NEW YORK - I was flipping through Sports Illustrated's baseball preview issue, because I tend to fall behind in my reading, and noticed an ominous prediction regarding Orioles closer Jim Johnson. Strikeout rate is the single-best predictor of a pitcher's longevity and effectiveness, according to the magazine, and Johnson fanned only 15.2 percent of the batters he faced last year while setting a franchise record with 51 saves. Since 2000, nine pitchers have recorded 40 or more saves with a...

When the Orioles bullpen gave up six runs in the second game of the season against Tampa Bay, there were already some observers firing off a certain type of comment: "I told you so," they said. They said the Orioles' 2012 bullpen performance could not be duplicated. It was not sustainable. I love that word. Not really. First of all who are they and why do they talk so much? I digress. Listen, the Orioles bullpen may well have plenty of struggles yet, but this 'pen looks good again and...

NEW YORK - Here's a sampling of manager Buck Showalter's comments following today's 5-3 Orioles win over the New York Yankees. On Jason Hammel: "He was pretty good. His command was good. He threw a lot of strikes, threw enough breaking balls, got some big outs when he needed it, like you always say. He made the lead matter. He got it over to our bullpen. They did a great job and Ham was the difference-maker today. You've got to have a quality start. He continues to keep our bullpen in a...

NEW YORK - Jason Hammel earned his second victory today, both of them on the road. He berated himself after the game against the Tampa Bay Rays, but he found more to like this afternoon against the New York Yankees. "Much better," he said after allowing three runs (two earned)in six innings in the Orioles' 5-3 victory. "I still think there's room for improvement, but I feel everything coming around. I know when I'm going good. The slider and fastball command is much better. I was...

The Orioles hit three solo homers and put last night's ugly loss behind them, beating the Yankees 5-3 today behind Jason Hammel at Yankee Stadium. The Orioles even this series at a win each and improve to 5-3 in American League East games and 6-5 overall. The Orioles hit Yankee starter Phil Hughes pretty hard and got to him for solo homers in three consecutive innings. Ryan Flaherty hit his first of the season in the second inning, Nick Markakis hit his second an inning later and Nolan...

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter appeared to be bothered more by the number of walks and hit batters from his pitchers last night than Adam Jones' dropped fly ball and the triple play that contributed to an 8-5 loss to the New York Yankees. Jason Hammel has been a comfort to Showalter this afternoon. Hammel issued only one walk in six innings, and he left the game with the Orioles ahead, 5-3. Brian Matusz has replaced him in the seventh with the top of the Yankees' order due...

The Braves have taken the first two games of their series here in D.C., out-hitting the Nationals, playing superior defense and getting better overall pitching. This afternoon, Tim Hudson held the Nats to just one run and four hits over seven innings, the Braves capitalized on Ryan Zimmerman's third-inning throwing error, getting two unearned runs on Evan Gattis' two-run homer, and Eric O'Flaherty and Craig Kimbrel locked down the 3-1 Atlanta win. It's been two tightly played games over...

The Nationals' 3-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves was another quality battle between starting pitchers Tim Hudson and Stephen Strasburg. In the end, the Nationals right-hander gave up the more costly home run in a critical third inning. Evan Gattis' two-run shot was the big offensive play for the Braves, but it was set up by a Ryan Zimmerman throwing error that allowed Justin Upton to reach base. Upton then stole second base when Strasburg was just a moment late in his pickoff attempt to first...

Not only did the Nationals lose their second straight ballgame to the Braves this afternoon, they also lost catcher Wilson Ramos for what looks like at least a couple of weeks with a pulled left hamstring. Ramos suffered the injury when hustling down the first base line on a groundout in the bottom of the eighth inning in the Nats' 3-1 loss to Atlanta. This comes after the Nats' 25-year-old catcher worked his way back from a devastating knee injury suffered last May, when he tore the ACL...

It was another snapshot moment in time for the Nationals organization. In a late February spring training game in Florida, the Nationals faced off against All-Star David Wright and the Mets. But as you looked out on the diamond, it wasn't Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper doing battle with New York. Instead, it was the best of the Nationals' prospects. Guys like Anthony Rendon, Nathan Karns, Matt Skole, Destin Hood, Eury Perez and others. And there at shortstop...