"It didn't take long for the juxtaposition of converted third baseman Miguel Tejada and emerging third base prospect Josh Bell to create a little intrigue in Orioles training camp.

In the first exhibition game Wednesday, Tejada wrestled with a couple of balls and Bell launched a couple of others into deep space, so you knew it wouldn't be long before the message boards and blogs were buzzing about the various scenarios that might allow both to be in the major league lineup at the same time.

That's why - before this goes any further - I want to assure you of one thing. Miguel Tejada is the Orioles' third baseman and will remain so for the greater part of the 2010 season unless something dramatic happens to make that impractical or impossible.

Bell certainly made a terrific first impression, but two big jacks on a windy day aren't going to send Dave Trembley and Andy MacPhail back to the drawing board to rework the 2010 blueprint.

The plan was always for Tejada to get comfortable at third base and for Bell to get more comfortable hitting Triple-A pitching this season. Maybe he explodes and forces everyone to rethink the situation in August, but there's no spring scenario - other than a rash of disastrous injuries - that is going to put him in the Opening Day starting lineup.

So, no, the Orioles aren't considering moving Tejada back to shortstop to make room for Bell at third base, but thanks for asking. Even if Tejada struggles badly in his transition to third, the next option would be Ty Wigginton.

Still, even though MacPhail would probably bristle at such premature speculation about Bell, it's certainly a nice problem to have. If I recall correctly, there was a lot of grumbling about the deal last year that sent closer George Sherrill to the Los Angeles Dodgers for some third base power prospect nobody around here had ever heard of, but it looks pretty good now that the Orioles have signed free-agent closer Mike Gonzalez and Bell has made such a great first impression."