SARASOTA, Fla. - I'm relieved to pass along news regarding the 3-year-old daughter of Orioles reliever Willie Eyre. Reporters were told following today's game that Eyre was pulled off the field during warmups and informed that Lily had fallen into a pool and was found by her mother. She apparently did not lose consciousness and was rushed to a local hospital, and X-rays taken on her lungs were negative. Everything is fine, and she's already back with her family. Manager Buck Showalter...

VIERA, Fla. - While the bulk of the spots on manager Davey Johnson's bench are accounted for at this point, the battle for the last slot might get fierce. Johnson said today that the competition for the final bench job "probably won't be settled until the last day" of spring, allowing outfielders Brett Carroll and Jason Michaels and infielders Chad Tracy, Mark Teahen and Andres Blanco plenty of time to sort out who will crack the 25-man roster. First baseman Tyler Moore, who has hit 31...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Rays scored five runs in the top of the ninth against relievers Oscar Villarreal and Stu Pomeranz to take a 7-5 lead, but Rule 5 pick Ryan Flaherty responded with a two-out, two-run homer to send the game to the 10th. Steve Johnson retired the side in order, striking out the last batter, and the Orioles failed to score after loading the bases with no outs. We had to settle for a 7-7 tie. Caleb Joseph tapped into a force at the plate, Jai Miller struck out and...

VIERA, Fla. - Here are a few rapid-fire injury updates before I have to pop right back down to the field in a couple minutes. You ready? Here we go. As I mentioned a bit ago, Bryce Harper is in tomorrow's Nationals lineup, but manager Davey Johnson wants to watch him get a full workout today. If Harper comes through the workout feeling OK, he'll be in there tomorrow against the Braves. Johnson noted how Harper was here at 7:15 this morning, raring to go. Today marks the sixth straight day...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Brad Bergesen tossed three scoreless innings today, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out one. Miguel Socolovich replaced him in the top of the seventh with the Orioles leading, 4-1. Socolovich gave up a run in the seventh. Orioles 4, Rays 2. Jason Hammel started for the Orioles and allowed one run and one hit, walked one and struck out two. His only real mistake was a 2-0 fastball to Matt Joyce that cleared the right field fence. "Before in the past, I'd give up...

VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals' lineup has been posted for tonight's game against the Tigers, a game which can be seen live on MASN starting at 6 p.m. As you'll notice, the lineup tonight has a heavy regular season flavor to it. SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman DH Michael Morse 1B Mark DeRosa RF Jayson Werth C Wilson Ramos CF Brett Carroll LF Jason Michaels P Edwin Jackson Edwin Jackson will be on the bump for the Nationals tonight, marking his third start of spring....

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' bats must be thawing out today. They scored four runs in the second inning off Rays left-hander David Price, their biggest uprising in an inning this spring. They've scored more than four runs in a game only once this spring. Jai Miller crushed a three-run homer to straightaway center field with one out in the second to give the Orioles a 4-1 lead. The ball easily cleared the 400-foot sign. Miller and Chris Davis have hit the only home runs for the Orioles...

SAROSOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter had his usual pregame session with the media today while his team took batting practice. Here are a few highlights: On Taylor Teagarden seeing a back specialist: "An MRI would show something with everybody unless you take it before 15 years old or something. But there are some things we want him to take a look at there and see what the next step is. So far, I'm not going to elaborate, but I think identifying what he's having some discomfort about. The...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rather than take batting practice on one of the back fields after teammates retreated to the clubhouse, Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts hit from both sides of the plate today against minor league pitching coach Alan Mills on the Ed Smith Stadium field. Once his round was completed, he moved to second base and scooped up ground balls from minor league instructor Bobby Dickerson - first at the edge of the infield grass and later from the edge of the outfield grass. He made...

The Nationals' outfield defense was a major reason the team finished only one game under .500 in 2011. Their defense, with arms such as Rick Ankiel, Jayson Werth, Michael Morse and quite possibly top prospect Bryce Harper patrolling the warning track this season, could take a step forward again as the franchise seeks its first playoff berth since 1981. Looking back at last year's defensive statistics, Ankiel saved eight runs in center field, the best in baseball from that position, according...