There are less than two weeks to go until spring training is over and real baseball games are here. The approaching specter of Opening Day seemed horrifying when the O's opened up their spring schedule with a winless stretch of games, but they're playing better as real games get closer, and that's what you want, right?
Something close to a real Orioles lineup will take the field today even though it is a road spring game. I think it's safe to say they won't be at risk of being fined for having this lineup on the field:
1. Joey Rickard LF
2. Manny Machado 3B
3. Adam Jones CF
4. Mark Trumbo 1B
5. J.J. Hardy SS
6. Jonathan Schoop 2B
7. Nolan Reimold DH
8. Dariel Alvarez RF
9. Caleb Joseph C
SP - Mike Wright RHP
"Close to a real O's lineup" because Alvarez doesn't figure to factor into many games this year, and if there is any regular season game, even a forfeit lineup game, that has Hardy batting fifth, well, that's a forfeit lineup to end all forfeit lineups, barring the unlikely scenario of Hardy's shoulder suddenly being healthy again even though he didn't get surgery.
As with many of these spring training contests, particularly the ones on the road, this game will not be on local television or radio in Baltimore. But, if you're an MLB.tv subscriber, you can check out the Twins broadcast of the game through your computer or mobile device of choice.