When you go from last in the American League to sixth in team ERA in one year, that is an impressive improvement. The Orioles did that in 2012, with a 3.90 team ERA after posting a 4.89 ERA to rank 14th the year before. The improved pitching - both the quality and depth of it - was a big key to the club's 24-win improvement. Here are some pitching questions the club may be looking at right now. Is there any lingering talk of moving Jim Johnson to the rotation?: I don't hear of any and it...

On Saturday afternoon, the Salt River Rafters face Peoria in the championship game of the Arizona Fall League. Converted Nationals reliever Ryan Perry gets the start and could go five innings. The right-hander has a 4.98 ERA in the AFL, but is 2-0 and has allowed a .213 batting average against. With all the talk of Edwin Jackson, John Lannan or others as the fifth starter, this question can be put out there: Would an outstanding outing help Perry to be considered for that role in 2013? ...

The Washington Nationals today released their 32-game 2013 Spring Training schedule, which features 15 home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, FL. The National League East champions will commence their Grapefruit League schedule on Feb. 23 when they play the New York Mets in nearby Port St. Lucie, FL. The Nationals will host the Miami Marlins one day later (Feb. 24) at Space Coast Stadium for their initial home contest. The Nationals' home schedule will include a matchup against the...

Start planning your vacations, folks. The Nationals have released their full 32-game 2013 spring training schedule today, featuring 15 home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. The Nats open their Grapefruit League schedule against the Mets on Feb. 23 in Port St. Lucie and will wrap up spring training with a March 28 home game against the Mets. The first home game on the Nationals' 2013 spring schedule will come Feb. 24 against the Marlins. No report date has been announced for...

You know your team has probably put together a solid season when five different players receive votes in your league's Most Valuable Player balloting. As I mentioned last night, first baseman Adam LaRoche, shortstop Ian Desmond, left-hander Gio Gonzalez, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman and center fielder Bryce Harper all found their way onto at least one National League MVP ballot. It was nice to see LaRoche recognized for his strong season and finish tied for sixth, and Desmond (tied for...

Four of the Orioles' six coaches are under contract for 2013. Pitching coach Rick Adair has agreed to a new deal, leaving hitting coach Jim Presley and third base coach DeMarlo Hale as the only members of manager Buck Showalter's staff without contracts. Presley and Hale have been offered new contracts, and the Orioles are waiting to hear back from them. They're expected to remain in the organization, though I've heard that Presley has attracted interest from another club. Hale...

Taxi squad member Jason Martinson hit a ball so hard and so far in his first game in Arizona last month that pitching coach Mark Grater said the umpires did not know how to rule it and called it foul. But it definitely was close to being fair. There was no doubt Thursday for Martinson, who crushed a two-run shot in the eighth as a pinch hitter, capping off a 7-3 regular season finale win for the Salt River Rafters over Surprise. Designated hitter Brian Goodwin had a double and run scored,...

When it comes to selecting baseball players for your team, should character count? I say a big yes to that, and in a sport that seemingly has a stat for everything, how can you rate how much having players of solid character helps your team? Do you believe in having a strong clubhouse? I don't know how to rate it, but I think it's important and was a crucial element in the success of the 2012 Orioles. Before he hit his 100th career homer on Aug. 28, Adam Jones went through a long homerless...

Nolan Reimold doesn't check the blogs and scroll the tweets. He relies on friends and family for Orioles updates. Many times, the information is unsolicited. Occasionally, it's unwanted. Reimold has been made aware that the Orioles are trying to acquire a left fielder, which is out of his control. All he can do is get ready for spring training, and he's supremely confident that he'll be a full-go when he reports to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. There have been no complications...

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera did more than win the Triple Crown this season. He also was named American League's Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, finishing ahead of Angels rookie outfielder Mike Trout, 362-281, in one of the most hotly debated competitions in recent memory. Cabrera received 22 first-place votes, compared to six for Trout. Not as close as the experts predicted. The Orioles were well-represented in the voting, with Adam Jones...