Weekly Wrap: Simply Adam Jones days until opening day

Weekly Wrap: Simply Adam Jones days until opening day
I don't know if you follow us on Facebook or not, but we have been counting down the days until opening day through pictures, like the one to the right. Seeing these pictures makes me even more excited for opening day. Just 10 more days! While we're counting down, the Orioles are still in the process of making cuts and getting their roster whittled down for the start of the regular season. Although there was a lot of rain in Florida this week, Buck Showalter and the rest of the O's staff...

Weekly Wrap: First pitch and the final stretch

Weekly Wrap: First pitch and the final stretch
There are 10 days left until regular season baseball and just eight days until the Nationals take on the Tigers at Nats Park! Baseball in D.C. is so close I can taste it. Before the season can officially start, the Nats still have to whittle down their roster and figure out their starting rotation. In surprising news, Matt Williams announced that Ross Detwiler will start his season in the bullpen. Ross Ohlendorf was among the Nats' cuts this week, so it looks like the final spot in the...

Weekly Wrap: Injuries, cuts, a new baby and more

Weekly Wrap: Injuries, cuts, a new baby and more
A team's effort to get closer looks at everyone in camp while also being extremely cautious with everyday regular season players makes spring training look abnormal when compared to the actual season. If you don't know what I mean, look at the Orioles this week. After rolling his ankle in a game Tuesday, Matt Wieters was immediately removed. However, he says he would have toughed it out if it was a regular season game. Miguel Gonzalez was also told to take it easy this week after being hit...

Weekly Wrap: Replaying a busy week

Weekly Wrap: Replaying a busy week
Spring training gives the Nationals their first look of the year at pitchers, players rehabbing from injuries and more. Well, this year, it's also giving Major League Baseball teams their first look at instant replay. While veterans and regular starters are less likely to make road trips during spring games, this week the regulars all traveled to Kissimmee to face the Astros. It was there that the Nats were first given access to challenges and a glance at the new replay system. Beyond rule...

Weekly Wrap: Nats pitchers make spring debuts

Weekly Wrap: Nats pitchers make spring debuts
The Nationals have done many different drills this spring to perfect fundamentals. Pitchers have taken infield, shifts have been implemented in spring games and signs have been practiced. So when the Nats took the field for spring games, you may have thought that there would be clean plays, strong defense and low-scoring games. Then the Nats squeaked by the Braves in a game this week, and the final score was 16-15. #SpringTrainingProblems Yes, these games mean nothing, but that box score is...

Weekly Wrap: Major minor league depth

Weekly Wrap: Major minor league depth
Once again, the Orioles made national headlines this week, signing Johan Santana to a minor league deal. A seasoned veteran, Santana can bring much experience if healthy, and he is targeting June 1 as a possible date to be ready to help out the Orioles. The left-hander joins a system that is filled with talent, including many young players who are being noticed around the league. The other day, I was talking with someone about the Orioles, and one of the topics of conversation was how much...

Weekly Wrap: Cruz'ing into spring games

Weekly Wrap: Cruz'ing into spring games
Well, the Orioles haven't slowed down. After signing both Suk-min Yoon and Ubaldo Jimenez last week, the O's kept going by signing free agent slugger Nelson Cruz this week. Although Cruz was the subject of controversy after serving a suspension for his role in the Biogenesis scandal last season, many Orioles, including Chris Davis and Nick Markakis, said that they will welcome Cruz. In addition, a group of Orioles, including Markakis, Davis, Adam Jones, Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy, Matt...

Weekly Wrap: Spring training games under way

Weekly Wrap: Spring training games under way
Spring training games start today! The lineup was already posted Wednesday, with Taylor Jordan penciled in to start. On Sunday, the Nationals will play their first televised game, so be sure to tune in to MASN HD! You can see the full spring training broadcast schedule here. While we were waiting around for actual games, there was a lot of news coming out of Nats camp in Viera, Fla. Many pitchers threw successful bullpen sessions this week, including Sammy Solis, Tyler Clippard and Drew...

Weekly Wrap: Full workouts under way

Weekly Wrap: Full workouts under way
Following the lead of pitchers, all position players reported to Viera, Fla, this week, giving the Nationals a full camp. It's been a long winter, and nothing helps me get over the winter blues like baseball. Workouts are under way, meaning that there is a lot of news for Dan Kolko to report from sunny Florida. New manager Matt Williams has gotten his first look at the Nationals, including offseason acquisitions like Doug Fister and Jose Lobaton. He also got a look at reliever Jerry Blevins,...

Weekly Wrap: A week to remember

Weekly Wrap: A week to remember
What a week. After the media and fans spent most of the offseason speculating about how inactive the Orioles were, they had so much to talk about with the addition of two new pitchers this week. Suk-min Yoon was introduced to the media Tuesday. While Yoon was a likely starter for the Orioles, news broke just a few hours after Yoon was announced that has potential to send him to the bullpen. Proven starter Ubaldo Jimenez signed with the Orioles, giving the O's a top-of-the-rotation guy and...

Weekly Wrap: Baseball's back

Weekly Wrap: Baseball's back
Pitchers and catchers reported yesterday. Baseball is back. All is right in the world. Well, almost. Maybe we could do something with all of that snow. Before the start of spring training, there was still a lot of buzz surrounding the Orioles' organization. And it all started with a selfie. (Never thought I'd write that.) On Tuesday, Korean pitcher Suk-min Yoon tweeted a picture of himself wearing an Orioles hat. Although there had been rumors linking the O's and the pitcher, no deal had...

Weekly Wrap: Back to Viera

Weekly Wrap: Back to Viera
Guess what? Baseball's back! If you live in the D.C. region (or pretty much anywhere on the East Coast,) your mind may be on snow and ice versus summer nights and baseball. However, as we're stuck in the cold weather, the Nationals (and our Dan Kolko) are soaking up the spring training weather. Before spring training started, Tyler Clippard and the Nationals reached an agreement, avoiding arbitration. In addition, MASN announced that it picked up a the Nats' exhibition game against the...

Weekly Wrap: From FanFest to Sarasota

Weekly Wrap: From FanFest to Sarasota
Well, the Super Bowl was nice and all, but guess what? It's baseball season! Before we talk more about how pitchers and catchers report this coming Thursday, here's a fun fact: Did you know that quarterback and Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson was once drafted by the Orioles? Anyway, back to baseball. Spring training will officially be under way in just six days. While pitchers and catchers report in less than a week, there are still many questions surrounding the Orioles. We have to...

Weekly Wrap: Almost to Viera

Weekly Wrap: Almost to Viera
Heard there was a big sporting event this past week? I'm kidding - of course, I watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, and as many have said, I found it really hard to get into. I'm sure I'd be thrilled if I were a Seahawks fan. However, at the end of the game, only one thing had me really excited, and that's that baseball is right around the corner. In less than a week, Nats spring training will be under way, with pitchers and catchers reporting Feb. 13. Recently picked up by the Nationals,...

Weekly Wrap: Two more weeks

Weekly Wrap: Two more weeks
Well, now that NatsFest is over, we can officially begin our countdown to the baseball season. First step: Exactly two weeks until pitchers and catchers report. Pretty soon, Dan Kolko will be heading down to Viera, Fla., for spring training, trading in the cold for Florida weather and baseball. I'm not saying I'm jealous of the weather he'll experience, but I'm also not ruling out sneaking down to Florida by stowing away in Kolko's luggage. NatsFest was such a great event, and I had a...

Weekly Wrap: Dreaming of warm weather and waiting for a big move

Weekly Wrap: Dreaming of warm weather and waiting for a big move
Unfortunately, this week has come with bad news for Orioles fans. News broke Wednesday that there may be issues with outfielder Tyler Colvin's physical, and yesterday, the Rays signed Grant Balfour to a two-year deal. However, it has also been reported that the O's are making progress in talks with former Rays closer Fernando Rodney. The Orioles also signed left-hander Aaron Laffey to a minor league deal this week. The long-awaited signing of Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka occurred this...

Weekly Wrap: Avoiding arbitration and preparing for NatsFest

Weekly Wrap: Avoiding arbitration and preparing for NatsFest
Who's ready for NatsFest tomorrow? I am so excited! Tomorrow will mark my first NatsFest, and I can't wait! After I write this, I'm heading down to D.C. to scout out the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center to scope out the area and start to set up the MASN booth. We'll have autographed Nats gear, photo opportunities and more to give away, so be sure to stop by and say hi! This week, the Nats avoided arbitration with multiple players. Ross Detwiler, Jordan Zimmermann, Drew...

Weekly Wrap: Early moves make for slow start to 2014

Weekly Wrap: Early moves make for slow start to 2014
Nationals fans: You've had plenty to be pleased with this offseason. While other major league rosters and rotations are still completely up in the air, the Nats have been receiving national praise for their offseason moves, most of which came very early in the offseason. As we look toward NatsFest (Look for me at the MASN booth!), at which many players will make an appearance, the biggest question for the Nats is who the fifth starter will be. The question is certainly not a bad one to have,...

Weekly Wrap: O's offseason heats up in Sarasota

Weekly Wrap: O's offseason heats up in Sarasota
While the start of spring training is still a few weeks away, some Orioles headed to Sarasota this week for mini-camp. Ed Smith Stadium housed pitchers, up-and-comers, players recovering from injuries and some newcomers this week. Pitchers included Tommy Hunter (the strongest candidate for the O's closer role), Hunter Harvey (the O's first-round pick in 2013), Kevin Gausman, and Dylan Bundy. For the first time in a year, Bundy said that he was throwing without pain, and the right-hander has...

Weekly Wrap: Looking toward spring training

Weekly Wrap: Looking toward spring training
Thirty-four days until pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota, Fla., for the start of spring training. But who's counting? This week, MASN announced its spring training broadcast schedule, with six games being aired on MASN HD. Something even closer to look forward to is the Orioles' annual FanFest event. We have exciting games, events and more planned for the MASN booth. While I have spent many days and nights at Camden Yards, I will admit that this will be the first year that I attend...