Quick hits

Quick hits
Brandon Snyder has reported to camp. Nick Markakis is taking batting practice with Adam Jones and Felix Pie. I almost didn't recognize him without the thick beard and hair. Jones looks good in the cage. He's ripping line drives all over the field. Will Ohman was bringing some serious heat in his bullpen session. Mike Gonzalez was the opposite. He threw free and easy, but he wasn't popping the mitt. Chad Moeller caught Chris Tillman during the right-hander's session, and they had a...

Notes from today's workout

Notes from today's workout
The Orioles still haven't scheduled a bullpen session for Brad Bergesen. They want him to complete two or three extended flat-ground sessions before advancing to the next stage. Bergesen suggested that an optimistic timetable would be late next week. Nick Markakis was launching balls over the outfield fence during batting practice. It was an impressive display. "We're going to have somebody to hit in front of Nick and we're going to have somebody to hit behind Nick this year. I don't...

Millwood and Markakis

Millwood and Markakis
Kevin Millwood was the first Oriole on the field for the 9:15 a.m. pre-workout stretch, putting him at least 10 minutes ahead of everyone else. He's routinely the first player to arrive at each station. It hasn't gone unnoticed. "That's what a No. 1 guy does," manager Dave Trembley said. "Plus, he pitches his (butt) off every fifth day. He shows these guys what you're supposed to do. "I said, 'How are you doing?' And he said, 'I'm having a blast.' He's going to help us." None...

Life of Brian (Matusz)

Life of Brian (Matusz)
Brian Matusz had his second bullpen session today since reporting to Sarasota, and the left-hander made noticeable strides. And I'm not talking about his delivery. "I made some good improvements today with my two-seam fastball," he said. "Both times I threw to Caleb Joseph, and we have a good relationship because he caught me at Frederick, so he knows about me and I know about him. "My first session, I was opening up with my front side with my two-seam fastball and I wasn't following...

Reimold's in camp

Reimold's in camp
Outfielders Nolan Reimold and Matt Angle have reported to camp. Reimold has run on a treadmill, but not outdoors, while recovering from Achilles surgery. "It feels good right now. When I walk around, I don't feel anything. We'll see how it feels when I'm running around for 10 hours a day," he said. "After a lot of running, it still gets a bit little sore, but it's obviously better than last year." When I asked Reimold if he has any concerns about being ready for Opening Day, he...

Moeller and more

Moeller and more
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...

Early notes

Early notes
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...

Health updates

Health updates
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...

Worth noting

Worth noting
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...

Steady diet of Atkins quotes

Steady diet of Atkins quotes
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...

2010 Promotions include Zimmerman and Morgan Bobbleheads

2010 Promotions include Zimmerman and Morgan Bobbleheads
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,...

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)
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!

Baseball is...

Baseball is...
...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...

Berken up the wrong tree

Berken up the wrong tree
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...

A Special Valentine's Day for Nieves

A Special Valentine's Day for Nieves
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." ...

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)
Happy President's Day. Speaking of President's, be sure to check out Nationals Pride and Nats320 for photos from this weekend's President's Race auditions. Now, on to this week's Where at Nats Park challenge... Can you identify what this is and where it was taken? Put your guesses in the comments below and remember, I'll hide the correct answers until Wednesday so that everyone can have a shot at it. We'll try to count up your correct guesses for the contest so far later this...

Ready for spring training?

Ready for spring training?
Don't let the snow drifts fool you. It's time for spring training. Pitchers and catchers report to Nationals camp in sunny Viera, FL on Friday which means that we have just two more days before a brand new season begins. It's the most exciting time of the year for fans, especially those of us buried under a blanket of snow. It's a sign that summer is quickly approaching along with another season of Nationals baseball. Just in time for the start of spring training, MASN released its...

Don't forget to read your Wieters

Don't forget to read your Wieters
Matt Wieters caught Alfredo Simon's bullpen session yesterday. And like the rest of us, he's amazed that the right-hander is less than a year removed from ligament-reconstructive surgery. "I was really impressed with the life he had on his fastball, especially coming off Tommy John," Wieters said. "His fastball was very lively. It was a lot more lively than I was expecting it to be this early in spring training." Wieters also was impressed by Cla Meredith. "He really stuck out to...

Five-game, $15-Million Strasburg Plan (Updated)

Five-game, $15-Million Strasburg Plan (Updated)
On Tuesday afternoon, the Potomac Nationals announced a special five-game ticket plan in preparation for a possible Stephen Strasburg debut at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge this season. The $15 Million Plan, named for Strasburg's contract, includes Opening Day on April 8th and four flexible games that can be used to watch possible Strasburg starts. The plan does not guarantee that Strasburg will debut at Potomac, nor stay for five starts, but the P-Nats wanted to get started early. ...

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)

Where at Nats Park? (Updated)
It sure feels like spring might finally be on its way. Before long, we'll all be at Nationals Park enjoying our summer nights -- and I'll have to think twice as hard to stump you! Here's this week's challenge: Good luck! We'll do the tally this week since last week was a bit too hard. Remember, I'll hide the correct answers until Wednesday. ANSWER: This is a curly W flag that waves high above the Nats Family Fun Area in center/right field. Good work!