Getting to know you: Weeks familiar with several current teammates before trade

No truth to the rumor that the last time we saw the Orioles play, Brooks Robinson was at third and Boog Powell at first. It's been a while and finally, hopefully today the team gets back on the field. They'll host Pittsburgh at 4:05 p.m. in a single-admission doubleheader. The O's will have to make a roster move to activate Manny Machado and one of the infielders is likely to get optioned to the minors. Will it be Jemile Weeks? He just got here over the weekend and has done a nice job in his first two games. As a first-year player in the organization, you might think Weeks didn't know many players on the Orioles until spring training this year. But Weeks said that was not the case. "I knew a few of these guys," he said. "When I was in college, I played with Tommy Hunter on Team USA. I played against (Brian) Matusz and (Darren) O'Day in college. Played one time with (Ryan) Webb in high school. Baseball paths tend to cross each other. Played against (Matt) Wieters quite a bit in college." Wieters was a first-round draft pick (No. 5 overall) in 2007 by the Orioles out of Georgia Tech and Weeks was a first-round pick (No. 12 overall) from the University of Miami by the Oakland A's a year later. Weeks and Wieters hooked up opposite each other in some big games in the ACC. "Yeah, that was a big rivalry and he used to pitch a bit, too," Weeks remembered. "He closed against us a couple times. Threw hard. I think we had the better of them, but Georgia Tech was a tough team and he was definitely one of the premier players there." Acquired from Oakland in the Jim Johnson trade in December, Weeks is 3-for-8 (.375) with a triple and two runs scored in two games with the Orioles. He's been the designated hitter for both games, but said he is ready to help in the field if given the chance. "Yeah, I believe so. They had me play quite a few positions down there (at Triple-A Norfolk)," Weeks said. "Played a lot of second base, played left field and one game in center. They moved me around and hopefully that is a predetermined thing of what may come in the future." Weeks joined the Orioles once earlier this year in New York, but was not activated. He was there in case David Lough had to be placed on the disabled list. But Lough stayed active and Weeks quickly returned to the Tides. "I came ready to help and was sent back very quick," he said. "But at the same time I was grateful for the opportunity and it showed me that they had their eyes on me." Weeks has enjoyed his first few days on the roster and said he feels he fits in well as an Oriole. "Good clubhouse. Enjoy being around these guys," he said. "Very relaxed and guys get their work in. Everyone takes care of their situations and preparation and we go out there and win as a team." Here is the O's press release on Wednesday's rainout and today's doubleheader: Tonight's game (Wednesday) between the Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates has been postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader tomorrow, May 1 at 4:05 p.m. Fans with tickets for (Wednesday's) game will need to exchange their tickets to attend the doubleheader. Tickets for the previously postponed April 29 game are valid for both games on Thursday, and fans should bring their original tickets to the ballpark gates for admission. All ballpark gates will open at 3:00 p.m., and parking lots will open at 2:00 p.m., for the doubleheader. Prepaid parking permits dated for either April 29 or 30 are valid for the doubleheader. Fans unable to attend the doubleheader on Thursday can exchange their tickets from either April 29 or 30 for any remaining home game this season on a "dollar-for-dollar" basis. All exchanges are subject to availability and must be completed by June 30. Complimentary tickets are non-exchangeable. Ticket exchanges can be performed at the Box Office or submitted in writing along with the original tickets and mailed via certified mail by June 30, 2014 to: Baltimore Orioles Attention: April 29/30 Rainout 333 West Camden Street Baltimore, MD 21201 The "I Like Our Guys" T-shirt, scheduled to be distributed to all fans at the April 30 game, will instead be given to all fans attending Thursday's doubleheader.



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