Rickard waiting for confirmation on roster spot

SARASOTA, Fla. - We wake up this morning with the Orioles' camp roster still technically at 38 players. There could be lots of cuts coming over the weekend, though more moves are possible today as the Orioles close out their Grapefruit League schedule with an afternoon game against the Tigers in Sarasota.

The Orioles fly out on Friday morning, bound for Norfolk despite rain in the forecast.

I say "technically" 38 because infielder Paul Janish already has been told that he's reassigned to Norfolk and Rule 5 outfielder Aneury Tavárez is on waivers but still eligible to play today.

That's 36.

Chris Tillman will go on the disabled list before opening day rosters are set and Rule 5 outfielder Anthony Santander is expected to join him.

That's 34.

Other cuts are pretty clear, including infielders Robert Andino and Johnny Giavotella. All projections are complicated, however, by the Orioles' indecision over whether to carry 10 or 11 pitchers.

There's still a possibility that left-hander Wade Miley goes on the 10-day disabled list after battling an upper-respiratory infection for a couple of weeks. An assignment can be backdated to March 30, making him eligible to pitch on April 9. Otherwise, he's the No. 3 or No. 4 starter without going on the DL and the Orioles have a five-man bench.

Outfielder Seth Smith apparently has dodged the DL. He's playing again without any discomfort in his hamstring.

"Seth moved around good," said manager Buck Showalter following yesterday's 15-6 loss to the Rays. "That was good to see. Made a good catch early on."

Joey Rickard said yesterday that he hadn't been told whether he made the club. He certainly has done everything necessary to be introduced on opening day. His footprints need to be on that orange carpet.

"It's gone well so far. Healthy and feeling good and getting in baseball shape, so yeah, I'm excited and ready," he said.

"Every day you go out there and you're playing for a spot every single day, so I just keep that mentality and kind of let things work themselves out."

It seems to be working out. Rickard is batting .302/.464/.491, going 16-for-53, with three home runs, seven RBIs, 15 walks and five stolen bases in six attempts.

"I feel like he's carried over what he was doing last year and it verifies what we thought of him," Showalter said. "I can't say there's anything different about him because he was good last year. I just wanted him to come in and be that same guy, which he has. And in some ways he's exceeded that. I can't see any drop off in anything.

"He came in like a Rule 5 pick again trying to make the club. He didn't come in here thinking, 'I've got it made because I showed them enough when I was healthy last year.' "

Rickard's good health ended with a torn thumb ligament on July 20. He was convinced before spring training that it had healed and wouldn't interrupt his attempts to avoid a Triple-A assignment.

"I came down here a little early and started taking BP and at that point, a couple days in, it didn't really cross my mind anymore," he said. "I was mentally and physically over that even before camp started."

It would be a shocking development if Rickard and Craig Gentry aren't on the opening day roster. They are the right fits to platoon as right-handed hitters in left and right field.

"I've thought about that," Rickard said. "I've seen me and Gentry come in late in games for defense and just kind of see how they're experimenting and using us. Yeah, I'm excited and if that's the case, I'll be ready when my name is called."

Gentry has been one of the stars in camp. Asked what kind of impression he's made on Rickard, the former Rule 5 pick replied, "A good one."

"He knows a lot about the game," Rickard added. "I kind of watch him run around the outfield and run the bases and he's definitely somebody I can learn from."