With the season right around the corner, fans are anxiously anticipating the next 162 games. Over the span of the next six months, we will get to witness tons of home runs, strikeouts and diving catches, but sometimes, it's the little things that remind you why you watch the Nationals day in and day out. This week, I decided to switch it up a little. I'm throwin' it back to a late September game at Nats Park. In the seventh inning, a routine line drive was hit directly to Ian Desmond....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Last season, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy made his first All-Star game start and won his second Gold Glove. He was one of just four players in the majors to win both a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger. Now he is anxious to find out if he'll be slugging for the Orioles beyond this season. This is the last year on his current contract and he'll be a free agent after this season. The O's have indicated they want to sign him to a new long-term deal, but not much is happening on...

VIERA, Fla. - With yesterday's split-squad games in the books, the Nationals made six cuts today, optioning outfielder Michael Taylor and left-hander Matt Purke to Double-A Harrisburg and reassigning right-handers Clay Hensley, Josh Roenicke and Daniel Stange and left-hander Danny Rosenbaum to minor league camp. Taylor, considered the top defensive outfielder in the Nats' organization, went 3-for-16 (.188) with a triple and three RBIs in 13 games played this spring. This will be the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Quintin Berry is leading off and playing center field today for the Orioles, who return to Tampa for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Yankees. Jonathan Schoop gets the start at second base. He's 9-for-18 with three doubles, a home run, five RBIs and six runs scored in 10 games. For the Orioles Quintin Berry CF Alex Gonzalez SS Henry Urrutia LF Steve Pearce 1B Ryan Flaherty 3B Delmon Young DH Xavier Paul RF Jonathan Schoop 2B Caleb Joseph C Bud Norris RHP Kevin Gausman will...

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're heading back to Tampa today for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Yankees. This time, we won't stake out Brian Roberts in the home dugout. That ship has sailed. This time, we won't be subjected to the torturous rush hour traffic on the way up there. We'll hit it on the way back to Sarasota. Bud Norris and Kevin Gausman will double-team the Yankees, who are starting Michael Pineda. Tommy Hunter had a humorous take yesterday on the two home runs that he's served up to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Most of the national prospects analysts agree that the Orioles' Eduardo Rodriguez is one of the top young pitchers in baseball. He is the Orioles' No. 3 rated prospect by Baseball America and has been listed in all the major top 100 lists. Rodriguez comes in at No. 43 on the ESPN list and is rated No. 61 by Baseball Prospectus, No. 65 by Baseball America and No. 68 by MLB.com. But Rodriguez didn't put his best foot forward during his time in O's big league camp, which...

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Ian Desmond was scratched from today's game against the Astros due to a cut on the pinky finger of his throwing hand, manager Matt Williams said after the Nationals' 10-9 loss to Houston. Fielding grounders during batting practice, Desmond had a ball hop up on him, and the finger split open. The shortstop was taken out of the starting lineup, and was replaced by Jamey Carroll. "He's fine, but we just decided to hold him out today and not push it," Williams said of...

The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned right-hander Brock Huntzinger, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and infielder Ivan De Jesus, Jr. to minor league camp. With these assignments, the Orioles now have 47 players at major league spring training, including nine non-roster invitees.

SARASOTA, Fla. - After two neck surgeries that limited him to 56 games total the last two years, Nolan Reimold is trying to make up for some lost time here at spring training and show the Orioles he can be a productive player again. Today was a nice step in the right direction for Reimold. He went 2-for-3 with a single and two-run homer. He also made a loud out, lining into a double play in the seventh. He hit a two-run shot to left off A.J. Burnett in the fifth inning during the O's 6-5 loss...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made two more roster moves today, reassigning left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. to minor league camp. The Orioles now have 47 players at their major league camp. Rodriguez allowed two runs in two innings today. He's expected to be assigned to Double-A Bowie. Rodriguez surrendered eight runs and 12 hits in six spring innings, with two walks, six strikeouts and two home runs. "It's been good for him," said manager Buck Showalter....