SARASOTA, Fla. - Derrek Lee took batting practice for the third straight day as he draws closer to playing in his first exhibition game. Lee can't pinpoint when he'll debut for the Orioles, but his surgically repaired right thumb is responding well to the BP sessions and fielding drills. "Hopefully soon," he said. "Today was the third day in a row hitting off coaches and it's still feeling good. I don't see a reason to keep delaying it. I'm still going to be cautious, but I'm...

SARASOTA, Fla. - A light rain is falling at the newly refurbished Ed Smith Stadium as the Orioles take batting practice. Not a drop the entire time we've been here until today. Naturally. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't provided an exact date when first baseman Derrek Lee will make his Orioles' debut in an exhibition game. He's mostly leaving it up to Lee, who continues to take batting practice and participate in fielding drills. "I don't think anything's imminent," Showalter said....

SARASOTA, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer remains encouraged by the condition of his left hip this morning. "Everything was OK yesterday," he said. "It's one of those weird things where guys who have surgery and come back might have a day or two where they just feel concerned, worried. So far, since the other day, everything's felt fine. I threw off flat ground, and they have a half mound, and everything was fine. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it was just a one-day cranky...

As Brandon Erbe continues to progress from his surgery last August to repair a torn labrum, he can turn to Chorye Spoone for advice. A fellow Maryland native, Spoone had shoulder surgery in September 2008 and has pretty much made a full recovery after pitching 132 innings last summer for Double-A Bowie. "I told him there will be days when you feel like something is hurt in your arm and it hurts to throw, like during your throwing program," Spoone said. "But you need to realize that the...

Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard has taken to Twitter to poll fans on his entrance song for this season. Though Clippard hasn't started tweeting yet, teammate Drew Storen is spreading the word on his Twitter account and encouraging fans to vote in the poll. Your choices: The beloved "Peaches" tune by Presidents of the U.S.A., which Clippard used last season, or The Fugees' classic, "Ready Or Not." Fans can vote here.

In the past few years, I've posted my recommendations for travelers heading to sunny Viera, Fla. More recently, MASNsports.com's Ben Goessling offered his suggestions, too (good reading because he's the spring training pro). But I want to hear from you. Many of you have been to Nationals spring training many times. Some of you have already returned from your first trip this season. Where do you like to go? What are your favorite restaurants? Are there any can't-miss attractions that we...

BRADENTON, Fla. - With the wind blowing out to left field today, and lifting up a few houses, manager Buck Showalter had to be pleased with his pitchers. They allowed four runs, the last two on Miles Durham's homer off Josh Rupe in the bottom of the ninth that produced two unearned runs. Lyle Overbay homered off left-hander Clay Rapada in the fifth inning. "Rapada had as good an inning as anybody and gave up (a home run)," manager Buck Showalter said. "You've got to look at the...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer has a lot to learn about being shut down for 48 hours. After playing catch yesterday, Duchscherer threw off flat ground, a flat mound and a half mound this morning in Sarasota. Manager Buck Showalter stayed back to watch before heading to Bradenton for the Orioles' 6-4 victory over the Pirates. Showalter said that Duchscherer was throwing with "some hops" on the half mound and didn't have any discomfort in his left hip. Duchscherer will take off...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Brendan Harris doubled with the bases loaded to score two runs in the top of the eighth, and Robert Andino followed with a sacrifice fly to increase the Orioles' lead to 6-2. Does this make you feel any better about the 1979 World Series? What about '71? Same here. I'm still bitter. Nolan Reimold has homered and walked three times. He raced home on Harris' double to right-center field. As I mentioned earlier, Vladimir Guerrero went 2-for-3 in his Orioles' debut. When...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Craig Tatum's infield single produced another run in the sixth inning and increased the Orioles' lead to 3-1. Matt Angle crashed into the center field fence while running down a long drive in the bottom of the sixth. He collapsed to the ground after making the throw, but he stayed in the game. Koji Uehara ran the count full to the leadoff hitter, Jose Tabata, and gave up a single into center field. Must be the first exhibition game. A run scored off Uehara with two...