SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex to introduce Vladimir Guerrero, who passed his physical and signed a one-year, $8 million deal. As expected, the Orioles moved Alfredo Simon to the restricted list to make room for the nine-time All-Star, who will serve as the cleanup hitter and regular designated hitter. Guerrero isn't likely to play the outfield in Grapefruit League games, but manager Buck Showalter will have to figure...

The interview with ESPN.com's Keith Law and some of his quotes published here last week certainly got some fans stirred up. I had mentioned that this week I would publish the entire interview here and now is the time. Since it takes a lot of words to read through a 17-minute interview, I will publish it in two posts. The second one will follow this by a few hours. Some of these quotes you read before, some you have not seen. This time I am just publishing the entire interview, questions and...

All you have to do is get to the sixth or seventh inning. That is what successful pitching staffs can do and that separates them from the have nots. Imagine if that was all the starters had to do: just go six or seven. With the Nationals bullpen a position of strength last season, general manager Mike Rizzo hopes the pieces he has added to the staff in the offseason can solidify the relief corps to be even stronger this season. Rizzo wants them to be so good that games feel abbreviated to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Craig Tatum knows what it's like to arrive in camp with expectations for him that are lower than the contents of Miguel Cabrera's scotch bottle. Tatum wasn't supposed to beat out Chad Moeller last spring for the backup job behind starting catcher Matt Wieters, but he did it. And that explains why Tatum hasn't grown too comfortable despite being the incumbent. Tatum's stiffest challenge comes from Jake Fox, who also can play the corner infield positions and left field....

There is another article out today on the Frederick Keys' unsettled lease situation that I have written about previously. Click here for an update from Baseball America's Josh Leventhal. The city of Frederick is expected to accept bids on the 2012 lease through April 15 and an Atlantic League team is expected to bid to basically try to move in on the Keys' turf in a move that could potentially push the Keys out of Frederick. The article quotes Keys' owner Ken Young saying: "We need to...

Do you know a woman who has gone to bat against breast cancer? Major League Baseball and Susan G. Komen for the Cure are again teaming up to honor and celebrate extraordinary women across the country who have battled breast cancer. To enter, fans can submit stories about how they've battled or overcome breast cancer. You can also sort through the inspiring stories and vote for your favorite candidates. The winners will serve as honorary bat girls during Major League Baseball's Mother's...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter had some flattering observations about catcher Matt Wieters, who seems to be everybody's choice to have a breakout season. "You can just tell by his face a little bit, Matt takes everything personal with the pitching staff," Showalter said. "Everybody I've talked to, and I've talked to a lot of people who have had him, whether it's minor league managers or coaches or college coaches, say that Matt was not only a good player, obviously, but...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitcher Mitch Atkins is dealing with a strained left oblique, and Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario was sent home again today with a slight fever. Luis Lebron threw another bullpen session today, and his pitches were much crisper. Manager Buck Showalter also noted that Lebron walked off the mound with a smile on his face. Vladimir Guerrero isn't likely to play the outfield in exhibition games. "I don't have any plans to do it right now," Showalter said. Guerrero has made it...

With the news coming out of Sarasota this week that Brandon Snyder will put the catching gear back on for a look at that spot in the big league camp, it reminds me of a topic we've discussed here before: defensive versatility in the O's minor leagues. We began to see some of it last summer. This year, we should see players at times playing somewhere that would not normally be their regular position. For instance, first baseman Joe Mahoney played four games in the outfield at Single-A...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Vladimir Guerrero is sitting at his locker this morning. The results of his physical could be obtained later today, but he's still scheduled to be introduced to the media tomorrow. In the meantime, he'll hit the weights and enjoy the rest of his day. It's an abbreviated workout today. Manager Buck Showalter and a group of players are participating in Jim Johnson's charity golf tournament, so we'll be wrapping up before noon. I can hit the weights and enjoy the rest of...