Russell steps in for pregame manager duties
BALTIMORE -- Orioles bench coach John Russell stepped in for manager Buck Showalter during Saturday's pregame media session, the first of two fill-ins within a week.
Showalter, due to arrive back at Camden Yards well before game time on Saturday after attending his son Nathan's graduation from TCU, will miss next Saturday's game in Kansas City to attend his daughter Allie's law school graduation.
"I enjoy what I do, whether it's the bench coach, managing or whether it's something else in baseball," Russell said. "I thoroughly enjoy coming to the ballpark. It may not look like it because I don't talk to you guys very often, but it's not really my place.
"I'm stepping in for a guy I truly respect and has done a great job in Baltimore and I've learned a lot from, and really enjoy coming to the ballpark and working with him. I wouldn't say this is anything more than that, that I'm here to take over because he's not here. Just like when he gets thrown out of a game. It's his team, but it's our team, and I really look at it that way."