Apparently, there are no lingering hard feelings on either side. Bedard may not have been a favorite of the local media - or a fan of it - but he left behind plenty of friends in Baltimore.
"My feelings about Erik haven't changed," said Orioles manager Dave Trembley. "He's one of the best pitchers in baseball. Every time he went out there, he gave us a chance to win. I don't think that will change because he's in a different uniform."
We'll find out soon enough. He's scheduled to make his second regular-season start as a member of the Mariners tomorrow. Bedard wasn't at his best on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers, but still struck out five and gave up just one earned run over five innings.
If this weekend bears added emotional significance for any of the players who changed teams, they weren't making a lot of it yesterday. Other than a few batting cage man-hugs, it was pretty much business as usual during each team's rain-altered pre-game workouts.
"Once you get out there, it's the same old adrenaline," Sherrill said. "It was good to see everybody, but now it's game time. Off the field, those guys are always going to be special to me, but the game is the game."
There is no pledge of allegiance in baseball. None is necessary. The change in uniforms makes the change in loyalty automatic.
"If we get into fisticuffs," Sherrill said, "I'll be out there as an Oriole."
peter.schmuck@baltsun.com
Listen to Peter Schmuck on WBAL (1090 AM) at noon most Saturdays and Sundays.
