If there is one thing that Orioles fans seem to get fired up about, it is predictions about their team from national writers and analysts. Especially when those predictions are positive. The last two days, ESPN's writers and broadcasters have been heaping some praise on this team. In a podcast yesterday, Buster Olney picked the Orioles to win the American League East and Jayson Stark predicted a second-place finish. Today, on a media conference call, ESPN's three "Sunday Night Baseball"...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Kevin Gausman tossed two scoreless innings today against the Minnesota Twins before allowing two runs in the third. His fastball has topped out at 97 mph and reached 96 mph multiple times. Wilkin Ramirez doubled leading off the third inning for the Twins' first hit. Gausman responded by striking out former Orioles farmhand Pedro Florimon on a 96 mph fastball, but Aaron Hicks pulled a ball down the first base line, past Chris Davis and into the right field corner for an RBI...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles have reassigned outfielder Lew Ford to minor league camp. Ford was 15-for-37 (.405) with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs in 17 games. "Lew has a chance to help us," said manager Buck Showalter. The Orioles have 37 players in camp, including nine non-roster invitees. The Orioles could make one or two more cuts Wednesday. Showalter told reporters that left-hander Mark Hendrickson, who hasn't allowed a hit or run in his last four outings, is still...

JUPITER, Fla. - As I mentioned earlier, Sports Illustrated has picked the Nationals to win the World Series. Your thoughts, Davey Johnson? "I don't care. It's nice," Johnson said. "Better than being picked to come in last." The Nationals have known for a little while now that Chris Young would almost certainly be opting out of his minor league contract and seeing whether he could find a spot in a big league rotation somewhere. Now that Young has done just that, and he's been granted...

JUPITER, Fla. - It's not much of a surprise, but Chris Young is now a free agent. The Nationals have granted Young his unconditional release, this after the veteran right-hander chose to opt out of his minor league deal following his start last night in Kissimmee. The Nats had 24 hours to place Young on their 25-man roster after the 33-year-old opted out, but they chose not to do so. As a result, Young is now free to sign with whatever team he chooses. Young had said that he hoped to work...

The Washington Nationals today granted right-handed pitcher Chris Young his unconditional release. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals currently have 30 players in their big league camp.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Miguel Gonzalez, expected to settle into the middle of the Orioles rotation, threw about 85 pitches over six-plus innings yesterday at Twin Lakes Park. Gonzalez, facing the Boston Red Sox's Triple-A team, stayed on the mound to record an extra out in the first and sixth innings to increase his pitch count. "I felt good," he said. "Expo (Luis Exposito) did a great job back there." Gonzalez was satisfied with his changeup, slider and cutter, but said his split-finger...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Wilson Betemit hobbled into the Orioles' clubhouse this morning on crutches and wearing a large brace on his right knee. He also wore a look of extreme disappointment on his face, though his words were tinged with optimism. Betemit said he will be reevaluated in six-to-eight weeks after suffering a Grade 2/3 tear in his right PCL during yesterday's game against the Boston Red Sox in Sarasota. He's been told that, for now, he will continue to receive treatment and rehab the...

VIERA, Fla. - If you don't happen to follow me on Twitter - and if you don't, what the heck are you waiting for? - polled on their predictions for the 2013 MLB season, five have the Nationals reaching the World Series and four picked the Nationals to win it all. All seven, for what it's worth, have the Nats winning the National League East. Two writers see Bryce Harper winning NL MVP honors, and two more see Stephen Strasburg winning the NL Cy Young. The bandwagon is starting to get...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are hitting the road today for the last time this spring. Or, as manager Buck Showalter called them yesterday, the Griswolds. The regulars are on this trip, including designated hitter Nick Markakis, center fielder Adam Jones, shortstop J.J. Hardy and catcher Matt Wieters, who hadn't traveled this spring until today. But it's no vacation and there's no wood paneling on the sides of the bus. Markakis is playing for the first time since March 1. For the...