Riding the baseball train from Baltimore to D.C.

"Yeah, I would be," Torre says. "I watched (the play) three or four times last night and again today. When I was out there (in right field in Fenway), the only thing I wanted to know from him was, were they taking the right guy out? Is that the guy who did it?"

Torre praises Sheffield's restraint.

"After having our security meeting in spring training, I thought he exercised what they suggested to us, to show restraint," Torre says. "I thought he did."

6:25 p.m.: Memo to Angelos: Here's how you ensure that your franchise remains relevant with the birth of the new kid to the south. Win.

Win, and the turnstiles will keep clicking. From Baltimore, from D.C., from northern Virginia. Fans want interesting teams and they want to cheer for a winner. That's pretty much it.

Sure, that's overly simple. There are other factors at work that can't be brushed away so easily. Television markets and advertising, there's only so much to go around.

The flip side of that is, agents say part of the reason Baltimore has had difficulty signing free agents during the past few winters is because the Orioles move so slow, it is borderline paralysis. With two general managers, Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan, and a hands-on owner in Angelos, the communication often moves at snail mail pace in an e-mail world.

Also, the Orioles have compiled seven consecutive losing seasons. That's the biggest problem -- bigger than another major-league franchise encroaching on their territory.

"We wanted to win before they got here," says Baltimore second baseman Brian Roberts, speaking about the Nationals. "It's not like anything has really changed. I think we've been headed in the right direction for a couple of years now.

"You never want to go through hard times, but when you do, that makes the good times all that much more enjoyable."

8:23 p.m.: The Orioles have done a better-than-expected job early in the season, having won four of six on their just-completed trip -- including winning two of three in New York. And being that Roberts is on an early pace to put him in range of becoming the American League's first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, who knows? Maybe they'll have enough pop to hang close to the Yankees and Red Sox in the AL East.

Roberts just ripped a triple to lead off the third, and now he's hit safely in all 10 games the Orioles have played this season. He came into the opener of the Yankees series tied for first in the AL with four homers (with Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox), third in batting average at .405 and tied for fourth with 10 RBI.

"I'm sure the odds Vegas is putting down are real low, like 2-1 or something," Roberts deadpanned shortly before the game started.

At 5-9, 178 pounds, Roberts is reminiscent of Bip Roberts at second base. But the kid's heart is three sizes too big, and he sure can play. Last season was his first complete summer in the bigs, and he hit .273, stole 29 bags and compiled a .344 on-base percentage last season.

What undoubtedly has helped this season is, in addition to the fact that he's been around the track once now, the Orioles gave him a very public vote of confidence when they sent Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Cubs as part of the Sammy Sosa deal. It's one thing to have talent, it's quite another to have talent and a clear mind.

"I'm sure it's a little bit of both," Roberts said. "It's tough in the big leagues. Not many people succeed right from day one. When you're competing against somebody, it definitely compounds the pressure."

With Hairston in a Cubs uniform ....

"Anytime your employer gives you a vote of confidence, it gives you a boost," said Roberts, who led the AL with 50 doubles last year -- most by a switch-hitter in league history. "I think if you continue to improve and put your work in, you're only going to get better. I know the pitchers now. I know the ballparks. Everything is more comfortable."

By night's end, he will finish with three hits in five at-bats and check in with a sizzling .429 batting average.

9:05 p.m.: Though there were no Orioles caps visible on the train from D.C., say this about Camden Yards: If anybody is wearing a Washington Nationals cap here, they're not out in public view. One of the most noticeable things about the Nationals opener in Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Thursday night was the multitudes of cursive "W" caps in the stands.

Of course, it's likely that those folks stayed home to nurse their opening night hangover -- or to save their money for tickets to Nationals games later this season. The Orioles have not released any numbers, but they say the presence of the new National League club down the road already has adversely affected their ticket sales.