With tonight's crowd of 7,329 for the final home game of Orioles Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium, the Orioles have drawn a total of 112,258 fans for 15 home games in Sarasota this season. Since 2010, when the club's Major League operations moved to Sarasota, 544,316 fans have enjoyed Spring Training baseball at Ed Smith Stadium. This year, the club set a franchise record with an average per game attendance of 7,484, topping the previous record average of 7,454 set during the 2014 Spring...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 3, Braves 2 Recap: Ubaldo Jimenez allowed one run and three hits in four innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 61 pitches, 43 for strikes. Eric Young Jr. singled in the first and scored on Jace Peterson's double, but Jimenez retired the last eight batters he faced and 11 of 12. Brad Brach retired the Braves in order with a strikeout in the fifth. Brian Matusz had a walk and strikeout in two-thirds of an inning, and Darren O'Day struck out the...

I don't know if he has a future career as a reporter or talk show host, but Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman is developing a reputation as someone that asks a lot of questions. He gets praised for that because it shows he wants to learn and is not afraid to speak up. When I interviewed O's pitching coach Dave Wallace over the winter, he talked about this. "What I like about Kevin is he's probably the most inquisitive of all the young guys," Wallace said. "Almost every day when he is not...

SARASOTA, Fla. - With the injuries piling up late in camp, the Orioles almost lost starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez tonight. Jimenez was hit on a right ankle by a sharp bouncer from Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt leading off the top of the second inning. Manager Buck Showalter and head athletic trainer Richie Bancells raced out of the dugout as Jimenez limped around the mound. Jimenez threw a few warmup tosses, Showalter patted him on the back and play resumed without a pitching change. No...

After winning two of the last three National League East titles, and then losing in October's National League Division Series, the Nationals are on the hot seat of expectations. They've added $210 million pitcher Max Scherzer to what was already the best rotation in baseball. And with shortstop Ian Desmond and starters Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister eligible for free agency after the season, the Nationals have a sense or urgency. The Nationals won the division by 17 games last season with...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles need to get out of Florida before they run out of players. Or at least break camp before they start breaking bones. Jimmy Paredes hasn't played since Tuesday and now we know the reason. He strained a muscle in his lower back a few days ago while lifting weights and he's likely headed to the disabled list. Paredes squatted to pick up a weight, straightened and injured his back. He received treatment again today. "It's legit," said manager Buck Showalter. "He...

After 94 wins last season and a division championship, the Orioles go into this season as defending American League East champions for the first time since 1998. New eras begin in Tampa Bay, with manager Joe Maddon gone, and New York, where shortstop Derek Jeter has retired. The Yankees are hoping for health all over the diamond, especially on the mound. The Tampa Bay Rays have a new-look lineup built around Evan Longoria, but chances are it will not be that scary. The Boston Red Sox have...

Once again, I will go on record with my prediction for the order of finish for the American League East this year: Orioles 93-69Toronto 86-76Boston 83-79New York 78-84Tampa Bay 72-90 I think the Orioles are the most well-rounded and best of the bunch. They have an excellent defense, enough offense that will again feature plenty of homers, and solid but underrated pitching. The rotation should be good again, despite what FIP stats project. The Orioles should win 90 or more again, despite what...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Infielder Jimmy Paredes could begin the season on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his lower back. The injury occurred a few days ago while Paredes was lifting weights at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. He hasn't played since Tuesday. Paredes would join catcher Matt Wieters, shortstop J.J Hardy and outfielder David Lough on the DL. However, Paredes wouldn't be eligible to return until April 16, five days later than the others in the group. Paredes, who's out...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy passed along another encouraging report today regarding the strained muscle in his left shoulder. Hardy was told Monday that he would be shut down a minimum of 10 days after undergoing an MRI arthrogram on his shoulder. He's headed to the disabled list and won't be eligible to return before April 11, but the swelling has been reduced and his optimism seems to be rising. "It's been good so far," Hardy said. "I feel like every day there's been...