Now that the Orioles ended their 14-season losing streak by not only having a winning season but by returning to the playoffs, can they do it again? Were the 2012 Orioles a one-hit wonder? There seem to be times in sports where a losing team turns into a winner but can't sustain it because it doesn't have the hunger and intensity it did the first time around. In an interview this week on the 105.7 FM The Fan morning show in Baltimore, manager Buck Showalter indicated he feels strongly that...

The Orioles have officially released left-hander Dontrelle Willis, according to Baseball America's Matt Eddy. My first reaction was, "Dontrelle Willis was still in the organization?" The Orioles must have taken the hint when he retired July 2. They sent out a tweet to confirm it. But I guess releasing him after the season was some kind of a procedural move. Willis was 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA in four appearances for Triple-A Norfolk, with six earned runs (eight total) and 10 hits in 6 1/3...

The Nationals have yet to release their full 2013 spring training schedule, but for those of you interested in getting a head start on your vacation planning, I've got some tentative dates courtesy of the Grapefruit League master schedule put together at SpringTrainingOnline.com. Here's what's listed so far. The Nats, of course, will play their home games at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla. Feb. 23: Nats at Mets (Port St. Lucie) Feb. 24: Marlins at Nats Feb. 26: Nats at Braves (Lake...

As we learned a long time ago, the offseason is open season on free agent speculation. The Orioles are fairly quiet while the World Series plays out. Dana Eveland and Ronny Paulino elected to become minor league free agents. Third base coach DeMarlo Hale interviewed for the Red Sox managerial job. The Sporting News named Buck Showalter American League Manager of the Year. The Diamondbacks received cash to complete the Joe Saunders/Matt Lindstrom trade. That's about it. Nothing to grab the...

I think they may be partly serious and partly kidding, but the Inland Empire 66ers of the Single-A California League say they have offered their job as play-by-play broadcaster to Bob Costas. In a recent interview with sports columnist Joe Posnanski, Costas said that he still had a dream of calling an entire season of minor league baseball. According to Posnanski, "(Costas) has often talked about a dream - one he insists he still has, even after hosting all the Olympics and winning all the...

The Orioles haven't released their 2013 spring training schedule, but I'll pass along some tentative dates off the Grapefruit League's master list, put together by SpringTrainingOnline.com. Plan accordingly. The home games, of course, are held at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Feb. 23: Twins at Orioles Feb. 24: Orioles at Blue Jays (Dunedin) March 2: Orioles at Rays (Port Charlotte) March 3: Phillies at Orioles March 4: Orioles at Yankees (Tampa) March 8: Orioles at Pirates...

A pair of Nationals went under the knife today. Ryan Zimmerman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, while infielder Chad Tracy had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Both players are expected to be ready for the start of spring training. Both surgeries were performed by the Nationals' team doctor, Dr. Wiemi Douoguih, at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center in D.C. I wonder if the team got some type of multi-player discount. Zimmerman battled inflammation in the...

The 2012 Fielding Bible Award winners have been announced, and Orioles catcher Matt Wieters is excluded from the list after being selected last year. Wieters lost out to the Cardinals' Yadier Molina. Here are the winners, chosen by a panel of 10 "experts," including Peter Gammons, Bill James, Joe Posnanski, Doug Glanville and John Dewan: First Base: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees (first-time winner) Second Base: Darwin Barney, Chicago Cubs (first-time winner) Third Base: Adrian Beltre,...

Several pitchers did very well at instructional league, including a couple of right-handed relievers who were noticed by Single-A Potomac pitching coach Chris Michalak over the last few weeks of fall camp in Viera, Fla. Right-handers Robert Benincasa and Derek Self, who spent the summer at short-season Single-A Auburn after their selections by the Nationals in the 2012 draft, made good progress. "Benincasa threw the ball well for us in Florida," Michalak said. "He was an aggressive...

The previously unhittable Justin Verlander gets smacked around and sees his postseason ERA jump from 0.74 to 11.25? Barry Zito throws a gem in the World Series and then is relieved by Tim Lincecum? Pablo Sandoval joins Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols in elite World Series company? You never know what will happen in this game. We certainly didn't know what the Nationals would get from Kurt Suzuki when he came over from the Athletics in a trade at the beginning of August. He had...