeing some of these other teams' opening days, too, it's all part of the neat experience."

Alvarez is switching leagues after signing as a free agent last month. Could there be an adjustment period, even with interleague play?

"I think in this day and age with so much advanced scouting reports and stats and video, I think no matter where you're at, you're pitched a certain way," he said. "You hear about the differences and it's stuff that I've seen before. I take the approach of just embracing what was thrown at me day to day. I'm definitely looking forward for the opportunity to see what this league has in store."

Alvarez is wearing No. 24, which belonged to first base coach Wayne Kirby. They made a trade that Alvarez kept private.

"We had a nice talk," he said, smiling. "That's between me and Kirb. We're keeping it behind closed doors."

Zach Britton would love the chance to close today's game. He was dominant this spring, allowing one run and three hits and striking out 13 batters in eight Grapefruit League innings. Opponents batted .111 against him.

Britton has come such a long way from being a starter out of options and almost out of chances in Baltimore.

"It's always been there," said manager Buck Showalter. "It's just a matter of how it was going to fit. He's just ... let's throw out the pitching part of it, how far he's come as a pitcher, a father, a teammate. He was never bad at any of those.

"It's kind of fun when you've been here five or six years to see the process that guys go through in their lives. Zach's a winning player and it was always there. It was just what role could we find where he could get outs, and I'm not that smart.

Anybody that sits around and says we thought he was going to be this kind of closer, they're kidding themselves. We were just trying to figure out what role would fit his personality, makeup, and so far so good. He's one of the best in the game."

Feel free to submit your lineups for opening day. I'm curious whether you have Joey Rickard batting first or last or someplace in between.

We know Rickard is in left field, Adam Jones is in center and Mark Trumbo is in right. We know it's Manny Machado at third base, J.J. Hardy at shortstop, Jonathan Schoop at second, Chris Davis at first and Matt Wieters behind the plate. We know Alvarez is the designated hitter.

We just need an order.

I'd bat Rickard first, following by Machado, Jones, Davis, Trumbo, Wieters, Alvarez, Schoop and Hardy. Otherwise, keep Machado in the leadoff role and bat Jones second, which happened in spring training.

No matter how you stack it, this lineup is scary. And in a good way. Not like the Jose Leon days.