SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Taylor Teagarden still hasn't been cleared to start baseball-related activities after receiving an epidural on March 14 to alleviate the pain in his lower back. Teagarden said he hasn't been given a timetable. "Everything depends on how I respond," he said. "The doctor told me it could be two weeks longer or it could be two weeks shorter. It all depends on how I'm responding. "There's no need to rush anything when you're dealing with a back injury. We're...

SARASOTA, Fla. - There's a new pitcher sitting in catchers row, and he's trying to adapt to a new team and a new role. Dontrelle Willis said he arrived here about three hours ago, already passed his physical and is ready to start working out. The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract five days after the Phillies released him and will continue his conversion to relief pitcher. "The opportunity was definitely good and I've played with a bunch of these guys and against these guys, so...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Tommy Hunter is making his first start today in a Grapefruit League game. Also, Adam Jones is batting fourth again today. Should we read anything into it? For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF J.J. Hardy SS Wilson Betemit 1B Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters C Mark Reynolds 3B Nolan Reimold LF Chris Davis DH Robert Andino 2B Tommy Hunter RHP Dontrelle Willis arrived here three hours ago and already took his physical. He'll wear No. 25. Willis confirmed that he'll be used as a...

VIERA, Fla. - Prior to the start of spring training, if I had told you that Craig Stammen would be leading the Nationals in strikeouts nearly three weeks into the Grapefruit League season, would you have believed me? If I had told you that Stephen Strasburg would have only one fewer hit than both Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche with 17 spring games in the books, would you have thought I was insane? In this game, you just never know what will happen on any given day. Another thing you never...

Here is an obvious statement: The Orioles need more production out of the No. 4 spot in their batting order this year. The Orioles got 65 RBIs out of that batting order position last year to rank dead last in the American League. By comparison, the Yankees and Red Sox rated first and second in the AL in four-hole RBIs with 118 and 116, respectively. We all know the Orioles don't have a legit cleanup batter on the team or that feared slugger that many fans ask about. This could be a season...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Nationals were shut out and only registered five hits in tonight's 2-0 loss to the Mets, but that means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Much more important was the strong outing turned in by Stephen Strasburg, who took a major step forward in his spring development tonight, throwing five innings, allowing just one run on two hits, striking out three and working his pitch count up to 85. It was by far the best start of Strasburg's spring. After allowing...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Stephen Strasburg had an eventful first few innings here at Digital Domain Park, dodging the shard of a broken bat, smoking a line drive to the opposite field and beating out an infield single. He does it all, folks. On the mound, Strasburg completed five innings tonight, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three in his finest outing of spring. He threw 85 pitches, 53 for strikes. Unlike in his past starts, where he came out overthrowing, Strasburg...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - It's been nearly two weeks since Drew Storen last threw in a Grapefruit League game, but the Nationals say their closer is fine. He's just battling a case of strep throat and some soreness which the Nats say is normal. Storen has thrown just two innings this spring, his last coming March 7. "Other than the usual pitching soreness that you have during spring training, he's fine," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "He's a little under the weather the last four or...

SARASOTA, Fla. - In their never-ending search for more starting pitching, the Orioles apparently are on the verge of signing left-hander Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract. The Phillies released Willis last week after he allowed five runs and five hits, and walked four batters, in 2 2/3 innings. Executive vice president Dan Duquette confirmed that the Orioles are working on a minor league deal, but he didn't offer any specifics. Asked if the deal would include a late spring...

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Just prior to first pitch here tonight, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo met with reporters to discuss the decision to option outfielder Bryce Harper to Triple-A Syracuse. Rizzo said that he and the rest of the Nationals brass were impressed with what they saw from Harper in spring, but wanted to give him a chance to refine his skills in the minors before getting a chance to play every day in the bigs. "We felt that he could use the at-bats down at Triple-A,"...