Benson's Shoulder Is Again a Sore Point

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., March 7 -- Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kris Benson said he is again experiencing pain in his right shoulder. The setback in his attempt to rehabilitate his partially torn rotator cuff may make it difficult to avoid season-ending surgery.

"I had a rough couple days the last couple days," Benson said. "I don't know if it's just a little bump that I'm going through or what, but the last couple days have been pretty sore. Still doing all the exercises and everything. And still improving on the strength and all the other activities. It's just that whenever it gets flared up like it is, it's tough to get that range of motion. Just like any rehab, you have good days and bad days. Especially the last couple days, I've been a little sore."

Thursday will mark the halfway point of Benson's month-long rehabilitation attempt. In two weeks, Benson said he'd likely know whether he'll need surgery.

"By the end of that period, we'll have a really good idea of what direction we're going in, and I think everybody's opinion is not to let it continue to stretch out any longer," Benson said. "Especially if I do come back here next year, it's not going to impact next spring or next season and stuff like that. That was the whole point of rehabbing it, the fact that I had a little window in there that I could play with as far as getting back to 100 percent so I could do some work during the wintertime and take a little rest before I get back down to spring. We've still got another week until I make a pretty good guess on what's going to happen."

Orioles Manager Sam Perlozzo played down the setback.

"According to Richie [Orioles trainer Bancells], it was the normal course of events," Perlozzo said.

Millar in Left

Kevin Millar made his first start of the spring in left field in the Orioles' 2-2 tie with the Florida Marlins. Perlozzo said Millar might occasionally play in left during the regular season.

Millar, who fouled a ball off his left foot, left the game after the fifth inning and is day-to-day.

Bedard Sharp

Orioles pitcher Erik Bedard allowed just one hit in three innings and has retired 15 of the 16 batters he's faced this spring.

"I was locating and throwing all my pitches for strikes," he said. "It's spring training. It doesn't mean anything."

Interference Magnet OF Corey Patterson can't explain why he's reached base three times this spring because of catcher's interference. Patterson said that he's always lined up at the end of the batter's box and that perhaps those boxes are drawn longer during the spring. "That's the only thing I can think of," he said. Up Next vs. Mets at Port St. Lucie, 1:10 p.m.