CLEARWATER, Fla. - Davey Johnson tried to give Stephen Strasburg four full innings of work this afternoon, but after Strasburg gave up a two-out single and a walk in the fourth, "Captain Hook" came trotting out of the dugout to get his right-handed starter. Strasburg finishes his third spring outing having allowed two runs on five hits. He walked one, struck out six, hit a batter and threw one wild pitch in 3 2/3 innings. The Nationals' ace threw 67 pitches, 40 strikes this...

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're going to be here a while. The Orioles sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and took a 3-0 lead over Team Spain, which removed its starter, former Orioles farmhand, Richard Salazar, with one out in the second. Russ Canzler belted a three-run homer after Yamaico Navarro singled and Steve Pearce walked. Danny Valencia had an infield hit and Trayvon Robinson walked before LJ Hoes ripped a ground ball to the right side that deflected off...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - When Nationals manager Davey Johnson saw John Lannan in a Phillies uniform during warm-ups on the field at Bright House Field late this morning, he had a message for his former starter. "You look like (expletive) in that uniform," Johnson told Lannan. Lannan's response to reporters a little bit later, while chatting in the Phillies clubhouse: "He's gonna have to get used to that. He's gonna see me a couple times." After spending the first eight years of his major...

Where would the Nationals and Orioles be without the Minnesota Twins? The Orioles and Nationals have five players who were key to the Twins' success since 2010. The Orioles have infielders J.J. Hardy, Danny Valencia and Alexi Casilla. The Nationals have outfielder Denard Span and catcher Wilson Ramos. Hardy, Span and Ramos will play big roles on the East Coast. Valencia and Casilla are trying to re-start their careers. * Hardy, who started with Milwaukee, came to the Twins in a trade for...

CLEARWATER, Fla. - After using up about half a tank of gas on the trek across Florida, I've arrived at Bright House Field for today's Nationals-Phillies Grapefruit League contest that will feature two of the game's best pitchers. Stephen Strasburg and Roy Halladay will toe the mound today, and while Strasburg will face a Phillies lineup filled with major leaguers, Halladay won't get that luxury. The Nationals brought just three position players who are expected to crack the opening day...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles made Cuban defector Henry Urrutia available to the media today, and I'll pass along his quotes later this afternoon. Urrutia actually attended the Orioles' game in Cuba back in 1999. He sat in the stands as a 12-year-old. Urrutia's childhood hero was Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams, and he would like to wear No. 51 with the Orioles. Fred Ferreira also signed Williams, who was managed by Buck Showalter. Urrutia could also play first base, but the Orioles...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Steve Pearce is back in the lineup today, starting at first base against Team Spain. Conor Jackson most likely will come off the bench. Yes, they're being paired up again in this blog entry. Pearce homered twice yesterday, giving him three this spring to go with nine RBIs. He's collected six hits in 11 at-bats. "I feel great at the plate, having good at-bats," he said this morning. "I'm swinging at good pitches and squaring balls up. I feel good right now and just...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis isn't in the lineup again today, which comes as no surprise, and he told a couple of reporters this morning that he will "probably rule out tomorrow." Markakis was scratched from Sunday's lineup because of stiffness in his neck. The Orioles are home again on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays. They have back-to-back road night games Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton and Saturday against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. Most of the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - As expected, manager Buck Showalter is sitting most of his regulars for today's game against Team Spain. Nolan Reimold is leading off and serving as the Orioles' designated hitter. Steve Pearce is in the lineup, but Conor Jackson is not. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold DH Yamaico Navarro SS Steve Pearce 1B Russ Canzler RF Danny Valencia 3B Trayvon Robinson LF LJ Hoes CF Niuman Romero 2B Jose Gil C Jake Arrieta RHP

VIERA, Fla. - Word down here in the south is that you fine folks back up in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia areas are about to be hit by a decent little snow storm. Hope everyone stays safe up there and doesn't have too much hatred toward me for being in 75-degree weather right about now. If it makes you feel any better, I'm just about to take off for a 7:30 a.m. trip to Clearwater, a 170-mile drive across the entire width of Florida. The five-plus hours of driving I'll end up putting in today...