VIERA, Fla. - Results mean absolutely nothing on Feb. 24. Let's all make sure we understand that before I type this next sentence. Drew Storen allowed a run in the top of the ninth inning in his first appearance this spring, turning a 2-1 lead into a 2-2 tie. Storen, seeing his first game action since his blown save in Game 5 of the National League Division Series, gave up two hard-hit singles to start the ninth, putting runners on the corners with none out. He then got a soft grounder to...

VIERA, Fla. - We're back under way after a rain delay of 1 hour, 6 minutes, and the Nationals' lineup looks a heck of a lot different than it did before the tarp was pulled onto the field. Denard Span, Bryce Harper, Chad Tracy, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Kurt Suzuki have all been pulled, with a host of minor leaguers replacing them in the lineup. Anthony Rendon just went yard to right-center, a two-run shot off Marlins right-hander Ryan Webb. Rendon hit just six home runs in 133...

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Most pitchers will tell you that velocity doesn't really matter this early in camp. Jair Jurrjens isn't like most pitchers this spring, and he didn't downplay the 93-mph fastball he threw in the second inning. In fact, he was ready to celebrate it. "It shows how hard I worked this offseason," Jurrjens said after allowing one run and two hits, and walking a batter, in two innings. "I think last year, I can count how many times I hit 93 in the whole season. For the first...

DUNEDIN, Fla. - So much for the Orioles starters working one inning in their first appearances. Jair Jurrjens lasted two innings today against the Toronto Blue Jays, retiring the first five batters before allowing a run on two hits and a walk. He threw 31 pitches, 19 for strikes. Jurrjens retired the Blue Jays in order in the bottom of the first inning. Jose Reyes and Maicer Izturis grounded to second base and Jose Bautista flied to right field. Jurrjens threw 12 pitches, seven for strikes....

VIERA, Fla. - It might only be Feb. 24, but Jordan Zimmermann looks like he's in midseason form. Zimmermann has quickly fired two scoreless innings this afternoon, allowing just a two-out single in the first. The Nationals right-hander has kept the ball down, inducing five groundball outs and getting Matt Downs swinging on an off-speed pitch in the second inning. Through these two frames, Zimmermann has thrown just 23 pitches, 15 for strikes. There isn't a stadium gun here at Space Coast...

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Danny Valencia is making a rare start at first base for the Orioles' exhibition game today against the Toronto Blue Jays. How rare? Valencia has never played the position in the majors. He appeared in 18 games with rookie-league Elizabethton in 2006, two with Single-A Beloit in 2007 and two with Double-A New Britain in 2008. Valencia has played 469 minor league games at third base and 272 in the majors. "We're going to keep moving guys around," said manager Buck...

VIERA, Fla. - A few Nationals players not in the lineup today are making their way over to Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500, which led manager Davey Johnson to reminisce about his own experience at the race. Johnson says he was invited to ride in the pace car before the Daytona 500 some 40 years ago, and while he didn't recall who won the race that year, other important details about that day came to mind. "I got to sit with Ms. Stick Shift in the bleachers. You remember...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals are confident that Christian Garcia's wrist/forearm strain isn't anything serious, but they're not taking any chances with the promising right-hander. As a result, Garcia will be held out for the next 10-14 days, according to manager Davey Johnson. Garcia said today that he's been feeling better in recent days after first experiencing some tightness in his throwing wrist/forearm area when throwing a bullpen session last Sunday. The 27-year-old, who has had...

VIERA, Fla. - The new-look Marlins (is that a nice way to say it, or what?) come to town this afternoon to take on the Nationals in their home opener at Space Coast Stadium. Danny Espinosa and Kurt Suzuki will make their spring debuts this afternoon under cloudy skies, as the Nationals face young right-hander Henderson Alvarez, one of the arms the Marlins got from the Blue Jays in that massive trade this offseason. Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nats, with Zach Duke scheduled to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nolan Reimold is starting in left field for today's game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Conor Jackson, limited in camp by a soreness in his lower back, will bat fourth as the designated hitter. For the Orioles: Alexi Casilla 2B Nolan Reimold LF Wilson Betemit 3B Conor Jackson DH Lew Ford CF Steve Pearce RF Danny Valencia 1B Taylor Teagarden C Ryan Flaherty SS Jair Jurrjens RHP Notes: Chris Tillman is listed as Tuesday's starter against the Pittsburgh Pirates in...