SARASOTA, Fla. - The tarp is on the field and it's pouring. No, wait, the rain just stopped, the sun is peeking through the clouds and the grounds crew is sweeping water off the tarp. Oh, Florida! Caleb Joseph is supposed to catch today. He' s also expected to be behind the plate for most of the games while Matt Wieters is on the disabled list. It would be Joseph's first opening day in the majors and the latest twist to a professional career that wasn't always pointed in the right...

There will be books written about baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams for as long as the printing presses roll. Williams provided a lot of material in a life filled with his baseball superstar status, turbulent private life, running quarrels with the Boston baseball press and cryogenic ending. In "The Kid," Ben Bradlee Jr. left none of that life untouched in this can't-wait-to-turn-the-page read. Check out the accompanying video for more on "The Kid." A shout out to the Selby Public...

VIERA, Fla. - It's time for the medical report from Nationals camp. Unfortunately, this has become the featured portion of manager Matt Williams' morning press conversations. Let's start with the most positive news of the day. Center fielder Denard Span, who is recovering from abdominal muscle surgery, is scheduled to swing a fungo bat in the cages today. "It's good progress," Williams said. "It's part of the rehab progression. Of course we want him back as quickly as possible, keeping...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter has Kevin Gausman scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Rays in Sarasota. The pitching schedule will change if today's game is rained out, but the Orioles are taking batting practice and the storm isn't expected to arrive until later this afternoon. We're working off our 12th forecast of the morning. Gausman worked the eighth inning yesterday in Lakeland and surrendered a tiebreaking two-run homer to Victor Martinez. Showalter...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have reassigned the following players to minor league camp: infielders Cutter Dykstra and Emmanuel Burriss, catcher Steven Lerud, outfielder Derrick Robinson, infielder/outfielder Kila Ka'aihue and right-hander Manny Delcarmen. Right fielder Bryce Harper is back in the lineup after dealing with a stomach virus the past two days. Right-hander Drew Storen is among the pitchers scheduled to appear today after starter Jordan Zimmermann. It will be Storen's first...

The Orioles today announced plans for their first-ever Kids' Opening Day, which will be held Sunday, April 12, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards when the Orioles host the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:35 p.m. The celebration will welcome children and their families to a new season of Orioles Baseball with many fun activities and unique gameday opportunities for several lucky kids throughout the day. Kids' Opening Day will feature a kids-only giveaway, as the first 7,500 fans age 14 and under will...

SARASOTA, Fla. - For right-hander Tyler Wilson, being named Orioles minor league Pitcher of the Year has its perks. After making five relief appearances this spring, Wilson will get the start Saturday against the Yankees in Tampa. Manager Buck Showalter delivered the news earlier this week and the club announced it yesterday morning. "I'm excited," he said. "Obviously, to get a chance to start a game is great. That's all I've ever done in the minor leagues, so it's good to be able to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Bud Norris makes his fifth start of the spring today and his second against a division opponent. He allowed four runs in one inning against the Red Sox in his Grapefruit League debut. Norris has surrendered 12 earned runs and 13 total in 11 2/3 innings. He has walked nine batters and struck out nine. With Orioles manager Buck Showalter not hiding Norris from the Rays today, should we assume that the right-hander won't face them in the season-opening series at Tropicana Field?...

VIERA, Fla. - When Nationals right-hander Doug Fister showed up at spring training, he was swarmed by media wanting insight on Max Scherzer, the new high-profile member of an already elite rotation. Fister and Scherzer starred together for 2 1/2 years on a Tigers staff that was as impressive as any in baseball. "He's an incredible guy. It's a huge honor for me to be a teammate of his again, to be able to sit back and watch him and continue to learn from him," Fister said. "He's got a...

VIERA, Fla. - After giving up back-to-back walks in the third inning, Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez shouted an expletive that could be heard in the left field tiki bar at Space Coast Stadium. "I have a split personality. I talk to myself a lot," Gonzalez said, admitting frustration after the game. "Once in a while, you're going to get a firecracker out of me. The cool thing is learning how to keep your composure knowing that guys are back there telling you, 'Hey, you've got this.' Even...