Opening Day arrives for Orioles with lots happening

In the history of memorable Opening Days for the Orioles, having new ownership introduced is bound to surpass the snow storm of 2003.

The Angels are playing the Orioles, but also second-fiddle to the excitement generated by David Rubenstein’s purchase of the team and assuming the role of control person.

Cal Ripken Jr. will catch the ceremonial first pitch from Aubree Singletary, a fourth-grade student at Harlem Park Elementary/Middle School and the child of a Baltimore City postal worker. This is an ode to Rubenstein, who’s father held the same job.

Representatives of the new ownership group, including Rubenstein, Michael Arougheti, Mitchell Goldstein and Michael Smith, will yell “play ball” to start the game.

The baseball torch will be passed and the ballpark is gonna be lit. No amount of rain can douse it.

Fans will receive a rally towel, which also can be used to dry their seats.

The Morgan State University choir will perform the national anthem from the sod farm. A soloist from the choir will also perform "God Bless America" from the top of the home dugout during the seventh inning.

A moment of silence will be held to honor the victims and their familiar after the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and to show appreciation to the city’s first responders.

The gates at Camden Yards will open at noon, three hours before first pitch. Parking lots will open at 11 a.m.

The forecast calls for rain throughout the morning and into the afternoon, but at declining percentages and perhaps ending around first pitch. You just never know with rain. But temperatures remain above freezing, removing any chance of a sudden snow squall like the one that caused Jay Gibbons to lose the ball in right field and halted play for 13 minutes.

The Orioles are 17-10 against the Angels since manager Brandon Hyde was hired in December 2018, their third-highest winning percentage in his tenure, according to STATS. They’re 16-8 versus the Nationals and 4-2 (I guess this counts) versus the Pirates.

They’re averaging 5.96 runs against the Angels, the most against any opponent. And now they don’t have to worry about Shohei Ohtani.

Corbin Burnes also will be a big deal this afternoon, and he would have gotten a lot more attention under normal circumstances. Fans eventually will notice and welcome him to Baltimore.

Burnes is in exclusive company with a sub-3.00 ERA and sub-.200 average against over the past three seasons with the Brewers. Not many pitchers have done it in a three-year stretch in the National League in a minimum 75 starts with no overlapping seasons.

We’re talking about Sandy Koufax, Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Clayton Kershaw, J.R. Richard and Jake Arrieta – the latter with the Cubs, not the Orioles, in case anyone is confused or still in denial.

BetOnline has Burnes as the favorite to win the American League Cy Young Award at 4/1, putting ahead of former Oriole Kevin Gausman (8/1). Grayson Rodriguez is 14/1 and Kyle Bradish is 50/1.

Adley Rutschman is 16/1 for AL Most Valuable Player, and Gunnar Henderson is 20/1. Jackson Holliday is 6/1 for AL Rookie of the Year, Coby Mayo is 16/1 and Heston Kjerstad is 25/1.

They've gotta get here first.

Perhaps forgotten with so much going on is that the Orioles need to set their Opening Day roster this morning.

Oh yeah, that.

We’re waiting for confirmation that Tony Kemp is on it, which seems to be the case with a $1 million contract and a locker in the clubhouse. And that the bullpen is set with Craig Kimbrel, Yennier Cano, Danny Coulombe, Cionel Pérez, Mike Baumann, Dillon Tate, Keegan Akin and Jacob Webb.

Webb’s never made an Opening Day roster and his major league debut was 2019 with the Braves.

“It feels amazing, and hopefully everything goes through,” he said before Tuesday’s workout. “Right now, super excited, super grateful for the opportunity, and I’m ready to go, man. I’m ready to compete, I’m ready to get out there every day and do what I can to help this team win.”