Bierd's great escape

"It stands to reason that a team that is rebuilding around its young arms and doesn't expect to contend this season would find a way to keep a Rule 5 reliever, who is just 24 years old and has a good arm. The one thing that could change that is if Randor Bierd has a poor spring.

Bierd, the right-hander who the Orioles plucked from the Detroit Tigers' organization in December's Rule 5 draft, showed off his stuff and some good composure today. Pitching in a tie game in the bottom of the fifth inning, Bierd got out of a second-and-third-no-out jam without allowing a run.

Bierd admitted earlier this week that he was uncomfortable at first in the Orioles clubhouse because he didn't know anybody. But the pitcher, who has never pitched above Double-A, has settled in and understands the opportunity that he has."They are giving me a big chance to play in the big leagues," said Bierd, who has to stay on the Orioles' 25-man roster all season, or be offered back to the Tigers for $25,000."