Chris Petrini has never started a game on the mound in three seasons pitching in the Orioles' minor leagues, but after putting up more solid numbers again in 2012, maybe he's now starting to make a nice impression on the team brass. The 25-year-old lefty has been overlooked at times because he was not drafted and spent five seasons in college at the University of California. He took a redshirt season in 2007 after Tommy John surgery. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in June 2010 by scout...

If you happen to be interested in getting a sneak peak at the Nationals' new-look batting practice caps for this season, you're in luck.

With pitchers and catchers set to report on Feb. 12, I'm reminded of perhaps my favorite moment from spring training 2012. Fans were obsessed with Jim Johnson's diminished velocity, and the media kept bringing it up to him and Orioles manager Buck Showalter after every outing. It wasn't just the radar gun that raised some concerns. Johnson was slowed in camp by a sore back and went 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in eight appearances, with six earned runs, seven hits and six walks in eight...

The Orioles' home attendance last year was 2,102,240, which was the largest season attendance since 2007, when the team drew 2,164,822 fans to Camden Yards. The per-game average of 26,278 was also the best since 2007. So how much of an attendance spike should the Orioles expect next season after winning 93 games and making the playoffs for the first time since 1997? If the club gains just 10 percent over last year and draws just over 2.3 million, it would be the most fans to attend games at...

By the time pitchers and catchers report to spring training some six to seven weeks from now, we'll already have a pretty good idea how the bulk of the Nationals' bullpen will be put together. Barring injuries to any of these players, it's pretty safe to slot Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard, Craig Stammen, Ryan Mattheus and Zach Duke into the 'pen. Another left-hander (J.P. Howell? Michael Gonzalez? Bill Bray?) is almost certain to join that group, as well. A lot can change between now and...

Because we're still in the month of December and the Orioles' roster isn't set for spring training, it's a real challenge to project starters at certain positions and which four players will comprise the bench. You'd have to be pretty ambitious or bored. Or you'd have to be fulfilling a request, which is where I come into play. I tried to come up with four reserves for a national publication, and I could only feel certain about the backup catcher. Thank you, Taylor Teagarden, for making...

I remember that July day in 2011 when left-hander Sammy Solis notched his first victory at the high Single-A Potomac Nationals. The southpaw was pretty pumped about that victory and the promise that inevitably lied ahead. That promise is still intact, now that Solis is recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in March. If everything goes well this season, Solis will be able to return to the mound and get through this season with an innings limit. Solis went 6-2 in 2011 with a 2.72 ERA...

Is it possible that after such a sensational season in 2012, that Orioles closer Jim Johnson can repeat his numbers in 2013? As good as he was, I think Johnson could put up similar numbers again. Last season he went 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA, a 1.019 WHIP and .220 batting average against. Johnson finished seventh in the American League Cy Young vote, 14th in the American League Most Valuable Player voting and led all of Major Lague Baseball in saves. But the year before, Johnson was nearly as good...

Here's wishing a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all the Nationals fans out there. Hope you all get to spend the day with family and friends, and enjoy the company of those close to you. Regardless of what religion you may practice, that's what's truly important this time of year. That, and some sweet gifts. If past years are any indication, today will be a very quiet day in the baseball world. The trade talks will likely come to a halt for the day. The calls to agents will be...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good morning. So I wasn't dreaming of a white Christmas. There's still snow on the ground. I hope Santa was good to all of you and the Bumpus Hounds didn't get your turkey. Executive vice president Dan Duquette didn't find a power hitter or a veteran starting pitcher in his stocking, so he'll make more phone calls after today. The warehouse is closed for the week, but business doesn't shut down. During last weekend's "Wall to Wall Baseball" show...