Continuing yesterday's blog entry about Chad Moeller talking at length to pitcher Chris Tillman after the right-hander's bullpen session, the veteran catcher told me the following: "There was nothing specific. It's always a matter of what I'm seeing, and also encouragement for him or to point out something that I may have seen that I didn't like. And in his case, there's nothing I saw that I didn't like. "I wanted to see how his cutter looked, and I was pleased with what it looked...

Garrett Atkins and Luke Scott have reported to camp. Chris Tillman was removed from the field after experiencing back spasms, but it wasn't his day to throw. He's expected to be fine. Tillman's back tightened up after yesterday's session. Koji Uehara bounced some throws in front of catcher Craig Tatum during his session, but Tatum blocked each one cleanly. You can focus on the positive or the negative of that last sentence. Alfredo Simon's velocity was outstanding. It's hard to...

Pitcher Chris Tillman expects to throw his next bullpen session tomorrow and said he came off the field this morning "as a precaution" after experiencing some back spasms. "I could have participated 100 percent today," he said. Tillman said he fell asleep on a couch yesterday, which might have caused the tightness in his back. He's experienced spasms in the past. Tillman didn't fall behind the other pitchers, since this wasn't his day to throw. Brad Bergesen made 35 throws off flat...

Brian Roberts is in town, though I haven't seen him. His agent, Mark Pieper, visited camp today. Scott Moore will take ground balls at third base and first base in the early days of camp. Manager Dave Trembley said he'll decide later whether Moore shifts to other positions. Robert Andino and Justin Turner will play third, second and shortstop. Andino also will take fly balls in the outfield. Trembley noted that Brad Bergesen is "probably very close" to getting on the mound. "He's...

As new first baseman Garrett Atkins finished a brief session with reporters in front of his locker, he spotted hitting coach Terry Crowley walking across the clubhouse. "Hey Crow," he yelled, his voice raised for the first time. Atkins wanted to know when they could meet in the indoor batting cage. Crowley, never one to put off such a request, replied, "How about right now?" And so it begins. Crowley will try to correct whatever flaws might have contributed to Atkins' disappointing...

Let's just start with the important stuff. Go ahead and mark off June 19, July 31 and August 28th as can't-miss games for 2010. Those will be the three Bobblehead giveaways featuring Ryan Zimmerman, Nyjer Morgan and a "fan choice" respectively. On Thursday, the Nationals announced an entire slate of promotional giveaways and special discounts for the 2010 season. In addition the popular bobblehead giveaways, the Nationals will also have six T-Shirt Tuesdays. Throughout the season,...

Happy Snowpocalypse! As you dig your cars out, shovel your sidewalks and prepare for another big storm tomorrow, take a guess at this week's Where at Nats Park challenge. Good luck, stay warm and remember -- pitchers and catchers report to Florida in just over a week. Answer: "N" from Nationals lettering above the Home Plate Gate. Good work!

...a project for a snowy day. On Tuesday, veteran baseball broadcaster Victor Rojas asked his Twitter followers and Facebook fans one simple question: what is baseball? Dozens and dozens of fans responded and all of the submissions are available on his blog. Many of the answers are brilliant but all of the submissions attempt to capture that special essence of the game we all struggle to define. I could hardly come up with an original response myself because no answer can quite compare to...

Jason Berken was pleased with his bullpen session today, his second since reporting to camp. Berken threw 35 pitches, most of them fastballs. But he also mixed in his changeup and breaking ball. Earlier this winter, I speculated that Berken or David Hernandez could move to the bullpen as part of the 12-man pitching staff. I'm not as confident in that arrangement now that the Orioles want to keep a left-handed specialist - assuming Will Ohman, Alberto Castillo, Mike Hinckley or Wilfrido Perez...

This Valentine's Day, Wil Nieves and his wife Yormarie have a lot to celebrate. The couple will welcome their first child in August of this year, a miracle they've been anxiously awaiting for some time. They met back in November of 2002 on a blind date. In fact, they can tell you the exact date. Nieves had just finished his rookie season with the Padres. "For me, it was love at first sight," Yormarie said. And Wil knew during those first few dates that she was "a keeper." ...