WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals are off today. It's only their second off-day of the entire spring. Which makes this a good time to hit the pause button and reflect on what has taken place in the five weeks since pitchers and catchers first reported. Are there any conclusions that can be drawn yet? Here's one: This has been an awfully boring camp. And I mean that in the most positive way. There simply hasn't been any drama in Nats camp this spring. None. What's the biggest...

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's part of a long-range plan, but it's now well underway and already the Orioles see signs of progress. The process of bringing data and analytics to their minor league pitchers has begun. And the pitchers at the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park are soaking up the knowledge that they hope leads to them being part of a wave of future Orioles pitchers that will lead this team to October success. Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias...

Baseball is, at heart, a kids' game. And nowhere is that more true than at Camden Yards. The Orioles announced today that their "Kids Cheer Free" program will be in force again this year, allowing every adult with a regularly priced ticket for a seat in the upper deck to bring one or two children age 9 or younger into the ballpark at no extra charge. "Kids Cheer Free" tickets for the entire season can now be reserved online at orioles.com/kidsfree, and at the Oriole Park box office,...

The Orioles today announced the return of the club's popular "Kids Cheer Free" initiative inviting parents to bring young Orioles fans age 9 and younger to Oriole Park at Camden Yards free of charge. Every adult who purchases a regularly-priced individual game ticket in the Upper Deck will be invited to bring up to two children (ages 9 and under) to the ballpark compliments of the Orioles. "Kids Cheer Free" tickets for the entire season can be reserved now online at orioles.com/kidsfree...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The only thing drearier than the forecast was the prospect of the five-hour round trip from West Palm Beach for an exhibition game that might not even be played if the rain didn't let up. "Yeah, everybody was worrying about that," Aníbal Sánchez said. "Especially hearing the team was driving many hours to be here. It's really uncomfortable for both sides." It may have been uncomfortable, but the Nationals and Braves did manage to play a nine-inning game this...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jack Reinheimer can remember making one start for the Orioles this spring, though he might not be able to nail down the date. Reinheimer keeps coming off the bench, mainly to play shortstop or second base and to get his daily at-bat. And what often follows is a line drive that finds grass in the outfield. Is there a quieter .407/.429/.593 slash line in the Grapefruit League? Reinheimer has appeared in 20 games, one fewer than team leader Drew Jackson, and accumulated 27...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As the clock ticks down on spring training, Howie Kendrick and Tony Sipp are running out of time to make it onto the opening day roster. But they're not entirely out of time yet, and there remains optimism at least one of the two veterans will be ready for next Thursday's season opener against the Mets. Kendrick appears to face a tougher challenge, still needing to get at-bats and game action after two weeks of rehab from a strained left hamstring. The 35-year-old...

Howard Jay Smith is an acquaintance of mine, not through literature, but our shared love of wine. Sampling vino with a group of regular imbibers at a luncheon, we got to talking about this book. He sent me a copy, and thank goodness for that. Smith is an award-winning writer and "Beethoven in Love; Opus 139" is his third book, published in 2015. He has taught at UCLA, published numerous short stories and articles, and been an executive with national television outlets working on films, radio...

Welcome back to the 2019 edition of "Hitting the Books"! With the support of producer Olivia Witherite, editor Pete Kerzel and you as readers, let's try another trip into the stacks. As from the beginning, the idea is a look at books I've enjoyed and would like to pass along. We will be joined at times by guests-managers, players, coaches, and broadcasters-who'll tell us their favorite reads. Your comments are always welcome. Onward. Preservation of art in a time of war. That was the work...

SARASOTA, Fla. - A steady rain and unfavorable forecast have caused the cancellation of today's game between the Orioles and Twins and delayed Drew Jackson's debut in left field. Jackson made his first professional appearance in right field yesterday in Lakeland and was set to play left today, but the Twins never left Fort Myers, didn't post a lineup and waited for the inevitable. The Orioles want to know whether Jackson can be a fourth outfielder along with his other utility duties. A sunny...