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...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Ryan Drese retired all six batters he faced today, getting four ground balls, a fly ball and a called third strike. All three outs in the third inning came on grounders to shortstop J.J. Hardy. Andrew McCutchen almost beat out a grounder in the fourth. Cesar Izturis bobbled the ball and took his time making the throw to first. McCutchen can fly. Drese hasn't pitched in the majors since making two starts with the Nationals in 2006. He looked good today. Clay Rapada is...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Nolan Reimold just gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead over the Pirates with a long home run leading off the second inning. Reimold crushed a 1-0 pitch from left-hander Paul Maholm. There's a strong wind blowing out to left, but Reimold didn't need much help with that one. The Orioles hit three homers in yesterday's intrasquad game, though those stats aren't official. Reimold and Felix Pie could be competing for one outfield spot. Pie doubled and scored in the first, and also...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Former Pirates manager John Russell was announced as the third base coach, bringing a huge outbreak of indifference. You could have heard a pin drop - much like the crowd's reaction at every joke from last night's Oscar telecast. No applause for Russell, no jeers, nothing but absolute silence. So much for a warm homecoming. J.J. Hardy struck out looking to begin today's game. Felix Pie followed with a sharp grounder that deflected off third base and skipped into left...

A full season of summer friends, peanuts and Cracker Jacks and the highs and lows of Nationals baseball is now upon us. Whether you're excited, optimistic or cautious about the season, we can all agree that it's time to get rolling and start playing real, live Nationals baseball games. With that in mind, here's a list of television games for the Nationals this spring, including tonight's tape delayed game on MLB Network. Monday, February 28 @ 9:30 p.m. on MLB Network Sunday, March 6 @ 1...

So now we get to the next phase of spring training. The games begin. They don't count, but for the fans not heading to Sarasota, it gives them some stats, pitching lines, home runs, and wins and losses to track. Mike Hargrove used to say something about September and March being like fool's gold. A player's performance at the end of the year after the callups, or in spring training can be quite deceiving. Every year, someone hits a ton in March then can't buy a hit the first week of...