Caleb Joseph on his latest opportunity (Reimold homers)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The tarp is on the field and it's pouring.

No, wait, the rain just stopped, the sun is peeking through the clouds and the grounds crew is sweeping water off the tarp.

Oh, Florida!

Caleb Joseph is supposed to catch today. He' s also expected to be behind the plate for most of the games while Matt Wieters is on the disabled list.

It would be Joseph's first opening day in the majors and the latest twist to a professional career that wasn't always pointed in the right direction.

Asked whether an opening day assignment has sunk in yet, Joseph replied, "No, I don't think so."

He's got time.

"Just because the anticipation of getting Matt back, as cool as it is for me, it's still a downer for the team," Joseph said. "We all know that with Matt starting opening day, with Matt playing opening day, we probably have our best chance. He's such a great player and so we're excited for him to come back and we hope he comes back as soon as possible because this team needs him.

"Essentially, to be able to work hard and hopefully get some more playing time is always good."

Not long ago, Joseph worried that he wasn't getting enough time in spring training while waiting for the birth of Everett Walker, his first child. He couldn't travel to road games and he wondered whether he was falling behind in the catching competition.

"It's one of those things," he said. "The one thing I did have kind of in my back pocket is last year's experiences and knowing that, yeah, missing a few days here and there for Walker's arrival, the longer it got, the more I was getting anxious, just because I know I wanted to start playing games. But physically, I felt good. But, yeah, things happen in this game that nobody really expects and just like we've had to do in years past, the next guy has got to step up.

"Hopefully, it's not for a long time. Hopefully, we get Matt back really soon, but as long as he's out, I'm going to try and step up and do my best and try to continue what I did last year."

Joseph threw out 40 percent of runners attempting to steal and did a nice job handling the pitching staff. He batted .207/.264/.354, but offense wasn't a priority to the Orioles.

Joseph never has been on the 25-man roster while Wieters caught a game. Maybe later this summer.

"It's really weird because I've been in big league camp with him for five years," Joseph said. "I had such an exciting time watching him catch for the first time just because it's really beautiful when he does it. He's just so good at what he does and I like to learn by watching him each and every day. He does something every day. 'I wonder if I can try that and do that.'

"Hopefully, when he comes back, it's really soon. It's going to be fun to be on the same team. We were basically on the same team last year, but it's different when you're watching a guy play versus listening to a guy talk. It will be fun, interesting, and I'll be excited for it."

Joseph may not get the chance to run down the orange carpet for the April 10 home opener against the Blue Jays. Not if he's busy catching the starter in the bullpen.

"I honestly haven't really thought about that part of it, but now that you mention it, kind of a downer for catchers, right?" Joseph said. "I do remember being in Bowie years and years and watching that pretty much every year, because we would typically have a workout day and so we'd all go and watch the opening ceremonies.

"Hopefully, it's pretty fun to be a part of even if you're in the bullpen squatting down, getting all hot and sweaty while everybody's enjoying a nice carpet run."

It's got to be better than watching the festivities in a minor league clubhouse.

"It means a lot," Joseph said. "It means insurance for little Walker. It means a lot of things other than just running out there on the first day. There's just a lot that goes on. It's my first, so that will be fun and exciting just like the playoffs were fun and exciting. That first playoff start, that first homer.

"It's one of those firsts you can check off and it will be really cool, but I have a feeling if I'm starting, I'll be pretty focused trying to get that guy going because once the season starts, it's all about winning, trying to get that first one out of the way and roll with it."

The Orioles will name Chris Tillman as their opening day starter. Joseph hasn't caught Tillman this spring and was behind the plate last season for only seven of his starts, when he registered a 5.29 ERA. Tillman had a 2.78 ERA in 18 starts with Nick Hundley catching.

I still think it's a safe bet that Joseph is behind the plate on April. 6.

One more note: Reliever Darren O'Day left the team today to have some dental work done. I guess it's an Orioles thing this spring.

Update: Nolan Reimold homered on the first pitch thrown by Rays starter Everett Teaford to give the Orioles a 1-0 lead, but Bud Norris surrendered two runs in the top of the second.

Norris threw nine pitches in the first (seven strikes), but 24 in the second (11 strikes). Former Oriole Alexi Casilla singled and scored the go-ahead run on Jake Elmore's infield hit up the middle.