SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles reliever Kevin Gregg hasn't pitched since last Sunday's B game, when he threw one inning and gave up a home run, but he'll take the mound Saturday against the Red Sox in Sarasota. The Orioles have split-squad games that day, but he'll avoid the trip to Fort Myers. Gregg insists that he's fine physically, though he's only appeared in two Grapefruit League games. He threw in the bullpen yesterday while the Orioles traveled to Lakeland. "I'm getting off the...

VIERA, Fla. - I swung by Space Coast Stadium quickly before leaving for Tampa hoping to bump into Chien-Ming Wang in the locker room - not too forcefully, of course - but no such luck. Wang's injured hamstring was getting attention from the Nationals' training staff, so we'll have to wait until talking with manager Davey Johnson before getting any news on Wang's status. Left fielder Michael Morse (lat strain) and catcher Wilson Ramos (foot) are both on the trip to Tampa, indicating that...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Chris Tillman and Dana Eveland take the mound today, though not at the same time, when the Orioles travel to Fort Myers to play the Minnesota Twins. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Wilson Betemit LF J.J. Hardy SS Chris Davis 1B Adam Jones CF Mark Reynolds 3B Ronny Paulino DH Jai Miller RF John Hester C Chris Tillman RHP

When Baseball America recently ranked its top prospects, the Orioles placed three players in the top 100, with Dylan Bundy at No. 10, Manny Machado at No. 11 and Jonathan Schoop at No. 82. No other Orioles minor league players came close to cracking that top 100 and most analysts consider the O's farm system somewhat top heavy with the elite top two prospects heading up the farm and no one after that - save for Schoop - rated very highly. It's a system lacking in high-end prospects. But the...

SARASOTA, Fla. - If you haven't seen Brad Bergesen pitch in a while, you're going to notice a change in his delivery. My older readers might be reminded of Luis Tiant. Bergesen is reminded of the way he used to throw. Bergesen has added a twist that momentarily leaves his back turned to the hitter. It's an element of deception that makes it a little harder for the batters to pick up the ball. In three appearances this spring, Bergesen has allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings....

VIERA, Fla. - I wouldn't want to have been in Roger Berndina's shoes lately. Within the last week, the Nationals outfielder has been drilled by a pitch directly on his elbow, had a tooth pulled and gotten hit by another pitch just above the same elbow. Can't the baseball gods pick on somebody else for a while? Bernadina was a late scratch from last night's game against the Braves because he was still feeling light-headed as a result of having the tooth pulled. He shook off any lingering...

VIERA, Fla. - Shortly after today's 8-5 loss to the Yankees, the Nationals made four roster moves, optioning right-handed pitcher Yunesky Maya to Triple-A Syracuse and outfielder Eury Perez to Double-A Harrisburg and reassigning right-handers Jeff Fulchino and Waldis Joaquin to minor league camp. The moves leave the Nats with 41 players in their big league camp. By the time the roster moves had been announced, Chien-Ming Wang was gone, the right-handed starter having been taken off-site for...

The Washington Nationals today optioned right-handed pitcher Yunesky Maya to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and outfielder Eury Perez to Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Additionally, the Nationals reassigned right-handed pitchers Jeff Fulchino and Waldis Joaquin to minor-league camp. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements. The Nationals currently have 41 players in their big league camp.

LAKELAND, Fla. - Miguel Socolovich came out of today's game against the Tigers with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning because of tightness in his groin. Jon Link allowed all three inherited runners to score, and Socolovich was charged with the loss. "He wanted to continue, but we're not going to take the chance," manager Buck Showalter said after a 4-2 loss. "We had enough pitchers we brought with us." Socolovich joins the groin gang in camp. They'll eventually rumble...

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after Brian Matusz left the game, and they tacked on another run in the seventh to increase their lead to 4-2 over the Orioles at Joker Marchant Stadium. Detroit loaded the bases with one out against Miguel Socolovich, and he was removed for Jon Link. Socolovich walked into the clubhouse with assistant athletic trainer Brian Ebel while reporters were interviewing Matusz. Chris Davis committed his second error...