Do you know how I know it's almost time for baseball? Truck Day.
The annual tradition of packing up a 53-foot tractor trailer and shipping it off from Nats Park to Viera, Fla., took place on Monday. It gets you excited for pitchers and catchers reporting next Thursday, but it also means this next week is going to feel like the longest of the year.
Next step: Viera! Watch the #Nats load up their 53-foot truck with spring training equipment. #IBackTheNats 🚚☀ï¸âš¾ï¸...
Kids Run the Bases expands to include every Sunday home game
The Orioles today released their 2016 promotional schedule highlighted by several new items, including an Orioles batting practice pullover, a Manny Machado garden gnome, an Orioles 1966 replica jersey to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the club's first World Series title, special Mother's Day and Father's Day-themed giveaways, and two Orioles bobbleheads, as well as the return of several fan-favorite events such as Kids'...
Pitchers and catchers report one week from today. That's one week until the return of baseball, and the Orioles are inviting their fans to watch the first workouts of the new season.
The Orioles announced today that fans are welcome to watch the team's first workouts on the back fields of the Ed Smith Stadium complex each day from Feb. 19-29. There is no charge for attendance or parking, which will be available in the East Lot off 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue.
A day after reporting,...
The first official spring training workout day for Orioles pitchers and catchers at Ed Smith Stadium will be held on Friday, February 19. Fans are invited to watch the team's workouts on the back fields at the complex each day through February 29. There is no charge to attend, and free parking is available in the East Lot off of 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue.
Orioles pitchers and catchers will take the field at approximately 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 19. The club will work out from...
The Orioles today announced that they have invited 17 non-roster players to major league spring training in Sarasota, Fla.
The list includes four left-handed pitchers, three right-handed pitchers, three catchers, four infielders and three outfielders. A complete list of the Orioles' non-roster invitees for 2016 spring training is below:
PITCHERS (7)
RHP Pedro BeatoLHP Jeff BeliveauLHP Cesar CabralRHP Hunter HarveyLHP Andy OliverRHP Todd RedmondLHP Ashur Tolliver
CATCHERS (3)
Jonah HeimAudry...
The Orioles today announced that they have agreed to terms with left-hander Zach Britton on a one-year contract, thus avoiding arbitration.
Britton, 28, went 4-1 with a 1.92 ERA (14 earned runs in 65 2/3 innings pitched) and ranked tied for third in the American League with 36 saves. Since the beginning of the 2014 season, Britton is tied for second among American League relievers with 73 saves, posting a 1.77 ERA (28 earned runs in 142 innings pitched) in that span. In 183 career major league...
We are just under two weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Sarasota, Fla., marking the return of baseball!
With that in mind, Caleb Joseph is taking in his last remaining days of the offseason to enjoy himself by going to the NHL All-Star Game in his hometown of Nashville this past weekend.
Had an amazing time at #NHLAllStarWeekend with my cousin. My hometown of Nashville put on a GREAT show. Skill level of players was unreal!
-- Caleb Joseph (@EutawBackstop) February 1,...
It was a slow week on social media for the Nationals, which must mean we are getting closer to spring training. The guys are probably busy getting their affairs in order, planning their workouts for the next two weeks and setting their packing checklist before heading out for Viera, Fla.
However, it seems that we do have some guys who are too eager and are already down by Space Coast Stadium.
Well hello there!... #SpringTraining #nats #AmIEarly pic.twitter.com/IwtyGdGFjg
-- Clint Robinson...
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne (pronounced oh-DREE-sah-mer deh-SPAWN-yay) from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league right-hander Jean Cosme. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-hander C.J. Riefenhauser has been designated for assignment.
Despaigne, 28, went 5-9 with a 5.80 ERA (81 earned runs in 125.2 innings pitched) over 34 games (18 starts) with the Padres last season. In 50 career major league games (34 starts), he is...
I think we have enough snow to last us until opening day, thanks to Winter Storm Jonas, which crushed the DMV area last weekend. If you want a comprehensive recap of the storm and its aftermath, check out MASN broadcaster Jim Hunter's Twitter timeline. All of it is fantastic, but I'll just show you my favorites.
Kudos to all of our local TV reporters braving the blizzard to keep us informed. Thanks from us all ! Outstanding work. #snowmaggedon2016
-- Jim Hunter (@JimOriolesTV) January 24,...
Well, Winter Storm Jonas came through the area last weekend and crushed D.C. like Bryce Harper crushes fastballs. It also crushed MASN broadcaster F.P. Santangelo's elbow from all the snow it left for shoveling.
Is there a Tommy John for shoveling snow? #leftarmprobs
-- F.P. Santangelo (@FightinHydrant) January 25, 2016
Although Jonas left everyone stuck in their houses and exhausted from shoveling almost three feet of snow, the storm also left a pretty scene at Nationals Park.
A beautiful...
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired outfielder Efren Navarro from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, outfielder L.J. Hoes has been designated for assignment.
Navarro, 29, hit .329/.380/.442 with 24 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 29 RBIs in 72 games with Triple-A Salt Lake in 2015. In 54 games with the Angels last season, he batted .253/.295/.301 with four doubles and five RBIs. Over nine minor league seasons,...
The Nationals family isn't made up of just baseball guys, since they clearly cannot get enough of the NFL playoffs. Granted, the ending to last Saturday's NFC divisional game between the Packers and Cardinals was unlike anything I've ever seen.
Sports are just the best, guys.
-- Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) January 17, 2016
This game has officially turned into PE
-- F.P. Santangelo (@FightinHydrant) January 17, 2016
I don't believe what I just saw...
-- Max Scherzer (@Max_Scherzer) January...
Obviously, the big news this week was first baseman Chris Davis re-signing with the Orioles. The seven-year contract was reported as a done deal early Saturday morning before becoming official with a press conference last night at Camden Yards after Davis psased a physical.
But before we get to the best of #WelcomeBackCrush, I think it's important to note that the MASN family spends its time together even outside of Oriole Park.
MASN's Jim Hunter's wife, Bonnie, makes a delicious baked ziti,...
Fans encouraged to use online, phone methods to purchase tickets
Individual tickets for all 16 of the Orioles' spring training games at Ed Smith Stadium will go on sale this Saturday, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. ET. It is recommended that fans purchase tickets online or by phone.
Fans interested in season tickets, five-game flex-plans or group tickets, or those wishing to receive additional spring training ticket information may call the Orioles spring training office at 941-893-6300.
Spring training...
The Sports Turf Managers Association has announced that Ed Smith Stadium, the spring training home of the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla., has won the Field of the Year Award for professional baseball. Head groundskeeper of Florida operations Dan Thomas will accept the award this week at the 27th annual STMA Conference & Exhibition in San Diego, Calif.
STMA's Field of the Year Award, considered the highest honor in the industry, is awarded annually to various sporting grounds members at the...
As the NFL's season continues, so does that of Tyler Wilson's Packers. After beating the Redskins 35-18 on Sunday, the Pack now heads to the desert to take on the Cardinals in the NFC divisional round.
#GoPackGo
-- Tyler Wilson (@t_willy18) January 11, 2016
Meanwhile, back here in the Old Line State, MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko won, too. On Monday, Roch was named a co-winner of the Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association for the...
Good news: Nationals pitchers and catchers report in almost a month (Feb. 18)!
Bad news: One of the other D.C. teams that was holding you over until then finished its season last weekend.
Even though the Redskins were handed an early exit in their surprising playoff run at the hands of a 35-18 defeat to the Green Bay Packers, there is a lot of upside for this team in the future. And MASN's Dan Kolko, for one, enjoyed a season that surpassed expectations, included a division championship and...
Welcome back to "Out of the Park"! I hope all of Birdland enjoyed the holidays and new year!
While most of our area had a very mild holiday season, the Oriole Bird was excited to start the first week of 2016 with some light snow.
Did anyone else just see snowflakes falling?? â„ï¸ Happy first Monday of 2016! ☃
-- The Oriole Bird (@OrioleBird) January 4, 2016
The Bird also later calculated that we are halfway to opening day, which MASN's Jim Hunter thought was very...
Happy new year and welcome back to "Out of the Park," Nats fans! I hope everyone had a very nice holiday season as we return to the real world this week.
It would probably take a short novel to put together all of the holiday posts from the Nationals players over the break, so we'll just pick up from this week.
Outfielder Matt den Dekker happened to spend his New Year's Eve in Dallas and was able to get over to AT&T Stadium with wife Christine to watch the NFC East champion Redskins...