Drafted by the Expos in 2004, longtime National Ian Desmond was a staple in the infield. Over seven big league seasons with the Nationals, Desmond earned three Silver Slugger Awards and was named an All-Star in 2012. In 2015, as the Nats' season began to wind down, Desmond and fans knew that the shortstop's time in D.C. was likely coming to an end. In Desmond's last home game of the season, Trea Turner entered the game at shortstop in the ninth inning as manager Matt Williams allowed fans to...

The first spring training game on MASN is around the corner and baseball in Baltimore is right on its heels! In just a few days, I'll be heading down to sunny Sarasota, Fla., to see games with my own two eyes for the first time in 2016. It's so close I can almost hear the sound of bats cracking and balls popping into mitts! While real games are a month and a day away, there are still many questions that need to be answered, including: * With Matt Wieters returning, how much time will Caleb...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are on the road again this morning, making their first visit to Port Charlotte to play the Rays. Miguel Gonzalez will work two innings if, of course, his pitch count allows it. Mike Wright went two innings on Tuesday. Ubaldo Jimenez retired one batter yesterday. The Rays are sending Erasmo Ramirez to the mound. He's 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA in seven career games (six starts) against the Orioles, but they won't be sending many of their starters. It is, however, the...

For Orioles left-handed pitching prospect Chris Lee, a trade from the Houston Astros to Baltimore last May has really advanced his career. With Houston, he pitched in rookie ball three straight seasons, from 2011-2013, and was in low Single-A ball all during the 2014 season and was back at that level to start last season. But the Orioles then acquired him May 18 for two international bonus slots. He finally moved past low Single-A ball when the Orioles assigned him to Single-A Frederick of the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Hyun Soo Kim likely will make the trip to Port Charlotte on Thursday before getting a day off. Kim will play three straight days to open the Grapefruit League schedule. Kim has gone 0-for-6 against the Braves. Perhaps he'll have better luck versus the Rays. As for Ubaldo Jimenez's abbreviated outing today, Showalter didn't offer the slightest hint of concern. "First one," Showalter said. "Dismiss it a little bit. First outing of spring...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Dusty Baker is undefeated as Nationals manager. OK, so it was only the Grapefruit League opener. And it came in a game played almost exclusively by reserves and prospects. And it won't show up anywhere on Baker's career managerial record. But the Nats put together a solid all-around effort in defeating the Rays 6-2 at Charlotte Sports Park, rewarding their new skipper in his return to the dugout after a two-year hiatus. So, Dusty, was it just like riding a bike? "Aw, I...

The Nationals played their first spring training game Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, winning 6-2. Several players who were non-roster invitees to camp were in the starting lineup, including outfielder Chris Heisey, shortstop Jason Martinson and catcher/DH Spencer Kieboom. Heisey played for Triple-A Buffalo last season, while Martinson and Kieboom are both home-grown talents in the Nationals system. Martinson and Kieboom are also a year or two removed from being on the Nationals' early...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Braves 11, Orioles 4 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez recorded only one out in the first and was charged with six runs, three scoring after Odisamer Despaigne replaced him. He allowed three hits and walked three batters. Despaigne was charged with a second run in the second inning on Nate Freiman's RBI single. Chris Davis led off the second with a home run to center field and Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run shot with two outs. Todd Redmond retired all three batters he faced. Zach...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 6, Rays 2 Recap: The Nationals didn't bring any regular starting position players on the 3 1/2-hour bus ride to Port Charlotte, but they still acquitted themselves well in their Grapefruit League opener, thanks to solid pitching and one big blast. Tanner Roark was sharp during a scoreless two-inning start, striking out the final three batters he faced. Joe Ross labored some out of the bullpen, but the two runs he allowed in two innings were unearned. The...

SARASOTA, Fla. - If baseball allowed a mulligan, Ubaldo Jimenez wouldn't just take it. He'd squeeze the stuffing out of it. Jimenez faced seven Braves today and retired only one, as the Orioles fell behind 7-0 in the first inning. Six runs were charged to Jimenez, the last three scoring after Odrisamer Despaigne replaced him with the bases loaded and one out. Braves leadoff hitter Mallex Smith stroked two triples in the inning, the second scoring two runs as Mark Trumbo broke toward the right...