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...

VIERA, Fla. - If 12 years in the big leagues have taught Jamey Carroll anything, it's that in the game of baseball, the little things are big. Sometimes it's noticing a pattern of how an opposing pitcher works you as a hitter. Maybe it's spying that an outfielder is favoring his arm a little, and that he might be ripe for trying to take an extra base. Or just anticipating how a game might play out and when he might be needed as a pinch-hitter, pinch-runner or defensive replacement. All of...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Rain continues to pelt the tarp at Joker Marchant Stadium, and fans hadn't been notified that the game was canceled when media members met with Nationals manager Matt Williams outside the visiting clubhouse. The first clue: equipment backs being loaded up to return to Viera. The second clue: when reliever Jerry Blevins started a parade of players dressed in street clothes heading for the parking lot for the (hopefully) 90-minute drive back to Space Coast Stadium. Williams...

SARASOTA, Fla. - It's raining hard here in Sarasota and a cancellation of tonight's game is likely, but here is the Orioles' lineup for the game against the Twins. For the Orioles: Jemile Weeks 2B J.J. Hardy SS Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Nelson Cruz LF Matt Wieters C Delmon Young RF Ryan Flaherty 3B Nolan Reimold DH Steve Johnson RHP Brian Matusz and Kevin Gausman were supposed to pitch in this afternoon's game in Clearwater, but were rained out. Both Matusz and Gausman will pitch...

LAKELAND, Fla. - The competition to be the fifth starter in the Nationals rotation took an unexpected turn today, when manager Matt Williams announced that left-hander Ross Detwiler would start the season in the bullpen. That leaves three right-handers - Tanner Roark, Taylor Jordan and Chris Young - battling for the last spot in the rotation, the manager said. "We've asked Ross to start our season in the bullpen," Williams said after the Nationals' scheduled game against the Tigers was...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Today's rainout cancellation here at Bright House Field has the Orioles again trying to set their pitching plans for the next couple of days. Brian Matusz and Kevin Gausman were to pitch in this game. It's possible they will pitch tonight in Sarasota if they get that game in, but when reporters talked to manager Buck Showalter earlier it sounded more likely they'll work in minor league games tomorrow at Twin Lakes Park. "I don't like the idea of Brian and Gausman...