Those of you who follow me at my regular baseball home, The Loss Column, have seen me discuss this at some length. I don't want to repeat myself too much, but I've also never really offered up a dedicated explanation of my thinking. The uniqueness of this forum seems a good place to do that. To wit: I have worked out a way - possibly not the best way, but a way nonetheless - to enjoy the Orioles in 2012 despite their dim prospects for success. No expectations, just baseball. What do I mean...

When the Orioles' clubhouse opened to reporters a few minutes ago, Robert Andino knew what to expect. He was waiting by his locker for us to ask him about what happened between him and Yankees catcher Russell Martin at the end of the game last night. "I was waiting for you all," he said. Andino said it was a miscommunication and said he did not expect it to have any carryover into tonight's game. "You know, heat of the moment," Andino said. "Boys being boys. Just had a few words....

FLUSHING, N.Y. - A day after getting elbowed in the head while covering first base, Danny Espinosa is not in manager Davey Johnson's starting lineup against the Mets. Asked how he was feeling after last night's game, Espinosa insisted he was OK, and he only had some dizziness for a few seconds after catching a Ruben Tejada elbow on the side of the head. It could be that Johnson just wants to get some at-bats for Steve Lombardozzi, who will play second base tonight, and that Espinosa is...

Manager Buck Showalter isn't hiding Robert Andino tonight. If the Yankees are thinking about retribution after last night's accusation from catcher Russell Martin that Andino was stealing signs, they won't have any trouble finding him. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez LF J.J. Hardy SS Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Nick Johnson DH Mark Reynolds 3B Chris Davis 1B Robert Andino 2B Wei-Yin Chen LHP

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The New York Mets currently have the best record in the major leagues at 4-0. Let's just take a second and let that all sink in. I know, I didn't see it coming, either. Tonight's starter for the Mets, Dillon Gee, won 13 games for New York last year in just his first full season in the big leagues. He's had good success against Nationals hitters in his brief career, as well; of the seven Nats who have faced Gee more than five times, Jayson Werth has the highest batting...

The public is invited to watch Baltimore Orioles Minor League players in action in Sarasota during Extended Spring Training during the months of April, May and June. There is no charge to attend the games, which will be held on Field 4 at the Ed Smith Stadium complex beginning today. Gates open 30 minutes before game time. Free parking is available in the East Lot. Please note that game times and locations are subject to change without notice due to weather conditions. ORIOLES EXTENDED...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - The Nationals just can't catch a break on the injury front. As reported by my colleague Byron Kerr, Hagerstown Suns outfielder Brian Goodwin, the 34th overall pick in last year's draft, had to leave yesterday's game with an apparent upper right leg injury after pulling up lame while running out an infield single. Goodwin is expected to be re-evaluated today. The 21-year-old Goodwin had gotten off to a ridiculous start, going 6-for-16 with two home runs, a double, five...

The Orioles today announced the voting procedures and players selected for the AT&T Fans' Choice Bobblehead promotion. For the first time in Orioles history, fans will be able to select the player they want to be immortalized in a bobblehead giveaway, scheduled to be distributed during Fan Appreciation Weekend on Saturday, September 29 to the first 20,000 fans age 15 and over. Fans can vote for any of five players selected by the Orioles who have not had a bobblehead before: third baseman...

Well a little cold water was thrown on the good vibes created by the three-game sweep of Minnesota with that loss to the Yankees where Brian Matusz failed to consistently find the strike zone. It seems some fans were kind of jumping on Matusz in some of the comments we saw after last night's game as the Yankees beat the Orioles 6-2 for the Birds' first loss of the year. Matusz certainly needs to pitch with better command and control. His pitches were up in the zone in the first inning and...

What is Drew Storen worth? It's a question that has been debated pretty heavily since the Nationals used their No. 10 overall pick to draft the talented reliever in 2009. In fact, it's fair to say that Storen, the team's 23-year-old stopper who recorded 43 saves last year, has been one of the more divisive characters on the team's roster among pundits, bloggers, and fans since he made his major league debut in 2010. The issue has been raised several times as the team's stopper has been...