The Nationals and Reds have combined for just three hits through four innings of play this afternoon, as starters Gio Gonzalez and Mat Latos have looked sharp early in the Nats' home opener. Gonzalez has allowed only two Reds runners to reach base - one on a Jay Bruce double and the other on an error committed by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. The Nats left-hander, making his first appearance at Nats Park since being acquired in a trade with the A's this offseason, has only allowed two balls...

Nationals closer Drew Storen was at Nationals Park with his arm in a sling and in good spirits following surgery to remove a loose body in his right elbow that was causing him severe pain. Storen said the experience has been a new one for him as he has never even suffered a broken arm growing up. "The whole not being able to use one arm is kind of weird," Storen said. "Putting on socks is not exactly easy." General manager Mike Rizzo said the surgery went as well as expected and feels...

The news that Michael Morse will be shut down for the next six weeks because of a re-aggravated strained lat might lead some to wonder whether the Nationals will adjust their plan for top prospect Bryce Harper. The answer from general manager Mike Rizzo, not surprisingly, is a resounding no. "No. It does not," Rizzo said. "We've got a plan for (Harper), and when he's ready to come up, we'll certainly think about that. But we've got in-house candidates that we feel comfortable with out...

High Single-A Potomac third baseman Anthony Rendon has a partial fracture of his left ankle, according to Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo. Rendon was injured Saturday at Lynchburg and was helped off the field. "Rendon is in a boot and he is immobilized," Rizzo said. "He is going to see a foot and ankle specialist Friday." Rizzo was optimistic that this is not the worst case scenario for Rendon, and that he will be able to return this season. "They tell me his season is not in...

During the offseason, one the biggest names on the Orioles - Adam Jones - was a target of trade rumors, specifically talks with the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Jair Jurrjens and infielder Martin Prado. Baltimore didn't wind up trading Jones, as we all know; however, will he stay with Orioles throughout his career or move to greener pastures and go to a winner? Jones' profile has risen in the game, and he has steadily improved over the past few years. One would think that considering the...

Michael Morse's latest setback in his rehab from a strained lat will land him on the shelf until at least mid-May. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said today that Morse, who re-aggravated his lat injury while on a rehab appearance with low Single-A Hagerstown on Monday, will be in "total shutdown mode" for the next six weeks, and will be evaluated after that. "We tried to ramp him up and get him ready as quickly as we could because he's a big piece of our lineup, and it just...

Ryan Zimmerman is no stranger to home openers. Today is his seventh, yet none of them has dawned with the immense expectations for success that this afternoon's game against the Reds brings. Still, the Nationals third baseman doesn't seem to think this opener is any different than the others he's experienced. "No," Zimmerman said in the Washington clubhouse Thursday morning. No? Not even a little bit? "I mean, every year, every team thinks it can win. ... Honestly, every team I've...

The Baltimore Orioles and OriolesREACH this week will launch the first issue of a quarterly electronic newsletter covering the club's activities in the communities of Sarasota County. "Another successful Spring Training season has concluded, and we are filling our calendar with exciting events in the community and at both Ed Smith Stadium and the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex at Twin Lakes Park," said Laura Williams, the Orioles Director of Florida Operations. "The name of the newsletter,...

The Nationals open their home schedule today against the Reds. Adam LaRoche will hit cleanup for the Nats. Nationals lineup: SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche RF Jayson Werth LF Xavier Nady CF Roger Bernadina C Wilson Ramos P Gio Gonzalez

So as an Orioles fan, do you look at the last three nights in black and white terms or with shades of gray? Do you just see three losses and the team getting swept as the bottom line or did you see some things that were positive within the losses and give the team something to build on? I can't help feeling that the Orioles should have won the last two games of that series and be heading to Toronto later today with a 5-1 record and two series victories. Instead, there was more frustration...