There seems to be a perception among some that the Orioles' offense is sadly lacking. Maybe when stacked up to that of Boston or New York that is true, but the Orioles had an offense that ranked around league average in the American League in 2011. Here are eight team statistical categories from last year, and the Orioles ranked near or above league average in five of them: Runs: 723 was AL avg. while O's scored 708 to rank seventh. Average: .258 was AL avg. while O's were at .257 to rank...

SARASOTA, Fla. - How do you know when you've had too many surgeries? First baseman

VIERA, Fla. - From the time he was drafted in 2005, Ryan Zimmerman spoke of wanting to play his whole career in Washington. Because he grew up in Virginia Beach, Va., and played college baseball at the University of Virginia, he said playing at Nationals Park felt like an extension of his familiar surroundings. During the press conference Sunday to announce his six-year, $100 million contract extension, Zimmerman mentioned how rare it is for players in this era to spend their entire careers...

VIERA, Fla. - Bryce Harper, the top overall pick in the 2010 draft, drew a first-round pick from the 2009 draft as his opponent during Sunday's first day of live batting practice at Nationals spring training. Just not that first-rounder. Instead of hitting against right-hander Stephen Strasburg - a possibility when the groups of hitters and pitchers were posted Friday morning - the 19-year-old phenom faced closer Drew Storen, who was picked 10th by the Nationals in the first round of...

VIERA, Fla. - For his 37th birthday, Mark DeRosa got an unusual present: an opportunity to face hard-throwing right-hander Stephen Strasburg during the first session of live batting practice at Nationals spring training. Working in a hitting group with Rick Ankiel and Roger Bernadina, DeRosa was the only person to get a ball cleanly out of the infield, grounding a changeup in the hole between first and second. Other than that, only Ankiel made contact during Strasburg's 10 minutes on the...

VIERA, Fla. - Stability and security meant more to Ryan Zimmerman than dollars and cents, so when the third baseman and the Nationals were hammering out what turned out to be a six-year extension to his current contract, the only stumbling block was something that's usually a deal-breaker for general manager Mike Rizzo: a no-trade clause. As Rizzo negotiated with Zimmerman's agent, Brodie Van Wagenen, last week, as talks stretched into the weekend, past the Saturday morning deadline...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada mostly downplayed the condition of his left elbow, saying, "This is something that's not even on a level I would consider reporting in Japan." "It's a discomfort that I feel about every year and I just thought I would say something about it right off the top," Wada said through interpreter Danny MacLeith. "It comes about this time every year. Usually, I have no problem if I take two or three days off and then play catch." Wada felt the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Here are a few more items from today's workout. Later, I'll post comments from pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada, who's meeting with reporters at 2:30 p.m. Double-A Bowie catcher

SARASOTA, Fla. - Japanese pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada had fluid removed from his left elbow today and he received a cortisone injection. The Orioles will know more about his condition on Tuesday. Wada apparently develops inflammation in the elbow every year around this time, so there doesn't seem to be much concern. X-rays taken today didn't reveal anything new beyond the swelling. No structural damage. "We'll let it quiet down and get him back on the mound," manager Buck Showalter said....

SARASOTA. Fla. - Following up on my earlier tweet, pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada isn't participating in today's workout. Wada reported to the facility, but apparently is dealing with some sort of an injury. Manager Buck Showalter will provide more information after the workout. Jim Johnson threw his first bullpen session at 9 a.m., and Showalter said it "went great." Zach Britton threw off flat ground again, long-tossing and simulating his delivery. Brian Roberts stretched and played catch,...