The Nationals' season came to a quick end in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the National League Division Series. But if you look back at the past couple of seasons, there is no way this team would have had a chance to be one strike away from the National League Championship Series without the bat and glove of Adam LaRoche at first base. LaRoche put up career numbers in 2012, smacking 33 homers and 100 RBIs in helping the Nationals to 98 regular season wins and a the National League East...

NEW YORK - The finality slowly hit me. The Orioles are done playing in 2012. The thrill ride has ended, final destination a long, long way from where it was expected to be back in spring training. Remember spring training? Top stories included the arrival of Dontrelle Willis and Ronny Paulino's car, a highly unexpected appearance by slugger-turned-agent Gary Sheffield (whose client, pitcher Josh Banks, never made it out of minor league camp), former Oriole Jason Johnson's highly unexpected...

Drew Storen was handed a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning, but the Nationals' 25-year-old closer allowed four runs to give the Cardinals a 9-7 lead heading to the bottom of the ninth. Storen allowed a double to Carlos Beltran leading off the ninth, then retired the next two Cardinals hitters and got two strikes on Yadier Molina to bring the Nationals to within a strike of the National League Championship Series. He then walked Molina and David Freese, loading the bases for Daniel Descalso....

It looked like Gio Gonzalez was on cruise control. He'd faced just one over the minimum through the first three innings, had struck out four and was having no trouble pounding the zone with both his fastball and dazzling curve. Then the Game 1 Gio Gonzalez returned. We remember that Gio Gonzalez - the one who couldn't find the strike zone, handed out walks to anyone who was willing to take one and forced the Nationals' bullpen into action in the early innings. Staked to a 6-0 lead after...

NEW YORK - The Orioles' inability to generate any semblance of an offense will most likely be the primary focus of the 2012 postseason. They batted .187 in the American League Division Series, which negated the 2.52 ERA posted by their pitching staff. "Nobody hit," said first baseman Mark Reynolds. "They didn't hit, we didn't hit. There was some really good pitching, I guess. Just couldn't get the big hit when we needed it tonight. It sucks, but we'll be back. We'll be...

NEW YORK - Mark Reynolds is arbitration-eligible and the Orioles hold an $11 million option on his contract for next season. Nate McLouth can become a free agent. If Reynolds and McLouth have their way, they will remain with the Orioles in 2013. "I'd definitely like to come back," Reynolds said. "This is the most fun I've ever had playing baseball, this group of guys. There's a bunch of ballplayers in this room. No prima donnas, nobody for themselves. Just ballplayers who pull for each...

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Buck Showalter walked into the interview room one last time in the 2012 postseason. Here's the transcript: Q. Buck, can you go for a little bit about the (Nate) McLouth call and what the umpires told you on that. SHOWALTER: "They didn't tell me, you know, they said it was foul. And I appreciate them checking. And there is something in place to double-check. I couldn't tell. I knew it was real close and obviously during the regular season or in the playoffs we...

NEW YORK - Though the ending to the 2012 season stung the Orioles, it didn't cloud their view of what they accomplished. Executive vice president Dan Duquette said he was "proud of the effort of the whole organization." "We took some great strides forward," Duquette said after leaving manager Buck Showalter's office. "We're a first-division outfit. To win 96 games is really an accomplishment and I'm proud of the work and effort that everyone did. Obviously, we're disappointed in...

The Nationals needed just seven pitches to send the Nats Park crowd into a frenzy and to deliver a massive body blow to the Cardinals. Adam Wainwright, who struck out 10 and gave up just a single run in his Game 1 outing against the Nats, gave up a double to Jayson Werth to open the bottom of the first, a shot ripped down the left field line to get things started. Bryce Harper, who had gone just 1-for-18 over the first four games of the series, then crushed a triple off the center field wall,...

NEW YORK - Majority owner Peter G. Angelos visited a quiet Orioles clubhouse tonight, shaking hands with players and speaking briefly with reporters. "These young men and certainly Buck (Showalter) and Dan Duquette and all the other officials of the organization have done a spectacular job," Angelos said following a 3-1 loss to the Yankees in Game 5 of the American League Division Series. "We are thankful as we are to you, the press,the broadcasters. "As far as the local team here is...