SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are off today for the only time this spring, and unlike last year, manager Buck Showalter hasn't arranged an intrasquad game to keep us busy. However, Jake Arrieta is scheduled to throw four innings at the minor league complex at Twin Lakes Park, so I'll be heading over there around noon to make sure his arm doesn't fall off. Would it surprise anyone? The pitching news here goes from good to bad within hours. One guy progresses and another guy regresses. The...

So I spent some time this weekend trying to figure out which players will be on the roster at Triple-A Norfolk this year. Tough task and I didn't even look much at the pitching yet, since there are still so many pitchers competing for jobs with the Orioles that will likely wind up with the Tides. Projecting today what will be on the field in Norfolk in a few weeks is a dicey proposition at best and frustrating to do. There are many years where you just move players up from the previous level,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Zach Britton has been scratched from Monday afternoon's start at the minor league complex because of a sore left shoulder. Britton was supposed to go three innings in a Single-A game at Twin Lakes Park, but he's bothered by inflammation in the shoulder. Team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens examined him today. The Orioles will know more about Britton's condition and future availability on Tuesday. Britton threw two innings and 31 pitches Thursday in a game...

It shouldn't come as a surprise that outfielder Bryce Harper was sent to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the 2012 campaign, eliminating the question of whether the Nationals' top prospect would break camp with the system's top team and head to D.C. in April. It is the best scenario for the 19-year-old to taste every level of the minor league system so he will be ready with a good dose of experience before he dons a Nationals jersey on South Capitol Street in a major league game. Of course...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Alfredo Simon was supposed to throw 60-65 pitches tonight, but he tweaked his groin again in the second inning and didn't return for the third. Simon was pitching for the first time since March 10. He's totaled seven innings in three outings. "The thing is my groin was bothering me a little bit in the second inning," he said. "They asked me if I hurt myself a little bit and I said, 'Yes.' I feel strong, but in the second inning I tweaked my groin, so I stopped, and...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter didn't bring Mike Wright here to serve only as an extra arm late in a split-squad game. Wright, the third-round pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of East Carolina, replaced Luis Ayala to begin the fourth inning tonight and faced Mark Teixeira, Raul Ibanez and Bill Hall. So much for mop-up duty. Wright struck out Teixeira and Hall and retired Ibanez on a pop up. His fastball registered 92-93 mph. He wasn't done. Showalter kept him in the...

VIERA, Fla. - In Bryce Harper's mind, there was one upside to finding out late this afternoon that he was being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse: He also learned he'd be playing center field in the minors. "I love it," Harper said, a smile creeping across his face. "After (manager Davey Johnson) said that to me, I was excited to get down there and work on my center field." The Nationals have decided to play Harper "predominantly" in center at Triple-A, according to Johnson, which is an...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Two of the quieter bats in Orioles' camp cranked up the volume tonight in the first inning. Adam Jones drilled a three-run homer to center field off Yankees starter Ivan Nova to give the Orioles an early lead. After Chris Davis grounded out, Matt Wieters launched a home run to right field on a two-strike pitch. Jones was 5-for-22 with two RBIs before tonight, but he seemed prolific compared to Wieters, who was 2-for-20 with no RBIs. Jones didn't have an extra-base hit...

VIERA, Fla. - For a 19-year-old who at times has battled maturity issues - who among us didn't in our teens? - and had legitimate intentions of winning a spot on the Nationals' opening day roster, Bryce Harper appeared to handle his demotion to Triple-A Syracuse pretty darned well. Talking with reporters shortly after being informed that he was being sent over to minor league camp, Harper was clearly disappointed with the news, but seemed determined to grow in his upcoming time at the minor...

The Washington Nationals today optioned catcher Jhonatan Solano, first baseman Tyler Moore and outfielder Bryce Harper to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. Additionally, the Nationals re-assigned infielder Mark Teahen to minor-league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. The Nationals currently have 37 players in their big league camp.