Orioles first baseman Derrek Lee told Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com that he thinks the O’s have a “good lineup” and was “fired up” when the Orioles signed Vlad Guerrero.

Kubatko reported that Lee is “ahead of schedule” in his recovery from the thumb surgery that he had over the offseason. “It’s getting much better,” Lee said after a soft toss session.

Lee was encouraged by Buck Showalter’s effect on the Orioles over the final third of the 2010 season. “Even in the National League, you saw what Baltimore was doing to finish up the season,” he said.

“We’ve got a good lineup. It’s exciting,” he said. “One through nine, we’ve got guys who can hit. We’ve got some speed in the lineup. I think we’re going to be able to put some runs on the board. When you’re scoring runs, it’s fun. When you’re not scoring runs, this game can be a little frustrating sometimes.”

Lee is expected to be looked up to by the young Orioles players as a veteran leader. “And you can show them the ropes along the way, whatever advice they may need or questions they may have,” he said.