While there has been a lot of focus on what the Orioles have lost since the 2014 season ended, their starting rotation is intact. In fact, they have six starters for five spots heading into spring training. The Orioles rotation was good last season. It should be again and good pitching keeps you in games. The Orioles ranked fifth in the American League and were second among AL East teams with a 3.61 rotation ERA in 2014. How do they fare in the rotation against the rest of the East right...

New England has won another Super Bowl. The calendar says February and pitchers and catchers report to spring training camps mid-February. So where does pitcher James Shields, 33, the ace of the American League champion Kansas City Royals, wind up? It's a head-scratcher. No one knows. Did he turn down a $100 million contract? Now, can he be had for $70 million? Or will Shields sign a one-year deal, a la Ervin Santana a year ago, and try the free agent market next time? Who wouldn't want a...

The high Single-A Potomac Nationals roster for 2015 has not been officially announced, but there is a very good chance that a lot of the top players from low Single-A Hagerstown will move up as they do each season. Pitchers Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito and center fielder Rafael Bautista are likely to be alongside players such as infielders Drew Ward and Wilmer Difo, and catcher Spencer Kieboom. The Suns put up gaudy offensive numbers and featured a pitching staff that stopped opponents...

The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Casey Janssen on a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2016 on Monday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Janssen, 33, joins the Nationals after 10 years in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, including five consecutive Major League seasons with an ERA of 3.95 or lower. "We are happy to add Casey Janssen to our stable of relief arms," Rizzo said. "We're excited...

The Nationals officially announced this afternoon that right-handed reliever Casey Janssen has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2016. The deal had previously been reported and confirmed last Wednesday, and is worth $5 million. "We are happy to add Casey Janssen to our stable of relief arms," general manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement. "We're excited about what he will bring to our bullpen ' on the mound, as one of the most effective and consistent...

I'm a huge fan of sarcasm unless it's coming from my doctor, and Orioles reliever Darren O'Day brought it strong at Saturday's FanFest at the Baltimore Convention Center. Meeting with the media behind the main stage, O'Day was asked what ran through his mind during the week that the Orioles lost free agents Nelson Cruz, Nick Markakis and Andrew Miller to free agency and reports surfaced in early December that the Blue Jays were courting executive vice president Dan Duquette. "How are we...

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper had a tremendous Super Bowl week. Harper rubbed elbows with some big names in the sports and entertainment world over the weekend and chronicled many of the moments on his Instagram account. Bryan Harper, a Nationals farmhand, accompanied his brother throughout his desert odyssey. Bryce Harper's week in Arizona began at Nationals manager Matt Williams' house for the Big Game, Big Give fundraiser on Saturday night. Williams, who played six years for the...

It was a spectacular defensive play by New England rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler that secured the Lombardi Trophy for the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. On the other side, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is dealing with second-guessing from the media and others for not giving punishing running back Marshawn Lynch the ball at the 1-yard line as the game clock was winding down. So the NFL season ends with coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady winning the Patriots' fourth...

There is always something special about seeing the sport of baseball produce a smile on a kid's face. We saw that in abundance on Saturday during the latest edition of Orioles FanFest. I was asked to help moderate two kids press conferences with players. I would call this a hidden gem of FanFest. At least it was hidden to me (my bad for that) until Saturday. Presented by MASN, the press conferences were great fun and very well-attended. The kids got their own press passes and then lined up...

One of the lasting images for me at FanFest on Saturday was first baseman Chris Davis sporting his usual winter beard and a smile that hadn't been seen by reporters in almost five months. We also hadn't heard from him since the Game 4 loss to the Royals in the American League Championship Series, when he politely declined comment. He sat silently on a couch as we filed in, staring at one of the televisions, and later hugged a few teammates before heading for the exit. That was it. Davis was...