SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb was one of the best pitchers in the American League in the second half last year. In 11 starts after the All-Star break, he went 3-3 with a 2.56 ERA, .232 batting average against and 1.156 WHIP. His ERA was fifth in the AL among pitchers that made at least 10 starts after the break. And while Cobb liked the strong results to wrap up a season where he went 5-15 with a 4.90 ERA, he explained yesterday that he had certain reasons for seeking a better...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nate Karns makes his first start for the Orioles today in their first road game, the team bus pointed toward Interstate 75 south and headed to Fort Myers. Karns brings a certain level of interest and intrigue this afternoon because he missed the entire 2018 season with an elbow injury and pitched in only nine games the previous summer before undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. The Orioles ideally would like to slot him behind Dylan Bundy, Alex Cobb and Andrew Cashner,...

"Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come." - Terence Mann (James Earl Jones) from the movie "Field of Dreams" (1989) FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - A crowd estimated at around 1,000 roared its approval when this scene was played on the video screen at the Fredericksburg Convention & Expo Center off of Carl D. Silver Parkway on Sunday, kicking off the ceremonial groundbreaking for the brand new baseball stadium for the Potomac Nationals. Could have just as well been...

JUPITER, Fla. - If he had a track record of good health, the sight of Koda Glover walking off the mound at Roger Dean Stadium this afternoon with what he described as "elbow tightness" might not have been enough to send red flags up throughout the Nationals dugout and front office. Alas, Glover has an extensive track record of arm trouble, having been through Tommy John surgery while he was in college and then two years of rotator cuff problems once he reached the majors. And so that image...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had plenty to say about reliever Branden Kline following today's 9-8 win over the Blue Jays, but he summed up the right-hander's performance with the first word. "Wow," Hyde said. No kidding. It seemed to be the appropriate response after Kline restored order to the game by striking out the side in the ninth inning for the save. The continuation of a terrific comeback story by the former second-rounder out of Thomas Johnson High in Frederick and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - In his first spring training chance to state his case for a 2019 rotation spot, right-hander David Hess was pleased with his results today versus Toronto at Ed Smith Stadium. In the second spring game for the Orioles, Hess went the first two innings, allowing three hits and one run on a solo homer. He didn't walk or strike out a batter and threw 27 pitches, 18 for strikes. Hess allowed back-to-back singles to start his day but got out of that first-inning jam, getting the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles brought over three pitchers this afternoon from minor league camp to pad the bullpen in case of an unexpected mid-inning departure, and they also managed to send someone over to Twin Lakes Park with an in-game trade. The club announced during the third inning that it acquired right-hander David Lebron from the Rangers in exchange for international signing bonus slots. (I've already heard how this is Lebron's team now, and other NBA-related jokes, but keep 'em...

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals insist they want to be better fundamentally this season, and that includes more efficient at-bats with runners in scoring position. They're living up to the mantra so far this afternoon against the Cardinals. The Nats jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings, with all four runs scoring on something other than a base hit. Adrian Sanchez drove home the day's first run with an RBI groundout in the top of the second, allowing Victor Robles (who walked and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The three-run homer is becoming a staple of Orioles spring training games. At least after two days. Rio Ruiz, starting at third base today, followed a Trey Mancini single and two-out walk by Ryan Mountcastle with a shot over the right field fence to give the Orioles another quick lead. Ruiz has hit four home runs in the majors in 195 plate appearances. Mancini singled up the middle against right-hander Sean Reid-Foley. Chris Davis ran the count to 2-2 and couldn't check his...

JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals are emphasizing defensive improvement this spring, and they believe that can be achieved in multiple forms. There's the obvious: upgrades in personnel. Brian Dozier will be better at second base than Daniel Murphy. Victor Robles and/or Michael A. Taylor will be better in center field than Bryce Harper. Yan Gomes and Kurt Suzuki should be better behind the plate than Matt Wieters. There's also the approach: Manager Davey Martinez and his coaches are drilling into...