Orioles Game 5 Game Thread: vs. Rays, 7:05

If you're looking for a narrative, you can always find one. Whether or not it's going to prove true is another story. One narrative that could exist for tonight's cold weather game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards is this: The Rays show no interest in wanting to play it, while the Orioles are blithely charging on as if it was an 80 degree day.

I can't stress this enough. Not far away from Baltimore, the Nationals postponed their own game due to "unseasonably cold temperatures." They don't think it's going to rain or snow. They're just not going to play in the cold. Then you've got Buck Showalter, who says, basically, yeah, it's going to be cold, but they're going to play because that's what they do.

The Rays wouldn't even emerge out onto the field for batting practice, choosing instead to take their swings in the indoor cages. The Orioles were out on the field for batting practice. Ryan Flaherty wasn't even wearing long sleeves. Even the Rays beat writers seem to be rooting for a postponement. The Orioles are ready to go.

Will it matter? Heck, I don't know. Oriole destroyer Drew Smyly is the Rays starter. Maybe he'll destroy them again. Mike Wright is making his first start of the year for the O's. Maybe he'll show he's not meant to be in a big league rotation. A lot can happen. Many of the things that can happen are bad. But it should be interesting, one way or another.

Also, Steve Pearce is back in Baltimore, and batting fifth in the Rays lineup. I don't anticipate feeling all emotional about it.