Camden Yards is a gem, a rare baseball cathedral that blends classic, retro style with today's version of the national pastime. But its lush outfield grass and manicured infield don't happen by accident. They're the result of a year-round effort by head groundskeeper Nicole McFadyen and her talented grounds crew. Each month during this offseason, Orioles Buzz will check in with McFadyen to see what's happening on the field at Camden Yards as the grounds crew prepares for the 2014...

Want to hear a cool fact about reliever Clay Hensley, who signed a minor league deal with the Nationals yesterday that includes an invitation to big league spring training? Hensley was the pitcher who served up Barry Bonds' 755th career home run, which tied Bonds with Hank Aaron for the most homers of all time. OK, so that fact might not be so "cool" to Hensley, especially since he was optioned to the minors the very next day. It's one thing to be on the wrong end up history. It's...

I wanted to make sure you got a chance to get your tickets for the Potomac Nationals 19th annual Hot Stove Banquet which takes place Sunday, January 26th at the Hyatt Fairfax at Fair Lakes in Fairfax, Virginia. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. and will include Washington Nationals Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba, new P-Nats manager Tripp Keister and 2013 P-Nats player of the year outfielder Michael Taylor. There will also be a silent auction which will include hallmark items such...

Hey, Masahiro Tanaka, could you please make a decision soon so the rest of the teams in baseball can get on with their lives? I'm sure he didn't intend to hold up the works, but since the new posting process began around Christmas for the 25-year-old Japanese right-hander, not much else has happened in baseball. Remember the flurry of activity with signings even before the Winter Meetings? This would be the opposite and it sure appears that players, agents and teams are waiting for Tanaka...

Figuring out the Orioles' bullpen in 2014 has been complicated by the apparent decision to make Tommy Hunter the closer and left-hander Troy Patton's 25-game suspension. Removing Hunter from a set-up role creates room for another reliever. Losing Patton creates room for another left-hander. And there are a variety of candidates for the long-relief spot that belonged last year to Rule 5 pick T.J. McFarland. McFarland could return to that role. He could replace Patton for the first 25 games....

The Nationals have added more bullpen depth, agreeing today with right-handed reliever Clay Hensley on a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. Hensley, 34, last pitched in the big leagues in 2012, when he posted a 4.62 ERA in 60 games spanning 50 2/3 innings. Last year, Hensley split his time on a mound between the independent Sugar Land Skeeters and two Triple-A affiliates (of the Reds and Brewers). He pitched to a 0.63 ERA in 14 1/3 innings for Sugar Land, and...

The Orioles wrapped up mini-camp last week and made some minor league signings. Several national writers have weighed in on the state of the Orioles. Some of the reaction is more positive than many might expect. * We are only three weeks from the start of spring training. Many fans have expressed their displeasure over the lack of moves the Orioles have made this offseason. Joe Cooney of Yahoo! Sports says the Orioles still have a chance to win the offseason. As Cooney explains, the Birds...

We hope you're all recovering from the snowstorm and getting ready for NatsFest! In case you missed it, the Nationals could be looking to add another reliever with extensive closing experience. I know what you're thinking: "Why would the team add another closer when there are already three options on the team?" Insurance, that's why. * Last season, Nationals fans everywhere became captivated with the untucking fascination. To those that aren't familiar with the phenomenon, closer...

Three weeks from tomorrow, I'll board a flight to Orlando, hop in my rental car and drive to Space Coast Stadium, ready to kick off spring training. While the offseason has seemed like it's crawled by in some respects, it's also weird to think that my six weeks living out of a hotel in Melbourne, Fla., are almost here. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report by Feb. 13, although many choose to arrive days or even weeks earlier in order to pick up their throwing programs and get...

He joined the Orioles last July 31, coming over in a trade from Houston. He is under team control through the 2015 season. Can Bud Norris become a key factor in the O's rotation for at least the next two years? The Orioles sure seem confident he can. They gave up what some considered too good of a price to get Norris when they dealt outfielder LJ Hoes, promising minor league pitcher Josh Hader and a competitive balance draft pick in June's draft for the right-hander, who will turn 29 March...