Quick Hits: Schedule, New Bench Coach...

The big news of the day for most fans here is that the 2008 schedule was released today. Our Orioles will open the season at home against the Devil Rays on March 31st and will play the NL Central this year in interleague baseball play.

The Orioles also go to Wrigley Field and Milwaukee in 2008, and I'd like to get a chance to go to Chicago and take in the sights and sounds of the historic ballpark. I've been there once, but I'm dying to again and I'll make the most of the opportunity in 2008.

Here's the 2008 Tentative Schedule

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Meanwhile, the Orioles filled in the final coaching spot today as they named former Dodgers and Red Sox aide Dave Jauss their bench coach. I don't know a lot about him, but you can read about him on the Orioles.com & the Baltimore Sun, as well as in Roch's blog.

As well, Sam Perlozzo will return to Major League Baseball in 2008 as he was hired as third base coach Tuesday. Larry Bowa was originally supposed to take the job, but instead went to the Dodgers when Joe Torre was hired at the helm. Personally, I think he got a raw deal as the team he managed in Baltimore just was awful and could not compete; however, change is sometimes good, and there was no doubt in my mind that he lost the confidence of the squad.

It does not look like much happened in the GM meetings today, but Roch Kubatko has some insight...