Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail received an encouraging report from head athletic trainer Richie Bancell earlier today concerning pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, who missed the home opener after being diagnosed with a form of pneumonia. "I was told there's no infection, which is good news. Nothing terribly contagious. He's doing better. All of that is a plus," MacPhail said. Guthrie is expected to remain hospitalized overnight, but could be released tomorrow. Brad...

Right-hander Chorye Spoone will be the opening night starting pitcher on Thursday at Harrisburg when the Double-A Bowie Baysox open their 19th season. Manager Gary Kendall announced his rotation at the Baysox media day at Prince George's Stadium this afternoon. Steve Johnson will pitch the second game and will be followed by Rick Zagone, Tim Bascom and Eddie Gamboa. "Anytime they say you are first out of the chute, it's exciting," Spoone said. "It's not like the pressure is on you, but...

Nationals right-hander Jason Marquis won his last start at Sun Life Stadium on Aug. 30, 2010, but he has a 7.07 career ERA in South Florida. Marquis hopes to repeat the most recent past as he takes the mound in his season debut tonight against the Florida Marlins. Marquis was very disappointed at the start he had to the 2010 season, and was determined in the offseason to put in the work necessary to come in ready to go in camp. Last season was Marquis' first losing campaign since 2006, going...

The online community for the Baltimore Orioles is a passionate and relatively tight-knit bunch. We comment on each other's blogs, we follow each other on Twitter and we never stop talking about the O's. Because of this it can be hard to have the proper perspective on the team's fan base as a whole. There are, of course, a lot of things to be excited about as an O's fan: The offseason acquisitions changed the look of the lineup, the young players are a valid reason for hope and we have our...

The most important development for the Washington Nationals this season won't take place on the field. With no disrespect to an up-and-coming middle infield, a $126 million dollar man in right field or the growth of a potential All-Star phasing out one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, the biggest story to watch this season will take place in doctor's offices and on minor league fields across the mid-Atlantic. As much as Nats fans want to see a winner in Nationals Park in 2011,...

My one shining moment came when I missed the first half of last night's UConn-Butler game. What a stinker. I've seen better basketball at the local Y. Jeremy Guthrie is remaining in good spirits despite missing the Orioles' home opener. He tweeted the following last night: "Initially thought I had BieberFever but turns out I have pneumonia. Feeling better but got myself an overnight stay at hospital. Go #Orioles." You can follow him: @JGuthrie46. And myself, of course: @masnRoch....

Matt Wieters has gotten a bit of heat for how he's fared early on in his major league career. You might be aware of this by now. Following a 2010 season in which Wieters hit just .249 with 11 home runs and 55 RBIs, some baseball publications were already calling him a bust, and analysts and scouts might have been left wondering whether they'd missed on a can't-miss prospect. Well, just four games into the 2011 season, it's already clear how much of a factor the Orioles' young catcher is...

I guess we could look at this as a positive for the Orioles. They are 4-0 right now and have scored just 17 runs with a team batting average of .237 and slugging percentage of .351. Derrek Lee and Vlad Guerrero have a combined .167 batting average with no homers, no RBIs and no extra-base hits. Lee was limited to just 22 spring training at-bats over eight games due to injuries, but feels he is starting to get close to producing some of the offense he was signed to deliver for this...

Jake Arrieta got tested early in the Orioles home opening win, 5-1, over Detroit today. Three times in the first five innings, he faced Tigers cleanup hitter Miguel Cabrera with at least one man on base. Cabrera, who entered batting .455 with two homers and five RBIs, was retired each time. In the third, Cabrera came up in a 1-1 game with runners on second and third and two outs. Arrieta could have pitched around him or walked him, but instead got him to line out to left. "Not really...

I can't pack up and leave the press box without passing along manager Buck Showalter's thoughts on catching the ceremonial first pitch from Earl Weaver and watching the video tribute to Ernie Tyler, who passed away in February. "Looking at the emotion in Earl there and how much he means to the people here in Baltimore and how special the time was that he allowed us to spend with him in spring training...there's a lot of vinegar there," Showalter said. "You can tell how much the Orioles...