We hear his voice before and after every Nationals game. He's previewing the day's matchup and only hours later recapping another night in baseball. For Nationals fans, baseball season revolves around the sight and sounds of broadcaster Johnny Holliday. Holliday, along with analyst Ray Knight, have been covering the Nationals for quite some time, a mere tip of the iceberg for Holliday, whose radio and television career has stretched more than 40 years. Over those many decades, Holliday...

The Orioles just released their opening day lineup, and I don't see any major surprises. Nolan Reimold is batting leadoff. Adam Jones is hitting cleanup. The only spot that crossed me up was Wilson Betemit batting ahead of Mark Reynolds instead of behind him. For the Orioles: Nolan Reimold LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Wilson Betemit DH Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Jake Arrieta RHP

CHICAGO - Today's "Coolest Quote of the Day" goes to Stephen Strasburg, who was asked what was going through his mind in the final innings of today's game, when the Nationals were mounting their rally against the Cubs and then subsequently took the lead. "Watching from the dugout, you almost feel like you're in the box there with them," Strasburg said. "That says a lot about the chemistry we have on this team that everybody in there was pulling for the next guy to get the job done. I...

BOWIE, Md. - Manny Machado admitted before tonight's game that he could face some struggles as a 19-year-old playing in the Double-A Eastern League. So far he isn't having any issues. On the first pitch he saw tonight, batting with one out and none on in the last of the second, Machado homered to left-center off Harrisburg starter Patrick Gilliam. Machado hit a liner that got out of here pretty quickly to give Bowie a 1-0 lead on opening night at Prince George's Stadium. Last year, between...

CHICAGO - See what I did there? Stephen Strasburg learned something today. But it wasn't anything relating to hitters' tendencies or specific pitch sequences that he should focus on in the future. The Nationals righty learned that Chicago can get a little breezy. "I knew it was called the Windy City but I didn't really think about it," Strasburg said. "I knew it was going to be pretty cold but I didn't realize how windy it would be." Now he knows. Although he battled the...

CHICAGO - Was this really opening day? Are we sure, given the weather and the intensity in the late innings, that we didn't hop in a time machine and end up in October? (Insert your jokes about the Cubs having no shot at October.) (Cubs fans, insert your jokes about the Nationals not being able to joke about postseason appearances just yet.) This sure had the feel of a game with a lot more riding on it than just who would get opening day bragging rights. The quality of the pitching on both...

BOWIE, Md. - It is sunny but chilly, but there have been some intense thunderstorms in Asheville, N.C. today and Dylan Bundy's scheduled pro debut has been rained out. The Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds will try again to open their season on Friday night. Bundy is now scheduled to be the starter tomorrow when the Shorebirds meet Asheville at 7:05 p.m. The rainout will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first pitch of Game One scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Both games of the...

As the only left-hander in the Orioles' bullpen, Troy Patton knows that he could be used in a variety of ways. Long man one night, situational southpaw another night. Manager Buck Showalter's preference is to keep Patton available for later in games, but he may not always have that luxury. "I take it as they can still use me if they need me," Patton said. "If the other team has a lefty-ladened lineup and the starter is done early, I still think that they have the ability to use me in...

CHICAGO - The Nationals had one hit and failed to score a run through the first seven innings of today's ballgame. They then scratched across one run with two outs in the eighth to tie the game, and got the winning run with two outs in the ninth. Ian Desmond went 3-for-5, including the game-winning RBI single in the top of the ninth that plated pinch runner Brett Carroll, giving the Nats a 2-1 win over the Cubs. Stephen Strasburg threw seven strong innings of one-run ball for the Nats, and...

BOWIE, Md. - There is plenty of excitement surrounding the Bowie Baysox game tonight. Not only is it opening night, but the game will also feature the Double-A debuts of the Orioles' top two position prospects in Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop. Machado, the club's first-round pick in 2010, will play at short and bat fifth tonight. Schoop, the Orioles 2011 minor league Player of the Year, will play second base and bat ninth. "When I heard they were coming here, I was excited and excited...