VIERA, Fla. - Today is Denard Span's 30th birthday, and a handful of fans who were in attendance for this morning's casual workout inside Space Coast Stadium sang "Happy Birthday" to the Nationals center fielder when he stepped into the cage for his first round of batting practice. After the song was over, one fan shouted, "Old man!" at Span. Not nice, dude. Not nice. Not only did Wilson Ramos get a crash course on the new rules regarding home plate collisions today, he also crushed a...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The visiting Orioles swept the two-game intrasquad series from the home team at Ed Smith Stadium with today's 3-0 victory. If you placed any bets, seek professional help immediately. Tim Berry reached his pitch count in the top of the fourth, walking two batters and giving up an infield hit to Julio Borbon. Kelvin De La Cruz walked Jemile Weeks leading off the bottom of the fourth, and Weeks tagged up and took second base on a fly ball to right-center field. Troy Patton...

VIERA, Fla. - About 20 minutes before the Nationals' workout got under way this morning - a workout that was brief and laid-back the day before Matt Williams' squad will get its spring schedule underway - a group of catchers stood out at home plate at Space Coast Stadium putting in some extra defensive work. Bench coach Randy Knorr and third base coach Bobby Henley, two former big league catchers, both spent time showing Wilson Ramos, Jose Lobaton, Jhonatan Solano and Sandy Leon proper form...

The Orioles have announced plans for the first game of their 2014 spring training season and their fifth season in Sarasota. The team will face the Toronto Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium this Saturday, March 1, at 1:05 p.m. and host Military Appreciation Day. Pre-game ceremonies will air live on television in the Sarasota area on SNN6 beginning at 12:30 p.m. All fans in attendance will receive a 2014 spring training schedule magnet, courtesy of Visit Sarasota County. The first 1,000 female fans...

SARASOTA, Fla. - That's two intrasquad games and two home runs for Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop. Schoop drove an 0-1 pitch from Bud Norris over the left-center field fence in the top of the first inning, the ball slamming off the wooden television platform. An absolute bomb. Schoop drilled a two-run shot off Steve Johnson in yesterday's game. Francisco Peguero singled off Norris, but Steve Pearce grounded into a double play. Henry Urrutia lined to center field leading off the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play their intrasquad game at 11 a.m. today at Ed Smith Stadium. It's closed to the public. Here are a few injury updates: * Outfielder Quintin Berry swung a bat today and said his back is "pain-free." "I'm ready to go whenever," he said. "I think it's just precautionary now." * Alexi Casilla continues to receive treatment on his right hamstring and doesn't know when he'll be cleared for workouts and games. "It's healing," he said. * Dylan...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles play their final intrasquad game today before diving into the Grapefruit League schedule. It's scheduled to last four or five innings. I should add weather permitting, because it's overcast and rain could change those plans. The lineups are in reverse alphabetical order today. Nelson Cruz must have talked his way into the lineup. He's starting in left field for the home team. Cruz will make his Grapefruit League debut in Saturday's home exhibition opener...

VIERA, Fla. - After two weeks of watching pitchers throw bullpens and live batting practice sessions with an L-screen in front of them and more than a week of trying to pull some type of information from watching position players field groundballs and take BP, we're just one day away from something of substance. Yeah, at this point, a meaningless Grapefruit League game against the Mets counts as substance. This morning's workout will be brief and fairly casual, manager Matt Williams said...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter is going easy on his team today, shortening the intrasquad game to four or five innings with an 11 a.m. start that will enable his players to leave the complex by early afternoon. The media isn't trying to talk him out of it. Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris are the listed starters today for the O's and Orioles - or visitors and hosts, if you prefer. They will work the first inning before Showalter goes to his bullpen. Norris is drawing trade...

A lot of fans were excited when the Orioles signed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez and outfielder/DH Nelson Cruz to free agent contracts. But the club had to give up its 17th and 55th picks in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft to get that duo. The Orioles had already parted with the 35th overall pick in the Bud Norris trade last July, so the O's could have had three of the first 55 picks this June. Now they will not draft until the third round with the 91st overall pick. They are not punting the...