Tarp on the field, O'Day talks about award (tarp off the field)

Rain is in the forecast pretty much the entire week and it started to fall this afternoon as the Blue Jays were taking their final swings in batting practice.

The tarp is on the Camden Yards field after the grounds crew lined up behind it and waited for the Jays to finish. It's more of a drizzle right now and there's no word on whether the weather will impact the 7:05 p.m. starting time.

Reliever Darren O'Day will receive the 2015 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award before the game. The award is presented each year to one U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, one Baseball Hall of Fame member and one active major league player "who reflect the values, integrity, and dedication to serving our country that Bob Feller possessed."

The award was created in 2013 with the support of the United States Navy, Cleveland Indians, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Battleship USS Alabama and the consent of Mrs. Anne Feller.

Feller won 266 games over 18 years, but he didn't pitch in 1942-1944 due to his four years of military service in World War II, during which time he served as Chief Petty Officer aboard the USS Alabama.

"I think it's pretty cool," O'Day said. "Anybody who makes that choice to leave home and go fight for your country is admirable. The award is named in honor of Bob Feller, who was at Pearl Harbor and was one of the best pitchers of all time and he just jumped up and left and went into the Navy. What I do, what we do for the military members pales in comparison to making that choice to go fight."

O'Day believes it's important for today's athletes to know their history.

"It's a different world," he said. "(Former NFL safety) Pat Tillman is really the only guy in modern times that I know of who left in the middle of a career. We have guys on this team who were in the Naval Academy. Any profession that you leave, any comfort and safety and home that you leave to go fight is pretty amazing.

"These guys worked their whole life to play baseball. I'm guessing it was their dream to play baseball, and they felt their duty and responsibility to jump up and leave, so that's admirable."