We've created quite the interesting discussion space here at MASNsports.com, a place where you come for news but also to share your thoughts and opinions with other Orioles fans. Baltimore is also home to some of the most dedicated bloggers in all of baseball. So it's only natural that these two camps would eventually intersect. In 2011, MASNsports.com introduced guest bloggers to its site, reasoning that the distinct voices of the Orioles-centric blogosphere would be a good addition to our...

The transition of Mychal Givens, the Orioles' second-round draft pick in 2009, from infielder to pitcher has been going well at spring training camp at Twin Lakes Park and Givens is expected to be with a full-season affiliate come opening day. "He's made a very smooth transition back to pitching and he was a pitching prospect in high school. He's thrown very well this spring and I would anticipate him making a club out of spring training," Orioles director of player development Brian...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Unless there's a late change in plans, the Orioles intend to summon Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia from minor league camp and give him some at-bats in Friday afternoon's game against State College of Florida at Ed Smith Stadium. Urrutia has one more paper to sign, according to a team official, before he's allowed to play in the game. Hopefully, it's not in Haiti. Urrutia, who finally received his work visa and flew into Miami in late February, has appeared in four minor...

VIERA, Fla. - Watch Ryan Zimmerman warm up his arm in between innings of spring games with throws across the diamond, and it's clear that his adjusted throwing motion is still a bit of a work in progress. Some throws skip into the dirt, short-hopping first baseman Adam LaRoche. Some throws are wide, pulling LaRoche off the bag. Two straight warm-up tosses before the bottom of the first inning yesterday yanked LaRoche to the home plate side of first. This has been noticed by some scouts, who...

The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned outfielder Lew Ford to minor league camp. With the assignment, the Orioles now have 37 players at major league spring training, including nine non-roster invitees.

It probably barely registered at all with Orioles fans when the club signed a right-handed pitcher named Miguel Gonzalez to a minor league contract after spring training had already started last year on Feb. 28. Little did we know how big a role he would play for the 2012 Orioles. How he would become one of their key starters late in the year and how he would go on to give up just one run in seven innings in Game 3 of the American League Division Series in Yankee Stadium. How over nine starts...

SARASOTA, Fla. - And down the stretch we come, with no more road trips left before the Orioles break camp and only three Grapefruit League games remaining on the schedule. The Orioles will play back-to-back night games against the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. Two division rivals. Quick, hide the starters! Jair Jurrens takes the ball tonight after moving up to replace Steve Johnson. The Orioles should be thrilled with the progress he's made physically and with his command since the...

Not on the diamond. Not on the mound. Not during bullpens. You will not see this component of a pitcher's preparation for a game or a season. But it is absolutely crucial to every step and every pitch they make in their career. It is strength training. So with fans not getting a chance to see what a pitcher's work is like in the weight room, several fans have asked what the weight training regimen is like for each pitcher before and during the season? How much should pitchers lift?...

Tyler Townsend, a once-promising first base prospect, has told the Orioles he is retiring from baseball. The club's third-round pick in the 2009 draft out of Florida International often dealt with hamstring issues in his career and had not played in any games during spring training this year due to wrist and hip injuries. After a 2010 season when he hit a combined .325 between Single-A Delmarva and Single-A Frederick, Townsend had a very strong season when he was healthy for the Keys in 2011....

JUPITER, Fla. - It's been somewhat of an ongoing theme this spring: Dan Haren pitches pretty well, but has one bad inning or makes a few bad pitches and his stat line suffers, making it look as if he's getting bashed all around the park. Today, Haren worked six innings, allowing seven hits and five earned runs. He allowed four home runs - two off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton - and will finish the Grapefruit League season with a 6.39 ERA, having allowed 14 earned runs in his last 16 1/3...