The closest I ever came to a sense of community as a fan of the Montreal Expos was when I would travel from my home in Johnson, Vt., where I lived after attending college in town, across the border in Richford, Vt., through Canadian farmland and small farming communities to Autoroute des Cantons de L'Est across the Jacques-Cartier Bridge to Rue Notre Dame East, down the Boulevard Pie IX to the Stade Olympique on Rue Pierre de Coubertin. There with the 10,000-15,000 fans who still showed up for...

It's already been a busy day and we're still waiting for the first pitch from Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta to start the home opener against the Minnesota Twins. The Orioles have had runners on base for all five of their home runs in 2013. Last year, 122 of their 214 homers were solo shots (57 percent). Sixty percent of the Orioles' runs this year have come via the long ball. Chris Davis is trying to join Willie Mays (1971), Mark McGwire (1998) and Nelson Cruz (2011) as the only...

Chris Tillman keeps saying the left abdominal strain that forced him to miss some time in spring training is no longer an issue. It is now further in his rear-view mirror and he's ready to come off the disabled list tomorrow night and make his first start of the 2013 season. "Absolutely, I feel great," he said this morning. "I have since the last time I felt it. I've felt pretty good. Can't wait to get out there. First three games were really exciting. "I am definitely ready and not...

The Nationals limited the Marlins to one run in 27 innings over the last four days. Washington outscored Miami 11-1 and held its division rivals to a .167 batting average. After three games against a clearly inferior opponent, the Nats will now get much more of a test. Tonight, they open a three-game set against the Reds, a team that won the NL Central by a whopping nine games last season and posted 97 victories overall. Cincinnati has gotten off to a nice start to the season, taking two of...

The Orioles today announced that they have recalled infielder Yamaico Navarro from Triple-A Norfolk and placed infielder Brian Robrts on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Navarro, 25, was acquired from Pittsburgh on November 30, 2012 in exchange for minor league right-hander Jhondaniel Medina. He batted .276/.417/.379 in 29 spring training at-bats for the Orioles after hitting .279/.366/.491 in 66 games with Triple-A Indianapolis last season and going 8-for-50 with the...

Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts suffered a ruptured tendon behind his right knee yesterday while stealing second base at Tropicana Field, and he's expected to miss two to four weeks of the season. Roberts underwent an MRI on his knee this morning in Baltimore, and team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens passed along the results to Orioles officials. Roberts had to be carried off the field in the ninth inning yesterday after hearing a popping sound behind the knee. The Orioles officially...

Yamaico Navarro walked into the Orioles clubhouse around 11 a.m. today, carrying an equipment bag and bats. He's expected to stick around while Brian Roberts goes on the disabled list, but that move won't become official until Dr. John Wilckens reads the results of an MRI taken on the second baseman's right leg. "I keep reminding myself that Dr. Wilckens has other patients who are just as important, so when he's able to break away from that, he'll give us an idea of what we're looking...

It should come as no surprise that Chris Davis' phone has been blowing up in the last few days as friends and family congratulate him on his good start. Of all the well wishes, one stood out to him. "Lot of people from back home saying what's up and they're proud of me. My uncle told me that he was proud how I was playing but that he loved me regardless of what I was doing on the field. I thought that kind of puts things in perspective," Davis said this morning in the Orioles...

Paul McCartney announced today that he will perform at Nationals Park - home of the Washington Nationals - on Friday, July 12, 2013 as part of the "Out There" World Tour. Tickets and parking will go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 12 at 10 a.m., online at nationals.com/McCartney and by phone at 888.632.6287. The show will be held rain or shine and will be promoted by Live Nation. "It's an honor to welcome Sir Paul McCartney to Nationals Park," said Andrew Feffer, COO of...

Here's the Orioles lineup for today's 3:05 p.m. home opener against the Twins. Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Ryan Flaherty 2B Nolan Reimold DH Jake Arrieta RHP For now - and pending an MRI - Brian Roberts remains listed among the Orioles reserves. But as I mentioned in an update to my previous post, infielder Yamaico Navarro has arrived at Camden Yards, and there's a locker and uniform waiting for him. Update:...