Friday marks the 10-day countdown until the start of the season. We've all missed seeing the boys in red play some meaningful baseball. Don't worry, the Nationals will be playing the Mets very soon. We'll just have to wait a few more days to see the team at Nats Park. Here are a few stories about the Nationals you may have missed from other media outlets. * Nobody can argue that left fielder Bryce Harper is one of the most exciting young talents currently taking the majors by storm....

The Orioles and Major League Baseball are partnering with Autism Speaks to recognize April as National Autism Awareness Month, with the Orioles hosting Autism Awareness Night on Saturday, April 12. Discounted Upper Reserve tickets are available for purchase at www.orioles.com/tix/autism; $5 of every ticket sold through this website will benefit Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of...

MELBOURNE, Fla. - You'll notice a change in dateline for today's entry. The Nationals have reached the 32nd day of spring training, and are enjoying their first off-day of camp. How off are they? There's not even a pithy motivational quote from Matt Williams on this morning's lineup sheet. In fact, there's no lineup sheet at all. The collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association mandates that each team receive two days...

VIERA, Fla. - So it's down to three pitchers vying for the fifth starter's spot after Matt Williams announced Monday that left-hander Ross Detwiler, the presumed No. 5 heading into camp, would open the season as a multifaceted reliever. Which of the remaining competitors, all right-handers, do you like? Is it the promise of Taylor Jordan, who sometimes looks equal to the task and at other times appears in need of more seasoning? Is it Tanner Roark, who did nothing last season but win and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are supposed to be off today. It says so on their spring training schedule. However, manager Buck Showalter arranged for the Triple-A and Double-A games against Minnesota to be moved from Twin Lakes Park to two fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. It's being done to provide work for pitchers Brian Matusz, Kevin Gausman and Steve Johnson, whose games yesterday were canceled due to heavy rain and the threat of ark construction. Matusz really wanted to bat...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Now what does he do for an encore? We're talking about Orioles first baseman Chris Davis, who bashed his way through American League pitching last season on his way to finishing third in the American League MVP vote. Davis batted .286 with 42 doubles, one triple, 53 homers, 138 RBIs, a .634 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.004. He hit nine more homers than anyone in baseball and had 21 more extra-base hits than any other player. His 96 extra-base hits tied him for 29th...

SARASOTA, Fla. - On the day that the Orioles traded for pitcher Chris Tillman, the thought never crossed his mind that he would start for them in an opener. He didn't ponder the idea of being anointed as the staff ace. "I had no idea," he said today. "My first thought when it happened was, 'Crap, I've got to get to learn everyone again and start from ground zero.' I just got comfortable there and had to start all over again." Six years later, Tillman has been confirmed as the opening...

Tonight's Orioles-Twins game at Ed Smith Stadium has been canceled due to rain. There will be no makeup date. Fans holding paid tickets for tonight's game may exchange their tickets for any of the remaining Spring Training games at Ed Smith Stadium, subject to availability, or obtain a refund. Additionally, the St. Patrick's Day green and black caps the Orioles were to wear tonight will be worn in Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Following the game, the caps will be autographed...

LAKELAND, Fla. - This morning, the Nationals reassigned catcher Koyie Hill to minor league camp. This afternoon, they sent Hill out of the organization, trading him to the Phillies in exchange for cash or a player to be named. MLB.com was first to report the deal. The 35-year-old Hill, signed Feb. 5 to a minor league deal with an invitation to major league camp, batted .385 (5-for-13) with three RBIs in 10 Grapefruit League games. But when the Nats traded for Tampa Bay catcher Jose Lobaton...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles were supposed to play twice today. They got shut out without taking the field. Scheduled games against the Phillies this afternoon in Clearwater and the Twins tonight in Sarasota have been canceled due to inclement weather. There are no makeup dates. Steve Johnson will join Brian Matusz and Kevin Gausman Tuesday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, where they will pitch against Twins Triple-A and Double-A players. One game will be held in the stadium, the other on the...