NORTH PORT, Fla. - Chandler Shepherd got in his work this afternoon and that's the main point of an exhibition start on Feb. 22. Shepherd, vying for a spot in the backend of the Orioles rotation, completed two innings against the Braves before Ty Blach replaced him. He allowed three runs and two hits with two walks and no strikeouts. The Braves filled their lineup with regulars, though they removed Freddie Freeman after one at-bat. "Obviously, there's a lot of names in that lineup that I've...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - One hundred fifteen days have passed since the Nationals and Astros last took the field, a late October night that will forever bring smiles to anyone who lives in Washington and tears to anyone who lives in Houston. Tonight, both teams return to begin their quest to reach late October again. The Grapefruit League opener is a big deal any spring, but it's never been as big a deal as it is tonight. In a perfect convergence of events, this game between co-inhabitants of...

NORTH PORT, Fla. - Left-hander John Means is going to start one of Tuesday's split-squad games, when the Orioles host the Rays and travel to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox. He won't be shielded from a division opponent in the first week of the exhibition schedule. The Orioles are known to send pitchers to Twin Lakes Park or arrange simulated games as an alternative. "It's definitely not ideal," manager Brandon Hyde said. "But our guys are only going to go a couple of innings, so I'm not...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles play their first exhibition game today against the Braves at the new North Port facility, and they've got Austin Hays leading off and playing center field and Ryan Mountcastle in left. Mountcastle is the cleanup hitter, slotting between third baseman Renato Núñez and catcher Chance Sisco. Richie Martin is the shortstop. Chandler Shepherd gets the start and Ty Blach follows, with both pitchers slated to go two innings. Relievers include Branden Kline and Cody...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Internet makes pitching statistics easily accessible to the public and there are multiple sites offering full scouting reports. Video can be found in only a couple of keystrokes. It's reached the point where leaving your couch no longer is a prerequisite. Then there are those opportunities to hang out at a catcher's locker and pick his brain. Still one of my favorite activities, and especially in spring training with so many arms in camp. Austin Wynns turned 29 in...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Dusty Baker stood near one of the practice fields outside FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Thursday morning, wearing an Astros cap and pullover, answering questions about the team he now manages. He looked very much at home, very much in his element. The 70-year-old baseball lifer has done everything there is to do in this sport, and yet he has now found perhaps the ultimate challenge of his career: guiding a Houston roster loaded with talent but stained by proof...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Brandon Bailey admits he has spent his first few days of spring training with his new team getting to know all of his teammates' names. That is understandable, with so many players new to him. But he's slowly starting to settle in at O's spring training and looking forward to the best opportunity of his young career. He wasn't drafted by the Houston Astros, but an Astros front office that included Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal traded for him not long after...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Tony Clark, head of the Major League Baseball Players' Association, visits every club every spring. Those meetings can run long, sometimes topping two hours, depending on the list of topics that need to be discussed. This morning, Clark and his associates with the players' union, walked into the Astros clubhouse at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and did not emerge until nearly four hours had passed. Suffice it to say, this was no ordinary spring training meeting,...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - After more than a week of bright sunshine and temperatures in the mid-80s, the Nationals walked outside this morning to an unfamiliar sight this spring: rain. For the first time in camp, weather altered the club's plans. What should've been a two-hour full squad workout instead was condensed into a quick session that took care of the day's most pressing needs (a group of pitchers throwing live batting practice, moved to the covered batting cages) and little...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde announced today that left-hander Wade LeBlanc will start Sunday afternoon against the Red Sox in Sarasota and Alex Cobb will start Monday versus the Phillies in Clearwater. We've already learned that Chandler Shepherd is starting Saturday's opener against the Braves in North Port. "I think a few days ago I was asked 'Are we ready yet? and I said, 'No.' Now I think we are," Hyde said, smiling. "It's going to be fun to watch a lot of our guys...