"The Orioles cling to the belief that veteran first baseman Derrek Lee will be ready to start the regular season on time, but manager Buck Showalter didn't hesitate when he was asked who would likely open at first base if Lee's sore wrist prevents him from getting enough at-bats this spring.

It's the same guy who would have been the designated hitter if the Orioles hadn't signed Vladimir Guerrero, and the same guy who arrived in camp as the likely left fielder after the O's signed Guerrero and Lee.

Luke Scott, of course.

"That's probably the direction we'll go,'' Showalter said, "but don't hold me to that."

Don't mistake that for Showalter being non-committal. He just knows that the club is only halfway through spring training and stuff happens. Scott is the logical choice, both because he's one of the top Orioles run producers and because the move to first base — if necessary — would make it easier to keep both Nolan Reimold and Felix Pie past the final roster cut.

Scott was at first base on Wednesday when the Orioles hammered Francisco Liriano and the Minnesota Twins, 11-2, at Ed Smith Stadium. He didn't play particularly well there, but you're probably going to see a lot more of him at first base over the next week or two if Lee does not make a speedy recovery.

"Luke is starting his second game at first base and we've obviously seen a lot of the other guys at first base with Jake (Fox), Josh (Bell) has been over there, (Joe) Mahoney, Brandon Snyder, (Brendan) Harris,'' Showalter said before the game. "There have been a lot of guys over there. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that.""