We all know that Chris Davis' 2013 campaign was one for the record books, and by now, I'm sure I don't need to reference the statistics to prove it. But with last season's incredible performance, many fans are speculating whether Crush can repeat that crushing. This week, I'm throwin' it back to Davis' t-shirt night at the Yard last May. As if thousands of fans supporting you with their new orange Crush Davis shirts wasn't enough, Davis owned the night with four hits and two home runs...

The fifth starter competition has really heated up after Matt Williams announced earlier this week that Ross Detwiler will start the 2014 season in the bullpen. Now, Taylor Jordan, Tanner Roark and Chris Young have 11 days to prove why they belong in the Nationals rotation. Last season, we had an opportunity to get a look at Jordan on the big stage, and he finished with a 3.66 ERA in nine appearances with the Nats. Do you see Jordan breaking out of camp as the Nationals' fifth starter? As...

VIERA, Fla. - If you happened to watch last night's Nationals-Astros game, you might have noticed a stunningly good-looking, well-put-together man handling the sideline reporting. Not that I'm trying to put any words in your mouth or anything. Yes, I've been asked by MASN to pick up the sideline reporting duties for Nats games, and I've happily accepted. This is a tremendous opportunity and I'm really excited about getting to work closer with our great production team. I will continue...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are playing under the lights at McKechnie Field tonight, which is basically like playing in candlelight, except without the dripping wax and the romance. And honestly, you can't have romance without dripping wax. OK, I've said too much. Manager Buck Showalter would prefer playing day games against the Pirates in Bradenton, but we always end up with at least one nighttime affair. Perhaps his fielders could wear miners helmets with the lights on the front. Glow...

VIERA, Fla. - It's not much of a surprise, but it is official: Stephen Strasburg will be the Nationals' opening day starter. Manager Matt Williams announced after tonight's 2-0 loss to the Astros that Strasburg will get the ball for the Nats on opening day, March 31 in New York against the Mets. It will be the third straight season Strasburg has started opening day for the Nats. He'll be followed in the rotation by Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann, in that order. The rest of the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Here is the second part of the interview with Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette. The Orioles minor leagues are obviously improved. There have been some solid rankings of your players individually and the system collectively. What is the state of the O's farm right now? "I'm encouraged by some of the improvement in the rankings from some of the major publications that follow it closely. We've moved up from 28 into the teens and I saw one ranking where we were...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette is about to begin his third season running the team's on-field operations. After producing winning teams in Montreal and Boston, Duquette's first two O's clubs have had winning records, and the 2012 team ended the Orioles' string of 14 straight losing seasons with its first playoff appearance since 1997. The native of Dalton, Mass., is an Amherst College grad and twice has been honored as MLB Executive of...

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Astros 2, Nationals 0 Recap: Taylor Jordan pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out five. But the Nats committed two errors and looked out of sorts on defense on the way to falling to the Astros. The Nats were held hitless until the sixth inning. Need to know: Jordan might've enhanced his chances to earn the No. 5 spot in the team's rotation with an impressive outing that lowered his spring ERA to 4.80. On deck:...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Steve Clevenger's main competitor for the backup catcher's job, Johnny Monell, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after today's game. That leaves three catchers at big league camp with Matt Wieters, Clevenger and Caleb Joseph. After today's game, manager Buck Showalter referred to Clevenger as "the leader in the clubhouse" for the No. 2 catcher's job. Clevenger said today's news won't change much for him right now. "I'm just going to continue to do what I do," he...

VIERA, Fla. - Those of you who will be watching tonight's Nationals-Astros game on MASN (airing live at 6 p.m.) will get a treat. Manager Matt Williams is running out a lineup loaded with regulars. In fact, Williams said that his lineup tonight could end up being "close" to the starting lineup that he runs out on opening day less than two weeks from now. Things could and will certainly change based on lefty/righty pitching matchups and even the team that the Nats are playing, Williams...