SARASOTA, Fla. - We've come full circle today. Brad Bergesen is back on the mound. Bergesen started the first exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, and he'll face the Boston Red Sox this afternoon in Sarasota. I wonder if Red Sox fans will take over Ed Smith Stadium? The players have another meeting this morning, so the clubhouse is closed to the media until batting practice ends. I'll head over to the ballpark in a few hours, once everyone is on the field. Mark...

Nationals prospects are getting up to speed (pardon the pun) at the accelerated minor league camp. Big workouts are set for today with a large group coming down on their own from every minor league team in the Nats organization. The first scrimmage is scheduled for tomorrow. The coaches have worked them out over the past two weeks and two dozen pitchers have been able to continue their winter workout programs while in Viera, Fla. "About six or seven pitchers have come down religiously each...

Here is an interesting question to ponder and debate. Do Orioles fans have higher expectations this season for Brian Matusz or Manny Machado? Matusz will, of course, pitch in the major leagues while Machado is set to begin his first full year in the O's minors. A lot is expected from both. Each are among the biggest stars currently in this organization. Matusz showed perhaps a glimpse of his future in his final eight starts last season when he went 6-0 with an ERA of 1.57. The club went 8-0...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Break up the Orioles! They won again today, getting home runs from Nolan Reimold and Jake Fox in a 6-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Left-hander Mike Ballard, who will be part of the minor league camp, made the trip here and pitched the last two innings. Ryan Strieby hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth to complete the scoring. Manager Buck Showalter thinks it's unfair that Jake Arrieta is charged with an earned run after shortstop Nick Green lost Brennan...

Jake Fox hit his second spring home run, a two-run shot off Tigers right-hander Alberto Alburquerque in the eighth inning. Orioles 5, Tigers 1. Fox came into the game batting .571. He was 0-for-3 before this at-bat. Robert Andino walked before Fox stepped to the plate and deposited a ball on the hill beyond the left field fence. Nolan Reimold walked and Josh Bell reached on an infield hit. Tough inning for Alburquerque. Update: It got a lot tougher. Alburquerque threw a wild pitch while...

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Orioles were being shut out on one hit going into the top of the sixth inning, but not any more. Randy Winn singled and Brendan Harris walked to open the inning. Charlie Furbush retired the next two batters, but Nolan Reimold launched the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead. Reimold got all of that one. Reimold also homered in the exhibition opener against the Pirates in Bradenton. Jason Berken has replaced David Riske in the...

LAKELAND, Fla. - It started to rain in the top of the fifth, but it's already clearing up as we approach the bottom half of the inning. Welcome to Florida. The Orioles still trail the Tigers 1-0 as David Riske enters the game. They have one hit - Cesar Izturis' bloop single - and back-to-back walks by Josh Bell and Nick Green in the fifth. Bell stole second with Green at the plate. Ryan Drese allowed one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings. Towson University's Casper Wells...

Jake Arrieta is charged with one run and two hits in two innings. He also walked two batters. Arrieta threw 33 pitches, 17 for strikes. The Tigers' run scored when shortstop Nick Green misplayed Brennan Boesch's pop-up for a hit with two outs in the first inning. Detroit starter Rick Porcello retired the first eight Orioles before Cesar Izturis' bloop single into left field. Randy Winn swung at the next pitch and bounced into a force. Ryan Drese has entered the game in the top of the...

LAKELAND, Fla. - First baseman Derrek Lee's debut with the Orioles is being delayed because of some mild tenderness in his right wrist. Lee's thumb is fine, according to manager Buck Showalter. The wrist is a little tender, so the club will give him another day and re-evaluate him on Sunday. Lee hit soft toss today. Also, Brian Matusz had the wart removed from his left middle finger this morning in Philadelphia. Showalter estimated that Matusz could resume throwing in three or four days,...

LAKELAND, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer arrived at the Ed Smith Stadium complex as I was heading to my car for the drive to Lakeland. Duchscherer said he's having a "light day" today. Sounds like he might play catch and receive more treatment on his left hip. Duchscherer hopes to throw live batting practice tomorrow. He threw off the half mound and regular mound yesterday. Assuming he makes it through the session without any glitches, he could appear in his first game early next week....