ORIOLES NOTEBOOK
Gibbons Faces an Open Field
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Monday, February 19, 2007
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 18 -- Jay Gibbons arrived here with a new hairstyle and the prospect of playing a new position. For the first time in his career with the Baltimore Oroles, Gibbons isn't sure where he'll be playing on Opening Day. Because of Nick Markakis's emergence in right field, Gibbons now likely will have to shuffle from first base to left field to designated hitter.
"I'm actually kind of excited to see how things play out," Gibbons said. "I'm just looking forward to being in the lineup. We'll see where it's going to be. I haven't really had a conversation about it yet. . . . We'll see."
Gibbons said he'd prefer to play in the field, though he's open to everything. During the winter, Gibbons took grounders at first base about twice a week with bench coach Tom Trebelhorn. "You can take a million ground balls," Gibbons said. "You've still got to go play in the game. It's totally different. You've got to get acclimated to the game. The speed's different. We'll see what happens here in the spring."
Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo said he got positive feedback from Trebelhorn. "He said he looked great, looks healthy," Perlozzo said. "It's all good stuff we have from Tom."
Said Gibbons about his new long locks: "My wifey told me if I don't cut it, I don't have to buy her any purses all year. . . . It's like a contract extension, not having to buy her a purse all year. I haven't cut it since September."
New York, New York
Perhaps to New Yorkers, Jaret Wright and Carl Pavano always will be linked. Both were signed by the Yankees to multiyear deals before the 2005 season. Neither performed to expectations. This week, Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina was critical of Pavano. Wright said he had not spoken to either Mussina or Pavano. "I think I'd have to be there to figure what was said and why it was said," Wright said. "I don't deal well with third-party stuff. . . . I think over there for me it's hard for me to read stuff and translate it to what is happening between teammates."
Spring Thaw"We couldn't get on the field as early. I think it being so early in the spring, we calmed things down a little and were just being sure that the guys were all loose." Manager Sam Perlozzo, on canceling bullpen sessions because of cold weather
