I've been told on more than a few occasions that I'm a little rough around the edges, that maybe I'm a little harsh. I'm sorry you feel that way, but get in line. My wife has told me that, so has my mother--and they love me. But I'm going to tell you about five baseball players who were 'harsh' with me, but helped me become less selfish and more of a team player in my playing days. Let's start in the minor leagues. A man, a very good player and my pitching coach in Triple-A...

Baseball is a roller coaster of emotional and physical issues. It's how you deal with them as a unit that sets you apart. The Washington Nationals took about 80 games to realize they could play with anyone--Not that they didn't have the team they have now, but they didn't have the TEAM they have now. I'll take you back to 1989. That spring turned to be the craziest time of my young career, with issues that began for us as a unit in Cincinnati. Pete Rose was being investigated for...

The Nationals have done their part, now it's time for Stephen Strasburg to do his. Nationals President Stan Kasten and owners Ted and Mark Lerner have offered the 21-year-old more than the record amount given to then Cubs 1st round pick Mark Prior back in 2001. We are talking about $10.5 million. Not only is that more money then 99.9 percent of the rest of the world, but we are talking about wanting to play professional baseball. Strasburg can choose to listen to an agent that is...

One thing that has bothered me since I retired after the 1996 season is the way pro baseball pitchers have been handled--or should I say mishandled. Not many people will ever be blessed with the skills necessary to pitch at the Major League level. When the Washington Nationals drafted and signed Stephen Strasburg, it marked a new beginning for them and the start of Stephen's pro career. He is a very special young pitcher, just like Tim Lincecum, Tommy Hanson, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood....

As the season winds down, try and stay positive and build for tomorrow. I know it sounds cliche, and maybe it is; but it's how we deal with failure and stay grounded in this game. No matter how the season ends in DC, there will be some who wish to break down the season into numbers and how the team finished. Once again, I will remind people that it only takes a year to turn a negative into a positive. Let's take Tampa in 2007. They finished the year with 66 wins and 96 losses and...

In another couple of weeks the Nats will start Spring Training for the 2010 season. What you, as loyal fans, really want to know is how is this team going to play? Well, me too! What I will tell you first, is that everyone, from the Lerner family to Drew Storen and Danny Espinosa, care very much about what is going on in DC on and off the field. As I and the players - Zimm, Dunn, Willingham, Morgan, Lannan, Stammen, and Clippard, to name a few, as well as manager Jim Riggleman, GM...

KANSAS CITY - The Orioles have won four of their five series this year. Today, they have a chance to add another series victory if they can beat the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The teams have exchanged wins this weekend. Mike Moustakas homered and drove in three runs on Friday as K.C. beat the Birds 4-2. Last night, the Orioles recorded a season-high 14 hits, Mark Trumbo drove in four runs and their bullpen put up four scoreless innings in an 8-3 win. On the mound this afternoon,...

It's an absolutely gorgeous Sunday here in the District, where the Nationals wrap up their interleague series with the Twins, seeking the weekend sweep and a 14-4 record that would match the 2012 Nats for the best 18-game start in franchise history. Obviously, there's a very long way to go (and much tougher competition to face) but things worked out pretty well after that previous 14-4 start (at least, until October). Stephen Strasburg will be the guy on the mound for this one, looking to...

KANSAS CITY - The Kansas City Royals don't lose very often in their ballpark, but the Orioles pinned an 8-3 loss on them in front of a sellout crowd at Kauffman Stadium last night. Kansas City is now 7-3 at home this year and lost for just the third time in their last 17 home games, counting the 2015 postseason. Adam Jones has played 1,254 games in the majors, but had never walked three times in one game until Saturday night. The Orioles continue to use that "pass the baton" mentality that...

KANSAS CITY - The Orioles beat Kansas City 8-3 tonight and it was a nice response to last night's loss. There were plenty of reasons for the win, including starting pitcher Tyler Wilson's outing, an offense that produced big again and another lockdown game by a bullpen that got big outs. The Orioles improved to 4-4 on the road and 11-5 overall (.688), the best record in the American League, leaping over the 11-6 Royals. Let's start with the starter. Wilson, who not thrown more than 44...