By Marc Carig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 25, 2008

BALTIMORE, Aug. 24 -- Even the most devoted fans may need a program -- or perhaps two -- to sort out exactly who's on the field Monday when the Baltimore Orioles continue a suspended extra-inning game against the Chicago White Sox nearly four months after it started.

In one of the season's most bizarre incidents, the Orioles and White Sox played through frigid and rainy conditions in Chicago, coming to a 3-3 tie April 28 before play was halted entering the 12th inning because the field had become unplayable.

First baseman Kevin Millar is scheduled to lead off the top of the 12th inning (Baltimore is still the road team even at Camden Yards). But who follows is a tricky proposition because Manager Dave Trembley must use all three remaining available position players to plug holes in the starting lineup.

Aubrey Huff was scheduled to hit next but was ejected arguing a call, meaning he will need to be replaced by either Juan Castro or Alex Cintrón, neither of whom were in Chicago that day.

Adam Jones, on the disabled list with a broken foot, will have to be spelled in center field by Lou Montañez because Jay Payton was burned as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.

The Orioles must replace shortstop Brandon Fahey, who has since been demoted and made one of the more memorable plays of the game, slogging through a deep puddle in a failed effort to field a grounder.

Backup catcher Guillermo Quiroz is unavailable because Ramón Hernández pinch-hit for him. Three relievers -- Jim Johnson, Dennis Sarfate and Jamie Walker -- are also unavailable because they already pitched in the game.

Trembley is simply hoping for a quick resolution.

"It would be to our benefit for Millar to go up there and hit one out," he said.

Trembley said that Jones won't come off the disabled list until at least Sept. 1. "He's got to run the bases," Trembley said. "He's got to take infield and throw. He's going to have to hit live pitching twice. We're going to try and figure out a couple ways to get him some live pitching in a simulated game, get him some live at-bats." . . . Adam Loewen will spend a week (Sept. 8-15) working with hitting coach Terry Crowley before heading to the instructional league later in the month to help with his conversion from pitcher to outfielder.

UP NEXT Today vs. White Sox6:05 p.m., completion of April 28 suspended game 7:05 p.m. Richard (1-2) vs. Waters (2-0) MASN Tomorrow vs. White Sox7:05 p.m. Floyd (13-6) vs. Burres (7-7) MASN