J.J. Hardy says shoulder much improved (J.P. Arencibia update)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy rushed out of the clubhouse this morning to make his 8:45 a.m. appointment to undergo an MRA on his left shoulder, confident that the results would be positive and he'd be ready for opening day.

"I feel much better today than I did yesterday and I felt much better yesterday than I did the day before," said Hardy, who injured the shoulder while diving for a ball during Friday's game.

"It was kind of questionable - do we need to do it? - because I feel so much better, but I think they just want to know everything that's going on now instead of maybe having to deal with it again two weeks from now. So I feel pretty positive about the improvement over the past few days."

Hardy underwent labrum surgery in 2004 and missed most of the minor league season. The Orioles want to make sure he didn't suffer a similar injury last week.

"That would just kind of change the way we go about rehabbing," he said. "I don't think it would change anything for me whether I'm playing or not. I think it's more to find out if it's subscapularis and I think that's what the trainers and everyone kind of think it is. Just want to make sure."

Hardy isn't anticipating a stay on the disabled list.

"At this point, the way I feel, the way that it improved over the last few days, yeah, I feel pretty good about it," he said.

Could Hardy play if the season started today?

"It would be tough, but I'd definitely try," he said. "Maybe I'd have to do a shot or something, but I feel pretty good about it."

The goal is to be ready for opening day, "but I'm not really setting any timetable," he said. "I think I should be fine unless this MRA shows a lot worse. Who knows?"

Note: Catcher J.P. Arencibia received a cortisone injection in his right forearm today and is shut down for the next few days.

Arencibia has a strained flexor mass. He was scratched from yesterday's game in Dunedin after taking batting practice and trying to throw.