It has been a postseason of stunning pitching. We've seen low-scoring games featuring dominant starting pitching. Aces have pitched like aces and some youngsters have burst on the scene showing their stuff and vast potential. So far in the playoffs: * Clayton Kershaw is 1-1 with a 0.47 ERA. * Justin Verlander is 1-0 with a 0.39 ERA. * Max Scherzer is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. * Jon Lester is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA. * Adam Wainwright is 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA. * Michael Wacha is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA. *...

The Orioles' list of pending free agents includes right-hander Jason Hammel, who made $6.75 million in 2013. What's he worth in 2014? You could argue that the Orioles have gotten one really good half-season out of Hammel in the two years that he's spent in the organization following his arrival from the Rockies. Hammel was 8-5 with a 3.47 ERA in 17 starts before the 2012 All-Star break, and was named a finalist for the MLB Fan Vote in the American League. But he later went on the...

The Orioles today announced their 2014 Grapefruit League schedule, which opens Friday, February 28 with a 1:05 p.m. game in Port Charlotte against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Orioles' home opener will be Saturday, March 1 at 1:05 p.m. against the Toronto Blue Jays. 2014 marks the fifth consecutive spring training for the Orioles in Sarasota, and the fourth in the renovated Ed Smith Stadium. Baltimore will face eight different opponents during their 15-game home Grapefruit League campaign. The...

The Orioles begin their 2014 Grapefruit League schedule with a Feb. 28 game against the Rays in Port Charlotte. Their home opener is March 1 against the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. This will be the Orioles' fifth consecutive spring in Sarasota. No date has been announced for pitchers and catchers to report, but it's expected to be Feb. 13. Also, the Orioles most likely will play their Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk after breaking camp. The Orioles will face eight different...

Thirty years ago today, the Orioles won their last World Series by defeating the Phillies in five games. Does it seem that long ago? Not to the MVP. "It seems like it was only yesterday," said former catcher Rick Dempsey. "This is what time does to you when you get older. These events, you don't think about them and then all of a sudden they're in your face. You hear, 'This is the anniversary,' and you think, 'Oh, my God. It's been 30 years?' I didn't think I'd live 30 years past...

Bryce Harper put up 42 home runs, 117 RBIs and a .834 OPS before turning 21. As of today, he could, if he desired, legally celebrate those accomplishments with a beer. Harper turns 21 today, which is sure to set off plenty of bad "Clown question, bro" jokes online throughout the day. It was up in Toronto after a game last year, of course, that a 19-year-old Harper was asked whether he would be drinking any Canadian beers postgame, leading to his catchphrase that swept the country, got...

The Orioles still haven't announced whether Scott McGregor will remain the bullpen coach or return to his previous job as pitching rehab coordinator. But on this date in 1983, the left-hander stood on the mound as shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. squeezed Garry Maddox's line drive for the final out in the World Series. Can't take that away from him. The images of Ripken shaking the glove over his head and McGregor receiving a bear hug from catcher Rick Dempsey are forever etched in the minds of...

Tuesday was time for Sammy Solis and Matt Skole to shine in Arizona. Left-hander Solis was good last week, but put together an even better start Tuesday as Mesa rolled past Scottsdale 7-4 in Arizona Fall League play. The Solar Sox remained unbeaten at 5-0-1 to be the only undefeated team left in AFL play. Solis struck out eight over four innings, allowing three hits, one solo shot and two walks. His ERA is 1.17. He tossed 68 pitches, 43 for strikes. Nationals director of player development...

According to this Los Angeles Times article, sports dominated the television ratings Sunday night. But NBC, with its telecast of the Washington-Dallas football game, easily topped FOX, which was showing Game 2 of the Detroit-Boston American League Championship Series. The football game drew 19.6 million viewers and the baseball game drew 8.3 million. That is a better than 2-to-1 edge and a big win for the NFL. Here are two recent tweets from Darren Rovell, ESPN's sports business reporter: *...

How does a Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young Award winner celebrate his 68th birthday? Jim Palmer gets to the gym at 6 a.m. He might hit a bucket of golf balls later this afternoon. "I'm wearing black," he told me. "I'm in mourning in the morning." It's still morning in Corona del Mar, a town in the affluent city of Newport Beach, Calif. Palmer won't be there much longer, though. He's shipping his car to Florida and heading to New Jersey this weekend for a card show. And he's...