Andrew Stetka: Defending the AL East crown

Andrew Stetka: Defending the AL East crown
"It's opening day!" and "Play ball!" are some of the most beautiful words in sports, especially for baseball fans. The day is finally upon us. All 30 teams, including the Orioles, have the hope of a new season where anything can happen. For the O's, this comes with something they haven't experienced since the Clinton presidency - trying to repeat as division champions. If you remember, it's something they failed to do back in 1998. After winning 98 games and going wire-to-wire in 1997...
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Nationals announce opening day roster

Nationals announce opening day roster
The Nationals have established their plan of attack for opening day 2015. General manager Mike Rizzo confirmed the only remaining question marks when he announced the 25-man roster. Left-hander Xavier Cedeno made the team as a second southpaw out of the bullpen alongside Matt Thornton. And 35-year-old Dan Uggla, considered a longshot at the start of spring training, has secured a spot and might be the team's starting second baseman on opening day. The breakdown of the roster consists of 12...
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Nationals set opening day 25-man roster

Nationals set opening day 25-man roster
The Washington Nationals announced their 2015 Opening Day 25-man roster on Sunday. President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. The Nationals' Opening Day roster is comprised of 12 pitchers (nine right-handed pitchers, three left-handed pitchers), two catchers, six infielders and five outfielders. Three players who joined Nationals' Spring Training as non-roster invitees made the club: INF/OF Clint Robinson, 2B Dan Uggla and OF Reed Johnson. The...
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Orioles finalize 25-man roster

Orioles finalize 25-man roster
The Orioles today announced several roster moves to finalize their 25-man roster. Four players have been placed on the 15-day disabled list: infielder J.J. Hardy (retroactive to March 27 - left shoulder strain), outfielder David Lough (retroactive to March 27 - left hamstring strain), infielder Jimmy Paredes (retroactive to April 1 - lower back strain), and catcher Matt Wieters (retroactive to March 27 - rehabilitation from "Tommy John" surgery). Additionally, left-hander T.J. McFarland has...
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Manfred expected to announce 2018 All-Star Game at Nats Park

Manfred expected to announce 2018 All-Star Game at Nats Park
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is expected to announce Monday that Washington, D.C., will host the 2018 All-Star Game, according to multiple reports. Manfred will be at Nats Park to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals' opening day contest with the Mets tomorrow. Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field, New York's Yankee Stadium, Philadelphia's Citizen Bank Park and Nats Park are the only MLB venues that haven't been awarded All-Star Games. It's been 46 years...
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Danny Espinosa and divine intervention

Danny Espinosa and divine intervention
On this holiest of weekends, Monsignor Stephen Rossetti walked into the Nationals dugout before yesterday's game to offer blessings as the team prepares to embark on a season filled with expectations higher than the clouds. Several Nats players were just steps away, participating in pregame stretching when they began to switch their attention to Rossetti, who was dressed in long, white vestments. Rossetti began sprinkling holy water on the bench and then eventually the bat racks. Nats...
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Robinson makes 25-man roster; Carp, Hill reassigned to minor league camp

Robinson makes 25-man roster; Carp, Hill reassigned to minor league camp
First baseman/outfielder Clint Robinson has made the Nationals' 25-man roster. But there are still decisions to he made before the team announces its roster for Monday's opening day game against the Mets. The deadline to set the roster is 3 p.m. Sunday. After a 4-3 loss to the Mets in the final exhibition game Saturday afternoon, the Nationals reassigned outfielder/first baseman Mike Carp and left-hander Rich Hill to minor league camp. Robinson beat out Carp to be a left-handed bat off the...
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Fister, Storen surrender homers in 4-3 loss to Yankees

Fister, Storen surrender homers in 4-3 loss to Yankees
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Yankees 4, Nationals 3 Recap: A pair of two-run homers from the Yankees did in the Nats in the final exhibition game of the spring. Right-hander Doug Fister gave up one of the homers to Yankees second baseman Stephen Drew in the fifth and closer Drew Storen surrendered the other in to outfielder Chris Young the eighth. The Nats got all their offense in the first on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and a two-run single by DH Wilson Ramos. Need to...
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Denard Span will play in a minor league game today

Denard Span will play in a minor league game today
Nationals manager Matt Williams liked what he saw yesterday as he leaned on the back of the cage at Steinbrenner Field and watched center fielder Denard Span participate in a full batting practice session. Today, Span will see his first live action since March 9 core muscle surgery when he plays in a minor league game in Viera, Fla. "He felt good," Williams said of Span. "The plan for him is to play today. So he'll get in the game down there, assuming that he's shows up and feels well....
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Williams dealing with his own final four

Williams dealing with  his own final four
The countdown has been going on for several weeks, but we now sit on the doorstep of opening day. Nationals manager Matt Williams has one last bit of business to take care of before his ballclub takes the field against the Mets on Monday. Williams is currently staring at 27 healthy players (14 position players, 13 pitchers). That number needs to be paired down to 25 by Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m.. Williams indicated on Friday that he wanted to get one last look at those competing for the final...
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Williams ready to go after "interesting spring"

Williams ready to go after "interesting spring"
TAMPA - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg turned in his best spring start in today's 8-2 win over the Yankees in the Nationals' final Grapefruit League game. Strasburg limited the Yankees to just one run on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. "It's just progress," said Strasburg. "I think I felt good a couple starts ago and then I twisted my ankle and pushed everything backwards. Now I think I'm going in the right direction." Strasburg's breaking balls were...
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Bryce Harper triples, Mike Carp homers (Nats win 8-2)

Bryce Harper triples, Mike Carp homers (Nats win 8-2)
NATIONALS QUICK WRAP Score: Nationals 8, Yankees 2 Recap: Right fielder Bryce Harper got the Nats started early with a RBI triple off Yankees starter CC Sabathia. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman and shortstop Ian Desmond pushed runs across the plate with a single and double, respectively, to give the Nats a three-run first inning. First baseman Mike Carp popped a three-run homer in the seventh, his first of the spring. Right-hander Stephen Strasburg pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing one run on six...
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Strasburg facing Sabathia in final Grapefruit League game (with lineups)

Strasburg facing Sabathia in final Grapefruit League game (with lineups)
TAMPA - Nationals manager Matt Williams indicated on Wednesday that today's lineup would be his regulars. If so, that would mean that Danny Espinosa would be the team's starting second baseman on opening day. Espinosa has spent the entire spring transitioning from a switch-hitter to exclusively batting from the right side of the plate. He was only 7-for-51 (.137) in the exhibition season, but Williams may prefer Espinosa's glove to Dan Uggla's at second, especially with other new faces...
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Orioles announce "Operation Orange" rallies for fans

Orioles announce "Operation Orange" rallies for fans
The Orioles today announced dates for several "Operation Orange" rallies as the team prepares to open the 2015 season. The rallies will include Orioles giveaways, trivia and prizes, an appearance by the Oriole Bird, and an autograph session with a former Orioles player for an hour at each event. The first "Operation Orange" rally will be held at the Official Orioles Team Store in the York Galleria Mall on Monday, April 6 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Orioles Radio Network affiliate WSBA Radio (910...
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Nats have fielding concerns as opening day nears

Nats have fielding concerns as opening day nears
TAMPA - Spring training statistics are fairly ridiculous to dissect given the amount of minor leaguers that participate and the inconsistent lineups. But one category the Nationals didn't want to lead during the exhibition season was errors committed. Their 34 errors are tied with the Giants for the most this spring, although the Nats have reached their total in three fewer games. Ironically, the two teams tied for 100 errors last season, leaving them sitting right in the middle of the pack of...
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Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Bank Shot"

Hitting the Books with Gary Thorne: "Bank Shot"
In case this is the first time you've found our blog, welcome! Once a week, we take a look at a book that is a favorite of mine that helps eat up all that baseball travel time. The Enoch Pratt Free Library lends us a hand with recommendations from their staff, we note others sites that offer suggestions and, thanks to you, we have recommendations in the comments section. Thanks for that. Generally, you don't figure to be lying on the floor and laughing your head off when you read a mystery...
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Throwback Thursday: Claiming the first division title since 1997

Throwback Thursday: Claiming the first division title since 1997
In four days, the Orioles will be defending their division title. Before they take the field, we're throwin' it back to the moment they clinched their first American League East championship in 17 years. Relive the madness from the Clinchmas celebration in the video below.
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Down to the wire for Clint Robinson

Down to the wire for Clint Robinson
VIERA, Fla. - The Nationals have three days remaining before Sunday's deadline to trim their roster to 25 for opening day. Clint Robinson is in a place he's not familiar with. The 30-year-old has never made it this far in spring training with any big league club. Now he's on the doorstep of breaking camp in the majors with a team projected to win the World Series. "It's a 50/50 shot: You either make it or you don't," said Robinson. "I'm trying not to think about it. It's part of the...
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Throwback Thursday: The beasts in the NL East

Throwback Thursday: The beasts in the NL East
Opening day is only four days away. That's right, Nationals fans. Only four more days until the defending National League East champions take the field. Speaking of NL East champions ... Before the Nationals begin to chase another division title, let's throw it back that moment. Yes, I am talking about that moment. Relive the Clinchmas celebration below. It truly never gets old.
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Zimmermann not worried after rough start, Nats make roster moves in crunch time

Zimmermann not worried after rough start, Nats make roster moves in crunch time
JUPITER, Fla. - The Nationals were shut out for the second consecutive day, as the Marlins pounded starter Jordan Zimmermann right out of the gates en route to an 8-0 loss in the seventh and final meeting between the two clubs in Grapefruit League play. Marlins first baseman Michael Morse and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton both belted deep homers off Zimmermann, who allowed all eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits with four strikeouts and no walks. "It's spring training, that's a good...
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