Morning notes before today's game

BOSTON - It's another slow news day at Fenway Park.

The tarp is coming off the field and we continue to wait for the rain to arrive. The Orioles hope to have first pitch at 11 a.m.

We have two new umpires today - Pat Hobert at first base and Tom Woodring at third. Andy Fletcher is behind the plate and crew chief Jerry Meals is at second.

As for injury updates, shortstop J.J. Hardy is supposed to have a regular work day today at Bowie if the weather allows it. The Orioles are arranging a simulated game for catcher Matt Wieters this morning because it's supposed to rain in Sarasota later today.

Jonathan Schoop arrived in Sarasota yesterday to begin rehabbing his right knee.

"It will be interesting to see how Jon's knee is after today," said manager Buck Showalter. "He got in yesterday. See how that's progressing. It will be interesting to see what happens once he gets that swelling stuff out. See how long it's going to be."

Showalter is sticking with the six-to-eight week timetable, describing it as "the long term," but he knows it could change.

"Got some sneaking suspicions, Jon as young as he is and as strong as he is," Showalter said.

Everth Cabrera is batting ninth again today, making him a second leadoff hitter of sorts. Is that how Showalter views the spot?

"You'd like to in a perfect world if you have somebody who can do it," Showalter said. "They used their left-hander a lot yesterday. They've got one down there. You're trying not to give them the ability to use one pitcher to get multiple outs out of the bullpen.

"Being a switch-hitter sitting there, we all know he's a little better right-handed hitter so far. He's a threat, both sides, real good bunter. What hit me in the spring when we played National League clubs was how much they honored the bunt with him, which told me he must be a pretty good bunter. He got thrown out a couple of times, (but) you could see he could steal a base."

Cabrera is batting .263 with no home runs, one RBI, two walks and 11 strikeouts in 38 at-bats.

"He's got some pop right-handed," Showalter said. "He's a strong guy, a strong little guy. Short in stature. He's got more arm strength than I thought he had. That's been good to see. Legs feel good and healthy, which they haven't been in a while. If he hits .270 and is that type of threat, he's a pest down in the order or at the top. You better not forget about him."

The Orioles live by the "next man up" motto and it's happening again with Caleb Joseph batting .375 in Wieters' absence and Jimmy Paredes collecting five hits in two games with Schoop on the disabled list.

"Caleb did it a lot last year for us," Showalter said. "Sometimes when you say 'next man up,' that man might be the man. I won't bore you with the orchard and roses stuff again. We're so quick to put a brand on somebody. This is what he is, and this is what he's going to be forever.

"(Ryan) Lavarnway was as good a prospect the Red Sox had. There are some things he's done in the spring that are pretty interesting to watch, so we've got a lot of guys like that. That's who we are."

Showalter said there's room for Paredes and Hardy on the roster once the veteran shortstop comes off the disabled list.

"We can do that," Showalter said. "There's enough at-bats for everybody, enough room for everybody over the course of the season. Obviously, you've done the math - here comes Matt, here comes J.J, which we hope happens, here comes Jonathan Schoop back. There's always ways to do it and keep everybody in the fold.

"You're not going to use anybody's optionability against them. We're going to put our best 25 out there."