Well, it wasn't Keith Law this time. A frequent critic of the Orioles over the years, Ken Rosenthal takes a few pokes at the team in a column today. The former Baltimore Sun reporter and columnist, who now works for Fox Sports and MLB Network, makes some valid points and remains, in my opinion, one of the top writers/analysts that covers the game. However, Rosenthal does seem to often have a little extra zing or two heading the O's way. To me, the timing of today's posting, on the same...

Chase Utley's injury has dominated news out of the Phillies camp in Clearwater, Fla., early in March, according to Matt Gelb, who covers the team for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Utley is nursing patellar tendinitis in his right knee, and the team is not sure when he is going to play. A few Nationals fans wonder if the Phillies miss Jayson Werth so far in spring training? Former Phillies standout Mike Schmidt thinks they are going to really miss him, but Gelb says for most of the players,...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter gave today a passing grade. A nice ceremony before the first pitch to celebrate a refurbished Ed Smith Stadium, and an inspired power display that triggered a 12-6 victory over the Rays. Who could complain? "I'm glad that the weather held out for us," Showalter said. "It was a lot of fun. You couldn't have scripted it much better. It was a good start for the ballpark and everything. The organization and the city of Sarasota put a lot of time and...

Opening day 2010 remains one of the worst, most painful memories for Nationals fans in this team's brief history. When thousands upon thousands of Phillies fans marched into Nationals Park last April and declared it their southern headquarters, Nationals fans were outraged. Phillies fans were unapologetic about their stunt, suggesting that if Nationals fans truly cared about their team, they'd show up night after night. This season, Nationals fans have an opportunity to drown out those...

Orioles managing partner Peter G. Angelos took in today's home exhibition opener in the renovated Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., and spent a few minutes chatting with WBAL-AM announcers Joe Angel and Fred Manfra during the top of the eighth inning during broadcast of the game. "We always like the club in the beginning of the season," Angelos said, referring to the O's victory in their Grapefruit League opener Monday and a 12-6 lead over Tampa Bay on Tuesday. "Hopefully, this will be...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today's attendance: 7,497. That's a record for Ed Smith Stadium. Jason Berken gave up two runs in the top of the seventh inning while I was waiting for Nick Markakis in the clubhouse. That's what happens when I leave my seat. The Orioles held a 10-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh until Brandon Snyder doubled to score two runs. Make it 12-6. David Riske only retired two batters in the sixth. He allowed the back-to-back homers to Manny Ramirez and B.J. Upton, and Casey...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Here are some quotes from Jeremy Guthrie, who retired all six batters he faced today: On his outing: "Everything felt like it left off at the end of last season, so that's good. I haven't thrown a strike in five months, so it's nice to go out there and be able to do that. Work ahead. The command wasn't tremendous, but I told Matt (Wieters) we would work on corners the next couple times, I guess. We worked on strikes." On the offensive outburst: "The guys are taking...

SARASOTA, Fla. - First base coach Wayne Kirby walked over to Nick Markakis this morning and asked whether the right fielder was ready to go to work after he stayed back in camp yesterday while the Orioles opened their exhibition schedule in Brandenton. Markakis responded with a nod and a fist bump. Boy, was he ready. Markakis has homered twice, singled and driven in four runs through four innings. He connected twice off Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine and lined an RBI single off reliever...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Fox just unloaded on Andy Sonnanstine, figuring that the Rays' starter is fair game today. Fox, batting ninth today, homered to left-center field on the first pitch thrown to him. Orioles 5, Rays 0. Matt Wieters flied to left before Fox stepped to the plate. Fox is starting at first base today. He's trying to make the club as the backup catcher or second utility infielder. Just as I was going to send this entry, Nick Markakis launched his second home run in two...

SARASOTA, Fla. - I almost forgot that a game was being played today. Brian Roberts singled off Rays starter Andy Sonnanstine in his first spring at-bat, and Nick Markakis followed with a home run to right field on a 1-1 pitch. One out later, Vladimir Guerrero crushed the first pitch thrown to him. The ball cleared the left-center field fence in about three seconds. Orioles 3, Rays 0. Update: Adam Jones just cleared the seats in the party deck beyond the left field fence. That's three...