So here we are, exactly three weeks from the day when pitchers and catchers hold their first workout at the spring training complex in Sarasota, Fla. The roster won't be set until the Orioles secure another starting pitcher and left-handed reliever. They could add another bat, perhaps for the bench, though Vladimir Guerrero will continue to cast a large shadow until he finds a home. You would expect more interest in a guy who hit .300 with 29 homers and 115 RBIs last season. Is he still...

Nationals pitcher Craig Stammen has spent most of his time this offseason working out in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, or here in Washington as he gets ready for spring training next month. The right-hander feels very good after a successful transition to the bullpen in the second half of 2010. "I have been in D.C. more than in the past," Stammen said. "I have been able to work with our strength coach, John Philbin, and get all my stuff done. It has been good. I feel like I have my body...

Starting the countdown to FanFest and spring training with a look around the AL East. Color me surprised by Tampa After years of watching the Tampa Bay Rays build an impressive franchise by signing and developing young talent as well as anyone, it was interesting to see their latest additions. Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez on the Rays? What is the AL East coming to? Maybe Andy Pettitte will sign with them too. Rays fans are going to notice a drastic difference in their left field defense...

I am not even sure which exact year it took place. I think it was the 2005 or maybe the 2006 season. But it was in Staten Island, N.Y., one night where I got to share a broadcast booth for a while with Keith Olbermann. Yes, this is another one of Steve's minor league stories. I was broadcasting Aberdeen IronBirds games and the Birds were on the road playing in the beautiful Richmond County Bank Ballpark against the Staten Island Yankees. The park provided an amazing view of Manhatten and it...

We can't let the morning escape without another Vladimir Guerrero update. This one barely qualifies, but SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted that the Orioles and Guerrero haven't talked in two weeks. Again, the Orioles could end up with Guerrero simply because he's lounging in the bargain bin and the discount is too good to ignore, but nothing appears to be imminent. Perhaps that one phone call that changes everything is made this week, but it won't mean that the Orioles were "close" a few...

What is that game we played as kids, was it musical chairs? You know where you dive for the seat as the music stops. At the end there is one kid and one chair. Is Vlad Guerrero the kid and are the Orioles the chair? Is what seemed like a remote possibility now more likely after yesterday's other moves in baseball? If reader response on our blogs here and other message boards and call-in shows is any barometer, it seems a lot of fans are clamoring for this to happen. There is nothing wrong...

I went to bed a little less confident that the Orioles were passing on Vladimir Guerrero as the day's events unfolded. Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez signed with the Rays as part of a unique Scott Boras package deal, and the Blue Jays traded Vernon Wells to the Angels for Mike Napoli and Juan Rivera. The Rays and Blue Jays became the latest teams to eliminate Guerrero. At first glance, the Angels would still appear to have room for the veteran designated hitter, since Wells is an outfielder,...

In an e-mail this morning, O's president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail responded to a report that the Orioles are close to signing slugger Vladimir Guerrero. "Report is not accurate," MacPhail wrote to MASNSports.com. Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio reported last night, via Twitter, that Guerrero was close to accepting a deal from the Orioles. Guerrero, who turns 36 in February, hit .300-29-115 last year with Texas and is a free agent. He finished fourth in the American League in...

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche has been known as a very consistent hitter and a solid defensive performer who had trouble at the plate early on each season. That was the trend until last season when he had an unusually strong start with the Arizona Diamondbacks. So what did he change last year to get off on the right foot? "Absolutely nothing," LaRoche said last week. But LaRoche is definitely aware of his career numbers. "Obviously, early on, it got frustrating having a slow start...

On Monday, the Nationals will open up spring training ticket sales to fans who've registered to receive "Nationals Insider" e-mail updates. The opportunity allows fans to purchase spring training tickets a week before the general public. The presale starts on Monday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. and ends on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at noon. A limited number of tickets for the March 12 game against the Yankees will be available in the presale. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Saturday,...