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When baseball wags talk about a "player to be named later" - and really, shouldn't it be "player to be named," since you're already talking about something that will happen in the future? - they mean an asset in a trade that's yet to be determined. In Washington, that nomenclature has a totally different meaning, since the Nationals have had to deal with the subterfuge and deception that actually caused them not to know the name of a Dominican teenager to whom they gave a $1.4 million...
MASN, the television home of the Washington Nationals, has announced its 2012 spring training schedule. The network will televise seven Nationals spring training games, and all will appear on MASN's dedicated high-definition channel, MASN HD.
The Nationals' March 4 home game against the Houston Astros in Viera, Florida, will kick off MASN's Grapefruit League coverage. MASN will broadcast four more games from Space Coast Stadium, the team's spring training home: March 13 against the...
MASN, the television home of the Baltimore Orioles, has announced its 2012 spring training schedule. The network will televise six Orioles spring training games and all will appear on MASN HD.
The Orioles' March 5 prime time Grapefruit League opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Sarasota, Florida, will kick off MASN's spring training coverage. MASN will broadcast five more games from Ed Smith Stadium, the team's spring training home: March 11 against the Boston Red Sox; March 18...
If you can't make it down to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota for spring training this year, you'll be able to watch six exhibition games from the comfort of your favorite chair or bar stool.
You can sweat the details.
MASN kicks off its Grapefruit League schedule with a March 5 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m., so we'll be under the lights. You might be under the influence, depending on where you decide to watch it.
Drink and root responsibly.
MASN will...
Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette keeps placing emphasis on improving the Orioles' on-base capabilities, and he feels that he took another step in that direction by signing infielder Wilson Betemit to a two-year deal with a vesting option for 2014.
Betemit has posted on-base percentages of .378 and .343 the past two seasons. And he's been better hitting from the left side, which also appeals to Duquette.
"We like his bat, and if you take a look at what he's done the last two...
It may be in the 50s today, but here's something guaranteed to create some additional warm feelings in NatsTown: the Nationals' 2012 spring training broadcast schedule on MASN.
Seven Nationals Grapefruit League games will be televised on MASN's dedicated high-definition channel, MASN HD, beginning with a Sunday, March 4 game from Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Fla., against the Houston Astros. All afternoon games will be replayed the same day in prime time on MASN HD.
* Sunday, March 4 at 1...
The Orioles today announced that they have signed infielder Wilson Betemit to a two-year contract with a vesting option for 2014.
Betemit, 30, batted .285/.343/.452 with eight home runs and 46 RBI in 97 games for Kansas City (57) and Detroit (40) in 2011, including a .303 average and .865 OPS in 263 plate appearances from the left side. He has batted .298/.367/.501 with 54 extra-base hits and 69 RBI in 433 at-bats against right-handed pitching in the last two seasons. Betemit owned an .871 OPS...
The Orioles made the signing of Wilson Betemit official this morning, and they cleared room for him on the 40-man roster by designating pitcher Rick VandenHurk for assignment.
VandenHurk, 26, allowed eight earned runs in nine innings over four games with the Orioles last season. He was 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 26 starts for Triple-A Norfolk.
The Orioles acquired VandenHurk from the Marlins on July 31, 2010 for left-hander Will Ohman. He's 8-10 with a 5.97 ERA in 46 major league games,...
If there is one player on the Orioles that was tracking the pitching additions executive vice president Dan Duquette made this offseason, it was catcher Matt Wieters. He will have to catch the new pitchers and, in some cases, communicate with players that speak little or no English.
"It's going to be a lot of work in spring training, that's for sure," the 25-year-old Wieters said. "Getting to know all the guys that have a chance to make the club or be up at some point during the year,...
Better prepare for the long haul - it's going to be a while before Prince Fielder comes to a decision on where he's going to play in 2012 and beyond.
To get your morning started, here are some random thoughts related to the Nationals, their pursuit of Fielder and other news in and around NatsTown:
* Fielder and agent Scott Boras are holding firm on their demand for a deal of eight years or more. That's not going to fly with the Nationals, who would prefer a shorter term - say, five or six...