VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals will travel nearly two hours south down Interstate 95 today to take on the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla., their first of three straight road games. Some quality miles will be put on the team bus over this three-day stretch, as the Nats will be in Kissimmee to play the Astros tomorrow and then will head all the way across the state to face the Orioles in Sarasota on Saturday. Given that I need to fill up my rental car (a Jeep Patriot) about every 15 minutes, I should...

SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm making another trip to Fort Myers today because I can't get enough of the Twins. Unfortunately, I'm referring to the baseball team. Left-hander Wei-Yin Chen makes another start for the Orioles. He's allowed four runs and nine hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts, in 10 Grapefruit League innings. Robert Andino makes a start at shortstop. For the Orioles: Xavier Avery CF Robert Andino SS Nick Johnson DH Nolan Reimold LF Wilson Betemit 3B Chris Davis 1B Ronny...

SARASOTA, Fla. - When I heard that the Orioles signed pitcher Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract, my first thought was "Florida Marlins." Actually, my first thought was, "Really?" But then I linked Willis to the Marlins, his first major league team. I joined the pack of reporters at Willis' locker this morning - and I'm proud to say that I was the first one to notice him, just as I was walking toward an Orioles' public relations official with a request to find Willis and...

I have written a lot during the offseason about the Nationals working with first baseman Tyler Moore at outfield positions to improve his versatility. That is still true. Just like Michael Morse, the Nationals would love to have Moore be able to play different spots all over the field so they can get his offensive output in the majors sooner rather than later. But roster needs change quickly, and with the injury to former Triple-A Syracuse first baseman Chris Marrero, the need for Moore to...

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has been multi-tasking since that November day when he was hired by the club to replace Andy MacPhail. While trying to improve the 2012 Orioles he has also spent a lot of time working on improving the club's future outlook. That happens with some of the changes and hopefully, upgrades and improvement that Duquette wants to make in the O's minors and player development starting this year. "I think probably the most important thing is we are...

VIERA, Fla. - So far today, we've had news that Stephen Strasburg will be the Nationals' opening day starter, Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche possibly not being ready for the start of the season, Steve Lombardozzi making his first career appearance in the outfield and word that Chien-Ming Wang will likely start the regular season on the DL. Just another quiet afternoon at Space Coast Stadium. The Nationals needed one more strike to close this day out with a win over the Braves, but Ryan...

VIERA, Fla. - Chien-Ming Wang has been making improvements since suffering a left hamstring strain last Thursday, but his manager doesn't think the veteran right-handed pitcher will be able to return to the mound for about a month. Davey Johnson said today that while optimistic reports have Wang able to return in two weeks, he feels that the 31-year-old hurler will need more time than that, increasing his chances of opening the regular season on the DL. "They're being optimistic - two...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitchers Oscar Villarreal and Jon Link also have been reassigned to minor league camp, reducing the roster to 43 players, including 23 pitchers. Pitcher Zach Britton received two Platelet Rich Plasma injections today in his left shoulder, and Dr. James Andrews told him it could be a six-week process before he's cleared to pitch. The hope, of course, is that Britton returns much sooner. Britton said the MRI only shows "typical wear and tear of a pitcher" and added that Dr....

The Orioles today announced that they have reassigned right-handed pitchers Willie Eyre, Jon Link, Miguel Socolovich and Oscar Villareal to minor league camp, bringing their spring roster to 43 players.

VIERA, Fla. - Normally in spring training, John Lannan comes out of the gates hot, then goes through a bit of a downturn before trying to get back on track for the start of the regular season. This year's been the opposite. The Nationals lefty started out slow, but feels that with each start, he's getting closer to being in prime condition for the beginning of April. "I'm progressing in a manner where I start off pretty slow and now I'm getting to a point where before opening day...