Orioles release 2013 spring training schedule

The Orioles have released their 2013 spring training schedule, which includes the Feb. 23 opener against the Minnesota Twins in Sarasota. They also will host Team Brazil on March 6 in preparation for the World Baseball Classic. Pitchers and catchers will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex on Feb. 12, and position players will report on Feb. 15. The WBC really has caused some major adjustments to the usual routine. The Orioles will face eight different opponents. They will host the Red Sox and Pirates three times each; the Twins, Yankees, Phillies, Rays and Blue Jays twice each; and the Mets once. The Orioles will play 16 games on the road, including four trips to Bradenton to play the Pirates and three trips to Dunedin to play the Blue Jays. They also face the Twins three times in Fort Myers, the Rays twice in Port Charlotte, the Red Sox twice in Fort Myers, the Yankees once in Tampa and the Phillies once in Clearwater. The schedule includes four off-days, which gives manager Buck Showalter four chances to mess with reporters and arrange intrasquad games for us to cover. Fans interested in season plans, five-game flex packs or group tickets, or those wishing to receive additional spring training ticket information may call the Orioles spring training office in Sarasota at 941-893-6300. The Orioles are also offering the official Spring Training Travel Package that includes hotel accommodations, rental car, game tickets, optional airfare through Southwest Airlines and other amenities. For more information or to order travel packages, fans should visit www.orioles.com/springtravel or call 1-800-892-7687. Single game tickets for all 18 of the Orioles' Grapefruit League games at Ed Smith Stadium will go on sale Jan. 26, 2013. Here's the complete schedule: Feb. 23 - Twins, 1:05 p.m. Feb. 24 - at Blue Jays (ss) (Dunedin), 1:05 p.m. Feb. 25 - Yankees, 1:05 p.m. Feb. 26 - at Pirates (Bradenton), 1:05 p.m. Feb. 27 - at Yankees, 1:05 p.m.; Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. Feb. 28 - at Twins (Fort Myers), 1:05 p.m. March 1 - Pirates (ss), 1:05 p.m. March 2 - at Rays (Port Charlotte), 1:05 p.m. March 3 - Phillies (ss), 1:05 p.m. March 4 - OFF March 5 - at Blue Jays (Dunedin), 1:05 p.m. March 6 - Team Brazil (WBC), 1:05 p.m. March 7 - Blue Jays, 1:05 p.m. March 8 - at Pirates (Bradenton), 7:05 p.m. March 9 - at Red Sox (Fort Myers), 7:05 p.m. March 10 - Pirates (ss), 1:05 p.m. March 11 - at Pirates (Bradenton), 1:05 p.m. March 12 - OFF March 13 - at Twins (Fort Myers), 7:05 p.m. March 14 - Rays, 1:05 p.m. March 15 - Red Sox (ss), 1:05 p.m. March 16 - at Blue Jays (Dunedin), 1:05 p.m. March 17 - Twins, 1:05 p.m.; at Phillies, 1:05 p.m. March 18 - OFF March 19 - at Red Sox (Fort Myers), 1:35 p.m. March 20 - Blue Jays, 1:05 p.m. March 21 - Pirates, 7:05 p.m. March 22 - at Rays (ss), 1:05 p.m. March 23 - Phillies, 1:05 p.m. March 24 - at Pirates (Bradenton), 1:05 p.m. March 25 - Red Sox, 1:05 p.m. March 26 - at Twins (Fort Myers), 1:05 p.m. March 27 - Yankees, 7:05 p.m. March 28 - Rays, 7:05 p.m. March 29 - OFF March 30 - Mets, 12:05 p.m.