Spring training camps open this week in Florida and Arizona. In the American League East, where all the teams train on the east coast of Florida and see each other regularly during the Grapefruit League season, the Orioles have the most stable rotation with the fewest questions. The last-place Red Sox have revamped their rotation. The Yankees are hoping for health with their big-money starters. The Rays, even without David Price and Jeremy Hellickson, have a deep and talented rotation with...

The Orioles and CBS RADIO's 105.7 The Fan (WJZ-FM), the flagship station of the Orioles Radio Network, have announced a change in the spring training radio broadcast schedule. The Sunday, March 8 game against the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 p.m. will replace the Saturday, March 14 game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The March 14 game will still be televised by MASN as part of their seven-game television broadcast schedule. The complete schedule of spring training games to be carried live on 105.7...

Has it stopped snowing? My Southwest flight is listed as questionable. I may need a place to crash, so let me know if you've got a spare bedroom or an unoccupied couch. Whatever happened to the Orioles announcing their minor league staffs? I understand that it's not the kind of news that keeps fans awake a night, but I'm still waiting to cross it off my list. One of my goals in spring training is to find out whether the Orioles are willing to let Matt Wieters serve exclusively as the...

With just two days left until pitchers and report to Space Coast Stadium for spring training, our positional breakdown reaches the relievers. A couple of major moves by Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo in January changed the whole dynamic of the bullpen. First, the departure of Tyler Clippard surprised many. The reliable right-hander was expected to resume his role as the eighth inning set-up man in 2015 until a trade sent him to Oakland for infielder Yunel Escobar. Clippard, a two-time...

When we talk about outfielders that could help the Orioles this year, it seems that Henry Urrutia seldom gets much mention. But we should not forget that he hit .347 with a .913 OPS at Double-A and Triple-A in 2013, and .276 with the Orioles in 58 at-bats. He was named the O's minor league Player of the Year that season. But last year was a setback for him. Urrutia underwent sports hernia surgery. He was out from April 28 to July 5 and was limited to 51 games at Norfolk, where he hit .270 with...

Should Orioles fans start a collection to buy Jeffrey Maier's glove and burn it in a ceremony on opening day at Camden Yards? Just a thought. Maier's black leather Mizuno glove is up for auction, in case you missed the news. The current bidding is listed at $13,000. A small price to pay to watch it smolder. In case you've been living under a rock, Maier used the glove to deflect Derek Jeter's fly ball to right field in Game 1 of the 1996 American League Championship Series at Yankee...

While today is a federal holiday, for those in the D.C. region, it's so much more than that. When Nationals fans hear the word "presidents," they naturally think of George, Tom, Abe, Teddy and Bill racing around the warning track of Nationals Park. Whether they're racing giant pierogies, being taken out by D-backs legends or getting chased by sharks, the racing presidents are just another reason why you should be counting down the days until the return of baseball season. Here are some...

I like to check in with the Nationals and get their thoughts on some of the names to look out for in the minor leagues this season. The last blog, I focused on pitchers. This time, I asked about some of the on-field personnel you should check out. The young prospects to watch as spring training begins include second baseman Christopher Bostick. The 21-year-old Bostick was acquired from the Texas Rangers, alongside right-handed reliever Abel de Los Santos, in the Ross Detwiler trade in...

Lofty expectations follow Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper into 2015, their third season playing together in the Nationals outfield. Span anchors the trio playing center field and batting leadoff for the Nats. He's entering his third year in D.C., after coming in a trade from Minnesota in 2012. His contract with the Nationals expires at the end of this year giving him added incentive to perform well as he approaches free agency. I'm sure Nats manager Matt Williams would be thrilled...

If the Orioles are going to add another player to their camp roster before pitchers and catchers report, it's got to happen within the next few days. A reliever and utility infielder remained on executive vice president Dan Duquette's shopping list as he addressed the crowd at FanFest on Jan. 31. He wanted more depth in both areas. Time also is running out for me to get rid of any items in my refrigerator that will spoil while I'm gone. I've come home to a few unintended science...