Ed Smith Stadium

When all the pomp and circumstance was over and the orange ribbon that had been spread across home plate was cut to officially open the new Ed Smith Stadium, the Orioles took the field and sparked hope that it wasn't all just window dressing. They were lucky they didn't break any windows in the process. Outfielder Nick Markakis, perhaps the face of the franchise, deposited two balls that bounced toward the player's parking lot past right field. Vladimir Guerrero, the Orioles' new slugger, hit one that nearly clipped the Tampa Bay Rays' team bus in left-center field, and multitalented center fielder Adam Jones cleared everything with a tape-measure shot to left.

Henry Urrutia, the Cuban defector who joined the Orioles earlier this month eight months after he signed, will play in his first game at Ed Smith Stadium in today's exhibition against the State College of Florida. Urrutia will start in right field and hit sixth in the batting order.   Urrutia, who signed a $778,500 signing bonus in July, hasn't played in two seasons. He was suspended for the entire 2011 season in Cuba after a failed defection, so the Orioles are pacing him slowly to get him readjusted to the game while getting him ready for the season.

The Orioles announced that they will wear green-and-black caps during their split-squad games Sunday as part of their "Go Green" Day at Ed Smith Stadium and St. Patrick's Day. The Orioles host the Minnesota Twins and also play against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Afterward, the caps will be autographed and auctioned online at www.orioles.com/spring , with proceeds to benefit the Mote Marine Laboratory Animal Hospitals. The Sarasota-based hospitals treat animals that have been harmed due to damage to the environment.

The sight of Orioles designated hitter Wilson Betemit rolling and writhing on the infield grass of Ed Smith Stadium on Monday afternoon suddenly quieted a sellout crowd and sent chills through the home dugout. As routine an act as Betemit's was - going on a full-count pitch from first base to second during the Orioles 12-9 Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox - the result was anything but. Betemit's right knee buckled mid-stride as he stumbled in the basepath, crumbled to the ground and clutched his knee in severe pain.

The 2010 World Series starts tonight, but the Orioles have already made plans for the beginning of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. The O's on Wednesday released their 2011 spring training schedule, which starts with a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Fla., on Feb. 28. After that, the Orioles will play their first of 16 home games at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 1. This will be the second...

The architectural style is "Florida Picturesque," and the baseball amenities make Ed Smith Stadium a field of dreams, but there really is only one way to describe the dramatic restoration project that has created a beautiful new home away from home for the Orioles. Long overdue. Two decades after they began their quest for a new all-purpose spring training facility, the Orioles will christen Ed Smith Stadium on Tuesday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays in what will be a celebration for an organization that has endured substandard and outdated spring facilities for years.

Janet Marie Smith was instrumental in the design of Camden Yards. She oversaw the improvements at Fenway Park and figured prominently in the transformation of Centennial Olympic Stadium into Turner Field, the home of the Atlanta Braves. But her latest challenge — the $31.2 million renovation of the Orioles' spring training home at Ed Smith Stadium and Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota — has broken new ground for the renowned architect and urban planner. "It's the first time in our career we are ordering steel the same day we are ordering concession equipment," said Smith, the Orioles' vice president of planning and development.

The sight of Orioles designated hitter Wilson Betemit rolling and writhing on the infield grass of Ed Smith Stadium on Monday afternoon suddenly quieted a sellout crowd and sent chills through the home dugout. As routine an act as Betemit's was - going on a full-count pitch from first base to second during the Orioles 12-9 Grapefruit League win over the Red Sox - the result was anything but. Betemit's right knee buckled mid-stride as he stumbled in the basepath, crumbled to the ground and clutched his knee in severe pain.

Orioles fans looking to check out the club's new spring training digs in Sarasota, Fla., can buy individual game tickets starting at 10 a.m. Saturday on the team's Web site, among other places. The Orioles will be playing at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota on the west coast of Florida after 14 seasons in Fort Lauderdale. The club is taking over the facility that previously housed the Cincinnati Reds' spring operations, and the Orioles said the switch is being embraced. "The business community and citizens of Sarasota have already demonstrated that they are anxiously awaiting the start of Orioles spring training," said Greg Bader, the club's director of communications.

SARASOTA, Fla -- It's finally here. After 10 days of workouts and instrasquad games, the Orioles get to see another uniform. The Grapefruit League season opens this afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Gate will open at 11:05. In advance of the opener, Sun columist Peter Schmuck and I talked a little bit about what to expect from the first few Grapefruit League games. (See video above.)

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones described himself as “marvelous” this morning, his first day back with his teammates since leaving for the World Baseball Classic on March 3. He'll be taking today and tomorrow off, and will play for the Orioles either Tuesday or Wednesday. Since Tuesday is a road game in Fort Myers, Fla., the best guess is that he'll be in the starting lineup Wednesday in Sarasota versus the Toronto Blue Jays. “I've played six straight nine-inning games, so my body feels good,” Jones said.

The Orioles announced that they will wear green-and-black caps during their split-squad games Sunday as part of their "Go Green" Day at Ed Smith Stadium and St. Patrick's Day. The Orioles host the Minnesota Twins and also play against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater. Afterward, the caps will be autographed and auctioned online at www.orioles.com/spring , with proceeds to benefit the Mote Marine Laboratory Animal Hospitals. The Sarasota-based hospitals treat animals that have been harmed due to damage to the environment.

Non-roster invitee Conor Jackson continues to make the most of his opportunity this spring. Jackson hit a pair of homers in Sunday's 12-3 Grapefruit League win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium. Both of them were aided by the wind, but I thought both were hit well enough to get out of the stadium on a calm day. Orioles manager Buck Showalter disagreed. “He'd be the first to tell you they were good swings in the proper elements,” he said. Still, you can't argue that Jackson, who has played in more than 60 games just once since contracting Valley Fever in 2009, is off to a good start in fighting for a reserve roster spot.

Anchored by four homers -- including the first two of the spring for designated hitter Conor Jackson -- the Orioles took advantage of a strong wind blowing out in left field of Ed Smith Stadium in a 12-3 win over a Philadephia Phillies split-squad team Sunday afternoon. Catcher Matt Wieters drove in five runs, including a three-run homer to left field in the first inning off Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick. Jackson followed immediately with a blast to left-field to give the Orioles a quick 4-0 lead.

For Baltimore baseball fans inspired by the Orioles' surprising success last year, spring training couldn't have come soon enough. Those who never wanted that magic season to end along with newbie Birds fans are already flocking in droves to the team's Grapefruit League home at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. I had some genuine Smalltimore moments during the first two days of a recent five-day visit to the Gulf Coast of Florida, where the Orioles roost from February to the end of March.

SARASOTA, Fla -- It's finally here. After 10 days of workouts and instrasquad games, the Orioles get to see another uniform. The Grapefruit League season opens this afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. game against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Gate will open at 11:05. In advance of the opener, Sun columist Peter Schmuck and I talked a little bit about what to expect from the first few Grapefruit League games. (See video above.)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis blames himself. He came to the Orioles in 2011 with the reputation of being a pretty good defensive first baseman during his formative years with the Texas Rangers, but he never looked comfortable at first base last season and only played one game there after May 28. "I have not shied away from the fact that the reason I struggled last year was because I didn't put the work in early in spring training," Davis said....