Lopez Is Warming to DH Role

BALTIMORE, April 7 -- It is just the first week of the season but perhaps Javy Lopez has begun to warm to the designated hitter role he had dreaded for so long. After fearing DH'ing for the entire spring, Lopez has thrived in his first week in the role. Entering Friday's game Lopez was hitting .364 as Baltimore's DH and he appeared well on his way to recapturing his hitting stroke, which had been absent during the spring.

"I'm in a situation where I have no choice but to accept my role," said Lopez, who hit just .128 this spring. "Yeah I'm feeling more comfortable than how I felt during spring training."

To accommodate such a move, Lopez said he closely watched Bernie Williams, who was Puerto Rico's DH during the World Baseball Classic. Lopez said Williams often went into the clubhouse and used the exercise bike, something the former catcher has done this week.

"I can do that for the first five innings, but after that I got worn out," Lopez said.

It also appears that Lopez appears more comfortable at the plate, and he is no longer worried about his transition to first base, which has been temporarily scrapped.

"All I can say is that the season started the way I wanted it to start, with a clear mind," Lopez said. "If I start focusing on my role, as long as I keep it like this, everything will come out the way that I want it to."

Manager Sam Perlozzo said that Lopez would likely make his first appearance at catcher on Saturday in place of Ramon Hernandez, who will get the day off.

"I don't have the practice that I usually get, but I still know what it takes to get ready," Lopez said.

Perlozzo said he's seen Lopez have a different attitude this season so far.

"He's kind of on a mission himself, to prove some stuff to not only himself but all the people in baseball, and he's working hard at it," the manager said.

Roberts Likely to Get a Rest

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Perlozzo said it was likely that second baseman Brian Roberts would get Sunday off. Perlozzo said he approached Roberts on Friday about it.

"He said he was okay, but we need him for the long haul," Perlozzo said. . . .

Coach Brenda Frese of the national champion University of Maryland women's basketball team threw out the first pitch on Friday.

UP NEXT Today vs. Red Sox 4:30 p.m. Chen (0-0, 0.00) vs. Schilling (1-0, 2.57) WNUV-54, WBAL-1090 Tomorrow vs. Red Sox 1:30 p.m. Lopez (1-0, 6.43) vs. Wakefield (0-1, 17.18) Comcast SportsNet, WBAL-1090