Orioles and Twins meet up again today

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing the Twins again today. It's getting stalkerish.

This is the fourth game between the teams in 13 days and they're going to meet again March 17 and 22.

The back-to-back games are coming against the same team that the Orioles will face to open the season, beginning on April 4 at Camden Yards.

It's a bit strange, not to mention inconvenient.

"Of course it is," said manager Buck Showalter. "Are we going to end there? Playing teams back to back in the spring. We had to take it on the chin early so we could get our schedule right in the end. I guess our schedule, the first 10, 12 days here has been ... I went four days without seeing half the guys. I understand what it's about, it's about (money). Nobody's check is bouncing, right?

"We'll be alright. That last seven to 10 days is really good. I think everybody's looking forward to that. But I don't know if they really even look at that when they're putting schedules together. Obviously, that's not a big stickler.

"That's why you'd love to see Atlanta move over here. We're playing Tampa, we're playing Toronto, we're playing New York, we're playing Boston."

It's hard enough to keep your starters from facing division rivals in the spring. There isn't much that can be done about the Twins, who may as well share a complex with the Orioles.

Not that kind of complex. A spring training facility.

"What do we play them, six times?" Showalter asked. "I'm sure they feel the same way. I looked at it when it first came out and kind of said, 'Really.' I'm sure there's a good reason and if I keep talking they'll make me aware of it."

Steve Melewski, my colleague at MASNsports.com, has arrived in Florida and will make today's trip to Fort Myers. Why should I have all the fun?

I'll stay back and get an update on Matt Wieters' sore elbow and find a good brunch spot. Most likely in that order.