So much for there not being any surprise roster decisions at the end of Nationals spring training. So much for the Nats setting their rotation over a week ago, leaving only a couple bench spots and the final bullpen job up for grabs. So much for that whole "John's my guy" thing. Given the way the Nationals had acted ever since Chien-Ming Wang went down with a hamstring strain in mid-March, an injury which officially opened up a spot in their rotation, the decision to option John Lannan...

TAMPA, Fla. - I made it to my Airtran gate at the Tampa airport after having my hands "tested" by security because my photo ID was in my back pocket. I've had them slapped before, but never tested. Anyway, I'm happy to report that my hands passed the test and I'm allowed to fly home, where the forecast apparently calls for temperatures in the 70s (good news) and rain (bad news.) I'm up to exactly 6,600 Twitter followers (@MASNroch) after arriving at spring training below 6,000, so...

SALISBURY, Md. - After three innings of tonight's exhibition game at Perdue Stadium, Delmarva has a 2-1 lead on Salisbury University. Delmarva took a 1-0 lead in the last of the first. Glynn Davis led off with an infield single, stole second and third bases, and later scored on a Wynston Sawyer sac fly. Salisbury tied the game with a run in the top of the second before Delmarva moved ahead in the last of the third. John Ruettiger was hit by a pitch to lead the inning and then stole two bases...

The Washington Nationals today selected the contracts of outfielder Brett Carroll, outfielder/first baseman Xavier Nady and first baseman Chad Tracy. The clubs also optioned left-handed pitcher John Lannan to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, released right-handed pitcher Chad Durbin and placed right-handed pitcher Drew Storen (15-Day, retroactive to March 26), right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang (15-Day, retroactive to March 26), outfielder Rick Ankiel (15-Day, retroactive to...

In 2009 and 2010, the Nationals gave John Lannan the ball as their opening day starter. On Tuesday, flush with quality pitchers, unwilling to use Lannan out of the bullpen and confident that he had been outpitched in spring training, they optioned the left-hander and his $5 million contract to Triple-A Syracuse. Lannan's surprise demotion was the biggest of a series of transactions announced after the Nats' 8-7 loss to the Red Sox that got them down to the 25-man roster limit. The Nationals...

Nationals left-hander Ross Detwiler and right-hander Craig Stammen received the news Tuesday that they had made the Nationals' opening day roster. Just one year ago, the pair had roomed together in Syracuse for the Triple-A Chiefs with hopes of working their way back to the majors. That quest has been realized. Detwiler will be the Nationals fifth starter and Stammen will pitch out of the bullpen. Stammen remembers the work they put in with the Chiefs for the opportunity to get back to...

SALISBURY, Md. - He may be a first-round draft pick. He has a ton of talent and the scouts rave about him. Orioles fans are expecting nothing less than to see Dylan Bundy in the orange and black one day, dominating American League hitters. If he is feeling any pressure to live up to all those expectations, Bundy was not letting on yesterday here during the media day for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. "I really don't feel any pressure at all. I just like to go about my business the way I...

SARASOTA, Fla. - This is my final spring training blog entry from Sarasota. The next time you hear from me, I'll be filing early Wednesday morning from the Marriott at the Tampa airport before stumbling to my gate for a 6:45 a.m. flight home. Now if I could only remember where I parked my car seven weeks ago. And my address. Here's manager Buck Showalter on the decision to place Tsuyoshi Wada on the 15-day disabled list: "Wada will probably take a minimum of two outings. He'll stay here....

SALISBURY, Md. - You had to figure Dylan Bundy might pitch Single-A Delmarva's season opening game and that is exactly what he will do when he takes the mound on Thursday night in Asheville, N.C. for the Shorebirds in his professional debut for the Orioles organization. There was a lot of speculation about where Bundy would begin his minor league career and he will start right here in Salisbury with the Shorebirds in the South Atlantic League. "I'm excited to get here and start my career...

The Nationals parlayed three singles, a pair of walks and a sacrifice fly to score three runs in the seventh inning and take a 7-6 lead over the Red Sox. Mark DeRosa led off the seventh with an infield single off Justin Thomas and was replaced by pinch runner Adrian Sanchez, who advanced to second on Xavier Nady's single to right. Wilson Ramos then drove in his fourth run of the afternoon on a single to left. Thomas was replaced by Michael Bowden after Roger Bernadina's sacrifice moved the...