VIERA, Fla. - By now, I'm sure you're aware of the ESPN The Magazine baseball preview, which includes an anonymous poll of major leaguers about a variety of topics. Most notable on the list was the balloting on the game's most overrated player. For the second consecutive year, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper won - or maybe lost - in a landslide. Harper received 41 percent of the vote, far ahead of Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig, who finished second with 15 percent. The same two topped the...

ABERDEEN, Md. - Former Orioles Cal Ripken Jr. and Bill Ripken see the 2015 Orioles making another run at the playoffs. In fact, they predict it will happen. Before an Aberdeen IronBirds Hot Stove dinner event last night at Ripken Stadium, where they were scheduled to take fans questions, the brothers sized up the Orioles with less than two weeks to go before their opener. "I would say a week ago you might have had some concerns because spring training didn't look so good. And I know we don't...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals announced they have optioned right-handed pitcher Taylor Jordan to Triple-A Syracuse, reassigned infielder Matt Skole and right-hander Evan Meek to minor league camp and released right-handed reliever Heath Bell. Bell, a non-roster invitee, came to Viera hoping to find a late-inning role on a Nats staff that lost Tyler Clippard late in the offseason. He wasn't able to regain the magic that saw him appear in three All-Star Games when he was one of the game's best...

VIERA, Fla. - Second baseman Yunel Escobar made a successful exhibition season debut in today's 7-6 win over the Yankees. The eight-year veteran has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a Grade 1 oblique strain, which he suffered just before the Grapefruit League opener. Nationals manager Matt Williams placed Escobar at the top of the lineup in hopes of getting him two at-bats in the three innings he played. Escobar responded right way, legging out a chopper to third for an infield...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles return to the field today after taking a break yesterday, the weather cooperating long enough for many players to get in a round of golf. Heavy rain early in the morning gave way to mostly sunny skies. The schedule consists of a second and final trip to Bradenton, where the Orioles will play the Pirates at 1:05 p.m. They get a second look at Radhames Liz, who allowed one run and two hits in two innings in a March 19 start in Sarasota. Ubaldo Jimenez will make his...

In conjunction with Major League baseball requirements, the Nationals have installed metal detectors at all gates at Nationals Park for the 2015 season. The new screening program will officially begin April 4 for the exhibition game against the Yankees. Prior to entering the ballpark, fans will have their bags checked and will then proceed through a metal detector. If metal is detected, there will be a secondary screening with a handheld wand-type metal detection device. Following the bag check...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 7, Yankees 6 Recap: Right-hander Doug Fister struggled in his fourth spring start, allowing four runs on seven hits, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked none, but saw his spring ERA climb to 4.97. Fister helped his own cause with his bat, however, hitting a two-run single in the fourth. Shortstop Ian Desmond and catcher Jose Lobaton each added two RBIs. Trailing the Yankees 6-4 in the seventh, the Nats scored three times on...

VIERA, Fla. - Who will start opening day? That's the question that's been surrounding the Nationals ever since they stunned the baseball world by signing right-hander Max Scherzer. The wait is over. Nationals manager Matt Williams has announced he'll give Scherzer the ball on April 6 against the Mets at Nationals Park. I'm sure Williams was looking forward to finally revealing his opening day starter, considering he's had to answer daily questions about it. The 30-year-old has never...

VIERA, Fla. - Second baseman Yunel Escobar will make his Grapefruit League season debut today against the Yankees. This spring was critical for Escobar, who is essentially learning to play a new position. Escobar has primarily played shortstop throughout his eight-year major league career, but the Nationals traded away reliever Tyler Clippard to fill a need for a more offensive-minded second baseman. Escobar has played only 21 games at the position, all in his rookie season in 2007. Escobar was...

Here are answers to the questions making headlines in baseball: Question: Pete Rose, the all-time hits leader who was banned 25 years ago for betting on games he managed with the Cincinnati Reds, has asked new commissioner Rob Manfred to take a look at his case with a request for reinstatement. Is there a chance? Answer: No. Bringing Rose back would be great for Rose, but not for baseball. During the 1919 Black Sox scandal, gambling almost wiped baseball off the map. It would be difficult to...