SARASOTA, Fla. - You know it's an intrasquad game when Orioles pitchers are told to record more than three outs in an inning. The home team was five up, five down against left-hander T.J. McFarland in the bottom of the first, and the visiting team was four up, four down versus left-hander Wesley Wright in the top of the second. Left-hander Zach Britton induced ground balls from Everth Cabrera, Alejandro De Aza and Nolan Reimold. Wright struck out Matt Tuiasosopo, retired Steve Clevenger on a...

Nationals coordinator of instruction Gary Cathcart is working two camps a day at spring training - the early camp filled with prospects and the major league camp. During the regular season, Cathcart roves the minor league system working with players and coaching them up. In June, he will again manage the short-season Single-A Auburn Doubledays. Several of the players he had on that squad last season are on the early camp roster this season. In my next series of blogs, I will break down...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Matt Wieters is leading off today for the home team in the Orioles' intrasquad game at Ed Smith Stadium. In a related story, this is not a preview of the opening day lineup. Everth Cabrera is leading off for the visiting team and Steve Clevenger is behind the plate. Zach Britton is starting for the home team and T.J. McFarland is starting for the visitors in a one-inning battle of left-handers. For the home team Matt Wieters C Manny Machado 3B J.J. Hardy SS Adam...

VIERA, Fla. - Nate McLouth's first season in Washington never got on track. He was bothered by shoulder inflammation throughout much of the year, which eventually led to surgery in August to repair a torn right labrum. Before shutting it down, the veteran outfielder managed just a .173 batting average with one home run and seven RBIs in 79 games. Those numbers were the worst of McLouth's 10-year career. He earned a two-year, $10.75 million contract from the Nationals after a productive 2013...

SARASOTA, Fla. - If you woke up this morning and wondered why it felt like Christmas without all the decorations and wrapping paper, that's because I'm going to be posting my first lineups of 2015. Just don't put your eye out. The intrasquad game doesn't count today, but it beats bullpen sessions and bunt drills. Important stuff, of course, but not the same as pitchers facing hitters on the Ed Smith Stadium field. And as an added bonus, the Orioles are assured of winning. The only...

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Smyly drew some reaction for a comment he posted on his Twitter account recently. After the Red Sox signed Cuban-born amateur Yoan Moncada for $31.5 million, Smyly made this remark: * It's not right that a Cuban 19yr old gets paid 30m and the best 19yr old in the entire USA gets prob 1/6th of that. Everyone should have to go through same process. Later, Smyly told the Tampa Bay Times his comment was not personal about Moncada, but about the system of acquiring...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles sent Brian Matusz, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman, Steve Johnson, Eddie Gamboa, Oliver Drake and Dane De La Rosa to the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park today to throw live batting practice. Manager Buck Showalter said the six catchers in camp each will be behind the plate for two innings in Sunday's 1 p.m. instrasquad game on the Ed Smith Stadium field. I wrote earlier today that Chris Davis worked out in right field. In addition, Jonathan...

VIERA, Fla. - Heavy rain overnight and more this morning forced the Nationals off the practice fields today. Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated that Saturday was already expected to be a light day with no bullpen throwing sessions scheduled. "It's a little sloppy out there," Williams said. "Pitchers threw and we hit in the cage. We didn't cancel. But to get out there on the fields and run around - it's unseasonably cool and rainy, so adjustments have to be made sometimes. We got...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Davis worked out in right field today, taking ground balls on Field 3 while his teammates stretched, then moving to the Camden Yards replica field with the other outfielders. Davis shagged fly balls, took more ground balls and made throws during various drills. He's also expected to get some work at third base later in camp. Though he's expected to start at first base, Davis gives the Orioles another option in right. A group of pitchers headed over to the minor league...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are wearing orange LUNGevity t-shirts at today's workout to honor former public relations director Monica Pence Barlow, who passed away exactly one year ago after battling Stage 4 lung cancer for 4 1/2 years. The shirts have "In Memory Of Monica" written in white letters. "You don't realize how much you really miss her until you get an interview request, you get things that Monica would have come to you for in spring training, and that can be a little hard...