There was a time earlier this season when the Orioles couldn't find playing time for Felix Pie.
Now, with center fielder Adam Jones out for the remainder of the season with an ankle sprain and left fielder Nolan Reimold dealing with an Achilles tendon injury, missing Pie for the past few days has been a blow to the club's starting lineup.
Pie, who hadn't played since leaving Friday's game with back spasms, ran, threw and swung a bat Monday and arrived at the park early Tuesday to swing again before pronouncing himself healthy.
"I feel OK now," Pie said. "I take a couple swings and I don't feel nothing, so I think today I am ready to play."
On Tuesday, he was inserted into the leadoff spot in the lineup for just the fourth time this season and struck out in his first at-bat. He went 1-for-5.
Heading into Tuesday night, Pie was batting .265 on the season but had hit .324 with six homers and 14 RBIs in his previous 24 games. He had reached base in a career-high 13 straight games.
"He has improved," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "I think he gets a lot of credit for that, and I think [hitting coach Terry Crowley] gets a lot of credit for that for the routine that he's put in with Pie. But I think Pie gets a lot of credit for some of the adjustments that he's made."
There is still plenty that the 24-year-old Pie has to work on, like keeping his focus throughout an entire game, but Trembley is encouraged by the strides he has made.
"I think a couple guys got in Pie's ear a little bit, Juan [Samuel] and [Cesar] Izturis, and tried to redirect him to get him more focused," Trembley said.
"It's another guy that can help your club. He can play."
Trembley said he would like to see Pie go to winter ball this year to build on the progress he made in 2009.
2010 schedule set
The Orioles will begin the 2010 season playing the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 6 and will begin the 19th season at Camden Yards on April 9 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The schedule, which was announced Tuesday, includes interleague games at San Francisco, San Diego and Washington and home games against the New York Mets, Florida Marlins and Nationals.
The Orioles go to Washington on May 21-23, and the Nationals play at Oriole Park on June 25-27.
The Orioles will be host to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox three times in 2010.
