PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Seven months after having a bone spur removed from his right elbow, Jake Arrieta says he's never felt better. The results today backed up that claim. Arrieta didn't allow a ball out of the infield in two innings and topped out at 97 mph multiple times. He walked one batter, struck out one and threw 17 of his 24 pitches for strikes. "I'm very happy," he said. "That's really the best I've felt, not only this year in spring training, but I think in my professional...

In the span of just a couple seconds, everything changed for Drew Storen. He was no longer Drew Storen, major league closer. He was "Tinkerbell." Unfortunately. "This is the worst nickname in history," Storen said with a wry smile. The nickname didn't come from a teammate or an opponent trying to get a rise out of Storen. The 24-year-old can thank his manager for the constant stream of jokes that might be heading his way over the course of the next few months. Nationals manager Davey...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold was hit on the left side of his face by a pitch from Rays starter Alex Cobb in the top of the first inning. Reimold grabbed his head and fell to the ground. He laid on his stomach as head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter rushed on the field. Reimold stayed down for several minutes before finally sitting up. He stood up under his own power and didn't appear to be bleeding, and he rode on the back of a cart to...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Travis Adair, the son of Orioles pitching coach Rick Adair, has been hit in the head three times this spring. Fortunately, he seems to be fine, but he must be questioning his luck. The latest incident took place last night on a pickoff throw at first base. Adair dived back into the bag and ... bam. Adair was hit by a line drive in batting practice before Monday's exhibition-opener against the Rays. He also was nailed by a throw at second base on a stolen base during an...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - Reliever Matt Lindstrom was scratched from Saturday's game against the Phillies in Clearwater because of lower-back discomfort. Manager Buck Showalter said four or five players are dealing with the same health issue, including third baseman Mark Reynolds and catcher Taylor Teagarden. They've being pushed back a day. Teagarden was supposed to catch today, but John Hester gets the start. Showalter is hoping it's just the usual camp soreness. (Showalter was including...

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - I arrived at the Tampa Bay Rays' spring complex ahead of the Orioles' bus this morning. It's one of our shortest drives. I made it from Sarasota in under an hour. The Rays are on the field for batting practice. Though I'm sitting in the third-level press box, I'm pretty sure I spotted former Oriole Luke Scott playing catch in the outfield. The rifle and deer carcass gave him away. Seriously though ... Nick Johnson will make his first start at first base today...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Johnson will play his first game at first base today, as the Orioles travel to Port Charlotte to face the Tampa Bay Rays for the second time this spring. We'll also see Jake Arrieta for the first time. For the Orioles: Endy Chavez RF Robert Andino 2B Nick Johnson 1B Chris Davis DH Nolan Reimold LF Ryan Flaherty SS Josh Bell 3B Xavier Avery CF John Hester C Jake Arrieta RHP

VIERA, Fla. - On practically any other team, Ross Detwiler would be spending his spring competing for a spot in the starting rotation. Unfortunately for the lefty, that's not the case here. When you're part of a pitching staff that features Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson, Chien-Ming Wang and John Lannan, you're likely to find yourself stuck in the bullpen, fighting for whatever innings are left over. That's the case with Detwiler, the No. 6 overall pick...

Trying to predict how many games the Orioles will win this year is a dicey proposition. If some of their young players take steps forward and the team has a healthy year, maybe they approach or even better a .500 mark. But if some of the opposite occurs and the team once again gets overwhelmed by its American League East rivals, the 2012 Orioles could approach or reach 100 losses. That seems to be a big swing from the most optimistic outlook to the most dire. By the way, just twice in club...

VIERA, Fla. - Davey Johnson has said it multiple times throughout the first few weeks of Nationals spring training, and he said it again after today's win over the Astros: He likes what Brett Carroll brings to the table. Carroll, a 29-year-old utilityman who has just a .203 career average in 175 major league games, continues to impress his manager this spring. He boosted his Grapefruit League average to .417 by going 1-for-2 with a double and two walks today. Carroll also scored a run and...