VIERA, Fla. - The first stage of spring training is now behind us. You know, the stage where each starting pitcher goes out and fires two or three innings, and then says he felt good regardless of the results. "Oh, I gave up six runs in two innings? I was just trying to throw strikes, so mission accomplished." "My curveball looked flat? Well I just wanted to get a feel for the ball again." So far, Nationals starters have needed to make very few excuses. The quintet of hurlers who have...

Outfielder Brett Carroll has bounced around a lot the last couple of seasons, so he is thrilled with the chance to impress on one team this spring training and work to secure a spot on the Nationals' 25-man roster. "The last four years I have been up and down in that fourth outfield role," the 29-year old Carroll said. "It has been a great experience, a blessing and it's been a grind. It was a lot of learning. There is a lot of adversity through that kind of role when you are used to...

There is a theory out there that the Orioles have rushed some of their prospects too fast to the big leagues in recent years and that is one key reason why some of that young talent may have struggled at times in the majors. One thing to note here is that all players are different in some way, so an organization can have a general philosophy about promoting players in the minor leagues, but they also surely realize that some players can be moved faster than others. Two of those players for...

VIERA, Fla. - Davey Johnson hopped out of the dugout with a few innings left in this afternoon's game with the Cardinals and told home plate umpire Gary Cederstrom that he only had enough pitching to last nine innings. Cederstrom informed Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who agreed to end the game after nine innings if the two teams happened to be locked in a tie. That's exactly how things played out. Catcher Carlos Maldonado blasted a two-run home run off Cardinals righty Lance Lynn in...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter told reporters that Nick Markakis ran sprints today for the first time and continues to feel good. He's making a nice recovery from the abdominal surgery and continues to believe that he'll be ready by opening day. As Showalter loves to say, "So far, so good." "That's a good sign," he said. Nick Johnson will play first base tomorrow. Showalter noted that Wei-Yin Chen had "a little bit better command" today. "It's part of the progression...

VIERA, Fla. - All three of Jordan Zimmermann's strikeouts during his three scoreless innings this afternoon came on sliders. But while the slider was working today, the Nationals' starter was less than thrilled with his fastball command in his spring training debut. "I felt OK," Zimmermann said. "I had a rough time locating the fastball today, but I threw some good ones when I needed to. The breaking pitches were pretty good. It's tough to throw them in this wind, but the ones I did...

VIERA, Fla. - Much like ligament replacement surgery in the elbow is named after a pitcher who underwent such a procedure, Mark DeRosa thinks wrist surgeries should have his name attached to them. "They named Tommy John (surgery) after him," DeRosa joked. DeRosa has probably earned that right. His left wrist has been under the knife enough times that the 37-year-old could probably perform the procedure on himself if he needed it again at any point down the road. Good thing DeRosa's a...

The Orioles and OriolesREACH have announced a series of upcoming youth initiatives in the Sarasota area and at Ed Smith Stadium. On Friday, March 9, the Oriole Bird will fly to Tuttle Elementary School to participate in the Tuttle Turtle's Walk to help students raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Tuttle Elementary is located just across the street from Ed Smith Stadium, at 2863 8th Street. On Saturday, March 10, current and former Orioles players and coaches, including...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Wei-Yin Chen seemed more relaxed today in his exhibition debut against the Minnesota Twins. It didn't matter that a crowd was watching. Pitching in front of empty seats for the intrasquad game didn't do much to soothe his nerves. "Last time, I didn't feel comfortable on the mound, but today I adjusted a lot and I felt more confident to throw the ball to Matt (Wieters)," Chen said through his interpreter after blanking the Twins on one hit and striking out three in two...

VIERA, Fla. - These Nationals starters keep matching each other. It'd be nice if they can do it when the games count, as well, but manager Davey Johnson will take strong innings anytime he can get them. Jordan Zimmermann is done after three scoreless frames this afternoon. The righty allowed three hits and a walk and hit a batter, but struck out three, including a third-inning punch-out of Cardinals third baseman Eugenio Velez on a filthy slider. Zimmermann threw 44 pitches, 25 of which...