My blogs can now be exclusively found at http://www.armchairgm.com
Username = Baltimoresports247
Monday, July 30, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Big Time Oops for Ookie (The Michael Vick Indictment)
Yesterday around 5:45 ESPN reported that Michael Vick has been indicted on "conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful actvities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture." I'm sitting here reading this 19 page indictment, and I've got news for #7...you've gotta spend a ton of money to get yourself out of this one.
This isn't smuggling a bong (oops, I mean "designer water bottle") through an airport or flipping your adoring fan base the bird after a game...this is some serious stuff. This is especially serious considering that Vick has been the face of the NFL, which puts him in a higher regard than Adam "Strip Club" Jones and Chris Henry...he was on the cover of Madden, has tons of endorsements (if Nike doesn't drop him I'm never buying another pair of Jordans)...this guy is chalked to make the 2nd highest salary this year. Not to mention he plays in a big market city like Atlanta, a team that represents and is cheered for by the entire dirty south. If you're a sponsor, do you drop him? I sure as hell hope so. If you're Arthur Blank, do you keep this guy on your team?
I hope you wouldn't...and before you start crucifying me for saying that, here are some excerpts from the 19 page indictment, which suggests Vick a.k.a. Ookie (sweet nickname dude...) is the king pin of a dog fighting ring called "Bad Newz Kennels."
The indictment tells us that Purnell A. Peace, a.k.a, P-Funk/Funk (again, another clever, intelligent nick name ::cough cough::) consulted Vick after a female pitbull had lost a fight. After the consultation, P-Funk proceeded to soak a dog in water and electricute it...
Other statements from anonoymous witnesses include accounts of dogs being hanged, drowned, and at least one account of a dog being slammed to the ground repeatedly in order to "execute" the losing fighter.
The NFL office has made a statement which implied that they're going to hold off on handing down a suspension to Vick until everything is settled in court...if that's the case, then why has Pacman been suspended for the entire year? This certainly seems like a double standard to me...and causing a fight at a strip club is a much lesser offense than holding a domestic dog's head underwater until it stops kicking...I know that his entourage has been connected to shootings, but it looks as though Jones himself hasn't been connected to the shootings/murders.
By the looks of this indictment, #7 has been personally connected to fighting dogs and "executing" them in ways that the U.S. government wouldn't allow for murderers and rapists on death row.
Not to say that an animal has as much rights as a human...but for God's sake, there a 4 year old kids who have donned that #7 jersey, and these allegations literally make me sick to my stomach knowing that no matter what happens, Vick will probably still start for the Falcons this year.
Hopefully he won't (c'mon, Arthur Blank, do the right thing), but he probably will. Like most of the celebrities that buy their way out of trouble, Vick will start throwing suitcases of money at scum-bag lawyers who will put their morals aside (if they have any) to get him out of this mess. After reading this indictment, that would put a big, swollen, black eye on the NFL. Roger Godell needs to suspend Vick; that is, unless he's making an exception for one of the poster children of his organization.
And, please, read this indictment ...
By: Alex Thomas
Intern, 1570 AM WNST, Baltimore
Sports Night with Michael Popovec
6-8 PM weekdays, click the link to listen live
cross-published on http://www.armchairgm.com
This isn't smuggling a bong (oops, I mean "designer water bottle") through an airport or flipping your adoring fan base the bird after a game...this is some serious stuff. This is especially serious considering that Vick has been the face of the NFL, which puts him in a higher regard than Adam "Strip Club" Jones and Chris Henry...he was on the cover of Madden, has tons of endorsements (if Nike doesn't drop him I'm never buying another pair of Jordans)...this guy is chalked to make the 2nd highest salary this year. Not to mention he plays in a big market city like Atlanta, a team that represents and is cheered for by the entire dirty south. If you're a sponsor, do you drop him? I sure as hell hope so. If you're Arthur Blank, do you keep this guy on your team?
I hope you wouldn't...and before you start crucifying me for saying that, here are some excerpts from the 19 page indictment, which suggests Vick a.k.a. Ookie (sweet nickname dude...) is the king pin of a dog fighting ring called "Bad Newz Kennels."
The indictment tells us that Purnell A. Peace, a.k.a, P-Funk/Funk (again, another clever, intelligent nick name ::cough cough::) consulted Vick after a female pitbull had lost a fight. After the consultation, P-Funk proceeded to soak a dog in water and electricute it...
Other statements from anonoymous witnesses include accounts of dogs being hanged, drowned, and at least one account of a dog being slammed to the ground repeatedly in order to "execute" the losing fighter.
The NFL office has made a statement which implied that they're going to hold off on handing down a suspension to Vick until everything is settled in court...if that's the case, then why has Pacman been suspended for the entire year? This certainly seems like a double standard to me...and causing a fight at a strip club is a much lesser offense than holding a domestic dog's head underwater until it stops kicking...I know that his entourage has been connected to shootings, but it looks as though Jones himself hasn't been connected to the shootings/murders.
By the looks of this indictment, #7 has been personally connected to fighting dogs and "executing" them in ways that the U.S. government wouldn't allow for murderers and rapists on death row.
Not to say that an animal has as much rights as a human...but for God's sake, there a 4 year old kids who have donned that #7 jersey, and these allegations literally make me sick to my stomach knowing that no matter what happens, Vick will probably still start for the Falcons this year.
Hopefully he won't (c'mon, Arthur Blank, do the right thing), but he probably will. Like most of the celebrities that buy their way out of trouble, Vick will start throwing suitcases of money at scum-bag lawyers who will put their morals aside (if they have any) to get him out of this mess. After reading this indictment, that would put a big, swollen, black eye on the NFL. Roger Godell needs to suspend Vick; that is, unless he's making an exception for one of the poster children of his organization.
And, please, read this indictment ...
By: Alex Thomas
Intern, 1570 AM WNST, Baltimore
Sports Night with Michael Popovec
6-8 PM weekdays, click the link to listen live
cross-published on http://www.armchairgm.com
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Ichiro, Hafner ink new deals: What does this mean for future star MLB free agents?
With Ichiro Suzuki and Travis Hafner signing new lucrative contracts and the big names that are approaching free agency in the next couple of years, this decade is going to mark another salary explosion in professional baseball. Whether it’s contract extensions or testing the market, the free agents that are on the horizon are going to break the bank. I wonder how long it’s going to take until Brinks trucks are backing up into A-Rod’s driveway and dumping a few tons of gold bullion onto his front lawn.
Ichiro just signed a four year, $100 million contract. Personally, I really like Ichiro and was looking forward to maybe seeing him in an O’s uniform in center field. I know I was kidding myself, but a guy can dream, can’t he? But 100 mill may be a bit much, especially with all the money he was guaranteed through the last 3 seasons. Yes, I know he can run the bases, play solid defense, and has the best batting average since 2001, but when was the last time you heard someone paying that much for a lead-off hitter? Seems a bit too steep for me.
Travis Hafner, at the ripe age of 30, just inked a four year, $57 million contract extension that will keep him in an Indians uniform until 2012, with a club option through 2013. Wow…I mean I know the guy hits a lot of home runs, but he’s only batting .262 with a .397 OBP this season, and at age 30, his best years could be behind him (relax, people, I’m not saying that they are, I’m saying it’s a possibility). Call me crazy, to me that’s not worth $57 million.
So, A-Rod, Torri Hunter, Carlos Zambrano, and Adam Dunn must be licking their chops right now. These MLB A-listers will be free agents in 2008 (A-Rod can opt out, and probably will from what I’m hearing from Scott Boras). Can you imagine what teams will pay for A-Rod? I guarantee he will make at least $30 million per season with his new deal. C’mon, Peter Angelos, break out that check book!
And look at this list in ’09! Just to name a few: Johan Santana, Vladimir Guerrero, C.C. Sabathia, Erik Bedard, Jason Bay, Dan Harren, Matt Holiday, Reed Johnson.
These next few years could mark the next salary explosion in professional baseball, the first of course being in the 90’s. In 1990, the average cost of a 25 man roster was about $14.5 million. Today, it’s approaching $70 million. Looking at these recent signings and with big name free agents on the horizon, within the next decade, look for it to jump again.
By: Alex Thomas
Intern, 1570 AM WNST, Baltimore
http://www.wnst.net
Ichiro just signed a four year, $100 million contract. Personally, I really like Ichiro and was looking forward to maybe seeing him in an O’s uniform in center field. I know I was kidding myself, but a guy can dream, can’t he? But 100 mill may be a bit much, especially with all the money he was guaranteed through the last 3 seasons. Yes, I know he can run the bases, play solid defense, and has the best batting average since 2001, but when was the last time you heard someone paying that much for a lead-off hitter? Seems a bit too steep for me.
Travis Hafner, at the ripe age of 30, just inked a four year, $57 million contract extension that will keep him in an Indians uniform until 2012, with a club option through 2013. Wow…I mean I know the guy hits a lot of home runs, but he’s only batting .262 with a .397 OBP this season, and at age 30, his best years could be behind him (relax, people, I’m not saying that they are, I’m saying it’s a possibility). Call me crazy, to me that’s not worth $57 million.
So, A-Rod, Torri Hunter, Carlos Zambrano, and Adam Dunn must be licking their chops right now. These MLB A-listers will be free agents in 2008 (A-Rod can opt out, and probably will from what I’m hearing from Scott Boras). Can you imagine what teams will pay for A-Rod? I guarantee he will make at least $30 million per season with his new deal. C’mon, Peter Angelos, break out that check book!
And look at this list in ’09! Just to name a few: Johan Santana, Vladimir Guerrero, C.C. Sabathia, Erik Bedard, Jason Bay, Dan Harren, Matt Holiday, Reed Johnson.
These next few years could mark the next salary explosion in professional baseball, the first of course being in the 90’s. In 1990, the average cost of a 25 man roster was about $14.5 million. Today, it’s approaching $70 million. Looking at these recent signings and with big name free agents on the horizon, within the next decade, look for it to jump again.
By: Alex Thomas
Intern, 1570 AM WNST, Baltimore
http://www.wnst.net
Monday, July 9, 2007
The State of the Orioles
With Bud Selig giving a State of the Union address tomorrow, I feel it appropriate to address and make suggestions for the floundering Baltimore Orioles.
VP’s of Baseball Operations Jim Duquette and Mike Flanagan said last year that they have put a plan in place to make the Orioles competitive in two to three years. At this rate, that will not happen. We have a solid core of young players (Roberts, Markakis, Guthrie, Bedard), but half of them will probably be in different uniforms in the coming years. Erik Bedard hates it here and his contract is up soon. Andy MacPhail HAS to make a trade this season to calm the wolves, so he’ll have to trade somebody. Hey, you’ve gotta trade talent to get talent, and I’m not necessarily opposed to that. Recently, I had the state of mind that all four of those guys are untouchable, but now I’m beginning to think that the only one who can’t be traded is Jeremy Guthrie (yes, even Nick Markakis).
The Orioles line up is littered with aging veterans who are past their prime, such as Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff, Miguel Tejada, and Jay Gibbons. I’m beginning to think that Jay Gibbons may have been involved the steroid scandal. Of course, this is purely speculation, but has anyone else noticed that his forearm and bicep size have shrunk (not to mention his batting average and power numbers)? We need to drop these guys like a bad habit and quick…it’s time to clean out the Warehouse and get some value in the process.
With the minor league system being a complete travesty, besides J.R. House and Matt Weiters, and Weiters isn’t even signed yet, the O’s are going to need to make a splash in the free agency market. But is this offseason the time to do it? We’re not going to win next year either, so I say wait until 2009 to make some serious moves in free agency. Look at the available players in ’09…Vlad Guerrero (we should have him anyway), Andruw Jones, John Lackey, Jake Peavy, Brad Penny, Johan Santana, Jason Bay, Adrian Beltre, Miguel Cabrera, Matt Holiday, Magglio Ordonez (maybe…I think he has an option that season), Reed Johnson. Wow…mark my words, the 2009 baseball offseason will be the most interesting few months in sports EVER. Not to mention, the contracts of Tejada, Huff, and Mora (among others) will be up, so that will give us an opportunity to clean house. Obviously, the O’s won’t sweep up all of those guys, but they should make moves to get 3 or 4 young talented free agents in ’09.
In short, the State of the Union is pretty crappy, but it can be fixed, and it SHOULD be fixed because the fans of Baltimore deserve it. Remember, Peter Angelos won’t live forever.
We NEVER stop talking Baltimore Sports on 1570 AM WNST.
http://www.wnst.net
click to listen live anywhere in the world
VP’s of Baseball Operations Jim Duquette and Mike Flanagan said last year that they have put a plan in place to make the Orioles competitive in two to three years. At this rate, that will not happen. We have a solid core of young players (Roberts, Markakis, Guthrie, Bedard), but half of them will probably be in different uniforms in the coming years. Erik Bedard hates it here and his contract is up soon. Andy MacPhail HAS to make a trade this season to calm the wolves, so he’ll have to trade somebody. Hey, you’ve gotta trade talent to get talent, and I’m not necessarily opposed to that. Recently, I had the state of mind that all four of those guys are untouchable, but now I’m beginning to think that the only one who can’t be traded is Jeremy Guthrie (yes, even Nick Markakis).
The Orioles line up is littered with aging veterans who are past their prime, such as Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff, Miguel Tejada, and Jay Gibbons. I’m beginning to think that Jay Gibbons may have been involved the steroid scandal. Of course, this is purely speculation, but has anyone else noticed that his forearm and bicep size have shrunk (not to mention his batting average and power numbers)? We need to drop these guys like a bad habit and quick…it’s time to clean out the Warehouse and get some value in the process.
With the minor league system being a complete travesty, besides J.R. House and Matt Weiters, and Weiters isn’t even signed yet, the O’s are going to need to make a splash in the free agency market. But is this offseason the time to do it? We’re not going to win next year either, so I say wait until 2009 to make some serious moves in free agency. Look at the available players in ’09…Vlad Guerrero (we should have him anyway), Andruw Jones, John Lackey, Jake Peavy, Brad Penny, Johan Santana, Jason Bay, Adrian Beltre, Miguel Cabrera, Matt Holiday, Magglio Ordonez (maybe…I think he has an option that season), Reed Johnson. Wow…mark my words, the 2009 baseball offseason will be the most interesting few months in sports EVER. Not to mention, the contracts of Tejada, Huff, and Mora (among others) will be up, so that will give us an opportunity to clean house. Obviously, the O’s won’t sweep up all of those guys, but they should make moves to get 3 or 4 young talented free agents in ’09.
In short, the State of the Union is pretty crappy, but it can be fixed, and it SHOULD be fixed because the fans of Baltimore deserve it. Remember, Peter Angelos won’t live forever.
We NEVER stop talking Baltimore Sports on 1570 AM WNST.
http://www.wnst.net
click to listen live anywhere in the world
Sunday, July 1, 2007
MLB All-Star Game: Stars and Snubs
Cross-published on http://www.armchairgm.com/
Stars: These guys deserved the vote, but most of them flew under the radar this season despite playing great baseball.
Michael Young, SS, Texas Rangers: Batting .293 and playing spectacular defense, he also leads the Rangers in hits and extra base hits. He also seems to be the most clutch hitter on this struggling ball club. He only trails Sosa in the race for the team lead in steaks. Jeter was a good pick to start the mid-summer classic, regardless of the voting strength of Yankees’ nation, but Young is having a great season and is not being properly acknowledged by the general public.
Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles: The lone O-bird to make the All-Star Roster, Roberts is batting .327 and is 3rd in the league in stolen bases, and is better than the top two (Reyes and Pierre) in CS. He also leads the O’s in hits and runs scored, so he is one of the bright spots of a struggling franchise. Placido Polanco is having a better season and deserves the start, but it’s good to see Roberts on the roster.
Jorge Posada, C, New York Yankees: Why is Pudge starting the All-Star game? This just boggles my mind, especially because of the perennial pull from Yankee’s nation in voting. He leads all starting catchers in BA, he’s 2nd in RBIs, slugging, and HR, and is a better defensive catcher than Victor Martinez (who leads all offensive categories that he is second in, and he isn’t starting the All-Star game either). Perhaps Martinez deserves the nod because, at the time, the Indians are in first place in the AL Central, but Posada is a better catcher defensively and has comparable numbers in all offensive categories (except in RBI where Martinez clearly has the upper hand, but he doesn’t bat in a nearly 200 million dollar club house where he isn’t overshadowed in the lineup)
Snubs:
Sammy Sosa, OF, Texas Rangers: Certainly Sammy deserves all of the scrutiny that goes along with the Steroid Era in baseball, but remember, he has been hitting against pitchers who have been juiced as well. I don’t want to defend or advocate steroid use, but pitchers in this era are just as much, if not more at fault, than the big-name home run hitters like Big Mac, Bonds, Sosa, etc. We cannot crucify Sosa and Bonds without holding the same witch-hunt for pitchers like Roger Clemens, who is just as old, probably older (I’m not going to research birthdays), as these other guys. For some reason, people do not want to associate big-name pitchers with steroid use…I guess it’s because of nostalgic purposes…spare me. The pitchers in the game who are setting records in the Steroid Era, like Clemens and Trevor Hoffman, should be under just as much scrutiny as Bonds and Sosa…but they aren’t, for whatever reason, and that’s sad. Maybe it’s because Cy Young’s record of 511 wins is untouchable (wait, wasn’t Gehrig’s record untouchable?) or the fact that (for the most part) pitchers don't get the same press coverage…but I don’t want to advocate this B.S. notion that pitchers aren’t as much at fault as other ‘roid users, although some experts have pointed the finger more at the pitchers than the hitters. Regardless, remember that Young pitched in the dead-ball era, which had its own problems (see the 1919 Black Sox)…but, I digress…someone who has reached the 600 HR milestone, .255 BA, 63 RBI (tied for fourth), .476 slugging, 14 HR, should be in the mid-summer classic, at least as a reserve…think about all of the other players who used steroids and didn’t hit 600 HR.
Jeremy Guthrie, SP, Baltimore Orioles: Call me a homer, but Guthrie deserved an All-Star nod. No, I didn’t expect him to make the roster, but it’s a shame that he wasn’t awarded this opportunity. Just look at the numbers. 2.63 ERA, which, last I checked, was second-best in the AL. Yeah, his record is 4-2, but that does not show his dominance of this league. He is the king of the no-decision and has more movement on his two-seamer than Chris Brown has in “Stomp The Yard” (yeah, I like that movie). To have that low of an ERA and not having gaudy win numbers in 12 GS and 18 G shows that as a fact. His run-support has been awful, and he should be 13-1 going into the All-Star break. Leyland really dropped the ball here.
Dmitri Young, 1B, Washington Nationals: Don’t wanna leave the National League out here, although I’m not as fluent in the NL as I am with the AL, so I’m sure I missed someone here (if I did, please correct me). “Da Meat Hook” deserved the nod this year, as he is third in the NL in batting average. He’s also slugging .502, hitting an unprecedented 21 doubles and 37 RBI on a crappy team. His RBI numbers would be higher if he weren’t playing for the AAA knock-off that is the Washington Nationals.
Orlando Cabrera, SS, Los Angeles Angels: This one really stands out to me. He is hitting .337 (4th in the AL), has 9 stolen bases, 48 RBI, 5 HR, and 110 hits. He also has less errors than starter Derek Jeter, and he's on a first place team. Why isn't he on the roster?
I’m sure there are others (like Jimmy Rollins: .283 BA, 14 HR, 37 RBI, .513 slugging...I gotta be honest, I just don't like the Phillies)…these are just a few that jump off the page to me…your comments/thoughts are welcome…please comment or email me at athomas3@washcoll.edu
Oh, and Melvin Mora was safe...look at the tape.
Stars: These guys deserved the vote, but most of them flew under the radar this season despite playing great baseball.
Michael Young, SS, Texas Rangers: Batting .293 and playing spectacular defense, he also leads the Rangers in hits and extra base hits. He also seems to be the most clutch hitter on this struggling ball club. He only trails Sosa in the race for the team lead in steaks. Jeter was a good pick to start the mid-summer classic, regardless of the voting strength of Yankees’ nation, but Young is having a great season and is not being properly acknowledged by the general public.
Brian Roberts, 2B, Baltimore Orioles: The lone O-bird to make the All-Star Roster, Roberts is batting .327 and is 3rd in the league in stolen bases, and is better than the top two (Reyes and Pierre) in CS. He also leads the O’s in hits and runs scored, so he is one of the bright spots of a struggling franchise. Placido Polanco is having a better season and deserves the start, but it’s good to see Roberts on the roster.
Jorge Posada, C, New York Yankees: Why is Pudge starting the All-Star game? This just boggles my mind, especially because of the perennial pull from Yankee’s nation in voting. He leads all starting catchers in BA, he’s 2nd in RBIs, slugging, and HR, and is a better defensive catcher than Victor Martinez (who leads all offensive categories that he is second in, and he isn’t starting the All-Star game either). Perhaps Martinez deserves the nod because, at the time, the Indians are in first place in the AL Central, but Posada is a better catcher defensively and has comparable numbers in all offensive categories (except in RBI where Martinez clearly has the upper hand, but he doesn’t bat in a nearly 200 million dollar club house where he isn’t overshadowed in the lineup)
Snubs:
Sammy Sosa, OF, Texas Rangers: Certainly Sammy deserves all of the scrutiny that goes along with the Steroid Era in baseball, but remember, he has been hitting against pitchers who have been juiced as well. I don’t want to defend or advocate steroid use, but pitchers in this era are just as much, if not more at fault, than the big-name home run hitters like Big Mac, Bonds, Sosa, etc. We cannot crucify Sosa and Bonds without holding the same witch-hunt for pitchers like Roger Clemens, who is just as old, probably older (I’m not going to research birthdays), as these other guys. For some reason, people do not want to associate big-name pitchers with steroid use…I guess it’s because of nostalgic purposes…spare me. The pitchers in the game who are setting records in the Steroid Era, like Clemens and Trevor Hoffman, should be under just as much scrutiny as Bonds and Sosa…but they aren’t, for whatever reason, and that’s sad. Maybe it’s because Cy Young’s record of 511 wins is untouchable (wait, wasn’t Gehrig’s record untouchable?) or the fact that (for the most part) pitchers don't get the same press coverage…but I don’t want to advocate this B.S. notion that pitchers aren’t as much at fault as other ‘roid users, although some experts have pointed the finger more at the pitchers than the hitters. Regardless, remember that Young pitched in the dead-ball era, which had its own problems (see the 1919 Black Sox)…but, I digress…someone who has reached the 600 HR milestone, .255 BA, 63 RBI (tied for fourth), .476 slugging, 14 HR, should be in the mid-summer classic, at least as a reserve…think about all of the other players who used steroids and didn’t hit 600 HR.
Jeremy Guthrie, SP, Baltimore Orioles: Call me a homer, but Guthrie deserved an All-Star nod. No, I didn’t expect him to make the roster, but it’s a shame that he wasn’t awarded this opportunity. Just look at the numbers. 2.63 ERA, which, last I checked, was second-best in the AL. Yeah, his record is 4-2, but that does not show his dominance of this league. He is the king of the no-decision and has more movement on his two-seamer than Chris Brown has in “Stomp The Yard” (yeah, I like that movie). To have that low of an ERA and not having gaudy win numbers in 12 GS and 18 G shows that as a fact. His run-support has been awful, and he should be 13-1 going into the All-Star break. Leyland really dropped the ball here.
Dmitri Young, 1B, Washington Nationals: Don’t wanna leave the National League out here, although I’m not as fluent in the NL as I am with the AL, so I’m sure I missed someone here (if I did, please correct me). “Da Meat Hook” deserved the nod this year, as he is third in the NL in batting average. He’s also slugging .502, hitting an unprecedented 21 doubles and 37 RBI on a crappy team. His RBI numbers would be higher if he weren’t playing for the AAA knock-off that is the Washington Nationals.
Orlando Cabrera, SS, Los Angeles Angels: This one really stands out to me. He is hitting .337 (4th in the AL), has 9 stolen bases, 48 RBI, 5 HR, and 110 hits. He also has less errors than starter Derek Jeter, and he's on a first place team. Why isn't he on the roster?
I’m sure there are others (like Jimmy Rollins: .283 BA, 14 HR, 37 RBI, .513 slugging...I gotta be honest, I just don't like the Phillies)…these are just a few that jump off the page to me…your comments/thoughts are welcome…please comment or email me at athomas3@washcoll.edu
Oh, and Melvin Mora was safe...look at the tape.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
It's time to stick a fork in the Yankees, Clemens...was Perlozzo actually the reason for the O's ineptitude?
Cross-published on http://www.armchairGM.com
If the New York Yankees get swept by the lowly Baltimore Orioles tonight at Camden Yards, the Yankees season is officially over. As of now, they sit 11 games behind the Red Sox, and they're lucky it's not more than that as Boston just got swept in Seattle. They also sit 8.5 games out of the Wild Card, with Detroit and Cleveland sharing the lead. The Tigers and the Indians are better teams than the Yankees are this year, so I can't see them overtaking the wild card. They'll also have to leap-frog the Blue Jays, Twins, A's, and Mariners.
Roger Clemens is also finished. He is 1-3 with a 5.32 ERA...not exactly worth $17 million (or whatever ridiculous amount they're paying him to suck). His splitter is totally ineffective. Batters are recognizing it out his hand and are just not swinging at the ball. Maybe he's tipping that pitch, but his splitter not working is one of the reasons why he had NO strikeouts last night in Baltimore. Speaking of pitching last night, Erik Bedard, although he IS a jerk, stepped on the throats of the Bronx Bombers last night. He made Derek Jeter look silly (twice) and his curveball was absolutely disgusting.
Back to the Yankees...the bullpen is atrocious. As an O's fan, that's certainly an example of the pot calling the kettle black (cliche alert), but at least the O's 'pen can throw the ball over the plate (most of the time REALLY over the plate). With runners at first and second, Scott Proctor walked back-to-back runners on Tuesday night to allow the walk-off run. The starters and set-up pitchers blow leads and do not allow themselves to get to Mariano Rivera. The Yankees are dead last in the majors with 9 saves on the season...who would have thought that would happen back in April?
The roster is aging, their starting pitching is not all that good, the bullpen is terrible, and recently, they can't hit the ball. That spells danger when trailing by 11 games in the division.
Dave Trembley
Was Sam Perlozzo REALLY the reason for the Orioles problems? At first, I thought he did not deserve to get the axe, but look at the statistics. Interim manager Dave Trembley has a .625 winning percentage and the bullpen hasn't blown the game yet under his management (give it time). The players have responded to his challenges and coaching style. They're more interested in the games, and that's obvious by the mood in the dugout. Most of the time, the players are standing on the top step of the dugout and have their heads in the game. He has shaken up the line up a bit, and that has seemed to spark a few bats. Yeah, it's only been 8 games, but if they continue to play the way they're playing right now, the O's are looking like they might be able to finish near .500 this season. Maybe this guy knows what he's doing...we'll see.
If the New York Yankees get swept by the lowly Baltimore Orioles tonight at Camden Yards, the Yankees season is officially over. As of now, they sit 11 games behind the Red Sox, and they're lucky it's not more than that as Boston just got swept in Seattle. They also sit 8.5 games out of the Wild Card, with Detroit and Cleveland sharing the lead. The Tigers and the Indians are better teams than the Yankees are this year, so I can't see them overtaking the wild card. They'll also have to leap-frog the Blue Jays, Twins, A's, and Mariners.
Roger Clemens is also finished. He is 1-3 with a 5.32 ERA...not exactly worth $17 million (or whatever ridiculous amount they're paying him to suck). His splitter is totally ineffective. Batters are recognizing it out his hand and are just not swinging at the ball. Maybe he's tipping that pitch, but his splitter not working is one of the reasons why he had NO strikeouts last night in Baltimore. Speaking of pitching last night, Erik Bedard, although he IS a jerk, stepped on the throats of the Bronx Bombers last night. He made Derek Jeter look silly (twice) and his curveball was absolutely disgusting.
Back to the Yankees...the bullpen is atrocious. As an O's fan, that's certainly an example of the pot calling the kettle black (cliche alert), but at least the O's 'pen can throw the ball over the plate (most of the time REALLY over the plate). With runners at first and second, Scott Proctor walked back-to-back runners on Tuesday night to allow the walk-off run. The starters and set-up pitchers blow leads and do not allow themselves to get to Mariano Rivera. The Yankees are dead last in the majors with 9 saves on the season...who would have thought that would happen back in April?
The roster is aging, their starting pitching is not all that good, the bullpen is terrible, and recently, they can't hit the ball. That spells danger when trailing by 11 games in the division.
Dave Trembley
Was Sam Perlozzo REALLY the reason for the Orioles problems? At first, I thought he did not deserve to get the axe, but look at the statistics. Interim manager Dave Trembley has a .625 winning percentage and the bullpen hasn't blown the game yet under his management (give it time). The players have responded to his challenges and coaching style. They're more interested in the games, and that's obvious by the mood in the dugout. Most of the time, the players are standing on the top step of the dugout and have their heads in the game. He has shaken up the line up a bit, and that has seemed to spark a few bats. Yeah, it's only been 8 games, but if they continue to play the way they're playing right now, the O's are looking like they might be able to finish near .500 this season. Maybe this guy knows what he's doing...we'll see.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Girardi declines O's offer...
Former Marlins manager and NL Manager of the Year, Joe Girardi, has declined the O's offer to become the new manager of a struggling team. "It was just not the right time," said Girardi. Who can blame him? This team is the laughing stock of the MLB...
Regardless, Baltimore Orioles fans wanted Girardi...if he was to come to town, that meant that the O's were going to clean house (finally), trade the cancer that is Miguel Tejada, among other under-achieving veterans (like Erik Bedard), and bring in new, fresh, young talent, which this team is in DESPERATE need of. Maybe they will still do that, but who is next in line to manage the Orioles? And will the fans be excited for or support the new manager?
Reports are circulating through the local Baltimore sports media, from sources such as 1570 WNST and The Baltimore Sun, that former O's manager Davey Johonson, as well as Dusty Baker, are in the mix for the heir-apparent to Sam Perlozzo, who shouldn't have been fired in the first place...but that's beside the point. We STILL have 3 GMs (MacPhail, Flanagan, and Duquette). I don't care...from the bat boy to the manager, it's time to clean house next season.
But, with this breaking news, Dave Trembley will probably remain manager for the rest of the season. Which I'm OK with...if Girardi wouldn't take this job, let's give Trembley a chance. He's a guy who has managed a ton of minor league games, and was recently described by several baseball people as one of the top five available managers to take over one of the MANY vacant managing positions that will become available either after the All-Star break or certainly before next season...let's see what he's made of.
Anyway, you heard it here first...stay tuned for more Baltimore sports news...
http://www.armchairGM.com
Regardless, Baltimore Orioles fans wanted Girardi...if he was to come to town, that meant that the O's were going to clean house (finally), trade the cancer that is Miguel Tejada, among other under-achieving veterans (like Erik Bedard), and bring in new, fresh, young talent, which this team is in DESPERATE need of. Maybe they will still do that, but who is next in line to manage the Orioles? And will the fans be excited for or support the new manager?
Reports are circulating through the local Baltimore sports media, from sources such as 1570 WNST and The Baltimore Sun, that former O's manager Davey Johonson, as well as Dusty Baker, are in the mix for the heir-apparent to Sam Perlozzo, who shouldn't have been fired in the first place...but that's beside the point. We STILL have 3 GMs (MacPhail, Flanagan, and Duquette). I don't care...from the bat boy to the manager, it's time to clean house next season.
But, with this breaking news, Dave Trembley will probably remain manager for the rest of the season. Which I'm OK with...if Girardi wouldn't take this job, let's give Trembley a chance. He's a guy who has managed a ton of minor league games, and was recently described by several baseball people as one of the top five available managers to take over one of the MANY vacant managing positions that will become available either after the All-Star break or certainly before next season...let's see what he's made of.
Anyway, you heard it here first...stay tuned for more Baltimore sports news...
http://www.armchairGM.com
MLB Quick Hits: Griffey, Sosa, and the State of the Orioles
Sammy Sosa hit his 600th home run last night. Regardless of what he may or may not have put into his body, this is still a great accomplishment. He joins only Aaron, Bonds, Mays, and Ruth as a member of the 600 home run club. As a Baltimore Oriole fan, it is suprising to see Sosa to return to his masher status considering he hit around .220 for the O-birds two years ago. Where were you then, Sammy?!
Anyway, I think Ken Griffey, Jr. hitting his 582nd home run is a much bigger accomplishment. Why? Because there is no doubt in anyone's mind that Griff NEVER used the juice. Not to mention, he will probably reach 600 this year, after (by my calculations) 2 1/2-3 years taken off of his career by injuries. He has always had the prettiest, most fluid swing ever since he entered the league with the Mariners...and his cap size or biceps have never changed. And how fitting is it that he is about to pass Mark McGwire on the all-time home run list? Big Mac is one of the poster boys of the steroid era, right up there with Bonds and Palmeiro. To see someone who everyone knows is clean about to pass him in the record books, and doing it the RIGHT way, is very refreshing and is GREAT for baseball.
It has been reported by ESPN and the Baltimore Sun that the O's have given Joe Girardi an offer for the managing position. I say that Girardi should grab the O's by their shorts and hold them hostage...it has been a very public ordeal...everyone KNOWS that the Orioles want Girardi...he's their man, especially with Andy MacPhail recently taking the COO position. The Orioles are required to give Girardi whatever he wants...the fans demand it. Hopefully he's stupid enough to take this job, 'cuz we'd love to have him in Birdland!
Speaking of the O's, why is nobody talking about Jeremy Guthrie? He is an All-Star caliber pitcher, with more moves on his two-seam fastball than Usher has on the dance floor. He also has the second lowest ERA since he began his work in the O's starting rotation. His record (3-1) may not suggest it, but he has held opponents to 2 earned runs or less in 9 of his last 10 starts, which includes the GEM he pitched on Mother's Day at Fenway Park...by my counts, he SHOULD be sitting at 9-1 (thank you, bullpen)...thank God All-Star voting for pitchers isn't left up to the fans, and, hopefully, the manager of the AL All-Star Team will recognize Guthrie's dominance of the league come early July. Cleveland, why did you let him go? Frankly, I don't care, but thanks for the gift!
http://www.armchairGM.com
Anyway, I think Ken Griffey, Jr. hitting his 582nd home run is a much bigger accomplishment. Why? Because there is no doubt in anyone's mind that Griff NEVER used the juice. Not to mention, he will probably reach 600 this year, after (by my calculations) 2 1/2-3 years taken off of his career by injuries. He has always had the prettiest, most fluid swing ever since he entered the league with the Mariners...and his cap size or biceps have never changed. And how fitting is it that he is about to pass Mark McGwire on the all-time home run list? Big Mac is one of the poster boys of the steroid era, right up there with Bonds and Palmeiro. To see someone who everyone knows is clean about to pass him in the record books, and doing it the RIGHT way, is very refreshing and is GREAT for baseball.
It has been reported by ESPN and the Baltimore Sun that the O's have given Joe Girardi an offer for the managing position. I say that Girardi should grab the O's by their shorts and hold them hostage...it has been a very public ordeal...everyone KNOWS that the Orioles want Girardi...he's their man, especially with Andy MacPhail recently taking the COO position. The Orioles are required to give Girardi whatever he wants...the fans demand it. Hopefully he's stupid enough to take this job, 'cuz we'd love to have him in Birdland!
Speaking of the O's, why is nobody talking about Jeremy Guthrie? He is an All-Star caliber pitcher, with more moves on his two-seam fastball than Usher has on the dance floor. He also has the second lowest ERA since he began his work in the O's starting rotation. His record (3-1) may not suggest it, but he has held opponents to 2 earned runs or less in 9 of his last 10 starts, which includes the GEM he pitched on Mother's Day at Fenway Park...by my counts, he SHOULD be sitting at 9-1 (thank you, bullpen)...thank God All-Star voting for pitchers isn't left up to the fans, and, hopefully, the manager of the AL All-Star Team will recognize Guthrie's dominance of the league come early July. Cleveland, why did you let him go? Frankly, I don't care, but thanks for the gift!
http://www.armchairGM.com
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Pre-Season NFL Power Rankings
This may be a bit premature, but with the soap opera going on down at the Warehouse, it’s time to talk Ravens and NFL Football. Here are my pre-season power rankings…write ‘em down and put it on the board, here’s how it looks going into training camp.
1. New England Patriots: It’s hard to argue against the defending champion Colts, but with the acquisitions of a reborn Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, and Donte Stallworth (among others), the Patriots have got to be the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Some have talked about a 16-0 season…we’ll see about that.
2. Indianapolis Colts: The defending champs come in at #2 and will be playing in Foxboro for the AFC Championship. They lost some key players on defense, like Cato June and Nick Harper, which is why they don’t rank #1 on my list…but they still have Peyton Manning and that electric offense.
3. San Diego Chargers: Speaking of an electric offense, the Bolts have the best player in the game in LaDanian Tomlinson at running back, an emerging QB in Phillip Rivers who can only get better, and a young, fast, ball-hawking defense. They’ll get ousted in the divisional round by the Pats.
4. Baltimore Ravens: Coming off of the best regular season in franchise history, the Ravens look to repeat as AFC North Champs in an increasingly weak division. Filling the void that Adalius Thomas left will not be a one man job; Bart Scott, who played some safety in college, will fill the void in pass coverage, and Jarrett Johnson will be an improvement over AD against the run. The McGahee acquisition will give the offense a legitimate running threat, which it lacked last year. Demetrius Williams is an emerging star at the WR position, and may steal the starting role from Derrick Mason mid-season. Their brutal schedule may derail the quest for another Super Bowl, but it’s easy to see the Purple City Bird Gang going deep in the playoffs.
5. New Orleans Saints: My pick for the NFC Champion. They added some veteran talent on defense and had a solid draft. It’s all downhill from here for Reggie Bush; with one year under his belt, he’s only going to get better. Look for Drew Brees to start the Pro Bowl.
6. Denver Broncos: AFC West rivals to the Chargers, look for the Broncos to have a 10 win season. The Dre Bly signing makes the three-headed monster of Bly, Champ Bailey, and Dominique Foxworth will make the Bronco’s #1 against the pass this season. Problems on offense will cause an early oust in the playoffs.
7. Philadelphia Eagles: Everytime someone tells Donovan McNabb he can’t do something, they always end up eating crow. With no big names in the receiving corps, the offense will lack explosiveness. But with Westbrook and McNabb, they will be efficient. The Eagles will have a top 10 defense and will win the NFC East, and will probably face the Saints in the NFC Championship game…who else will?
8. New York Jets: The acquisition of Thomas Jones will prove vital to the success of the Jets this season. Eric Mangini is one of the best coaches in the NFL, and they picked up two sure-fire starters on defense in the draft. Jonathan Vilma isn’t the next Ray Lewis as some proclaimed, but he is a good middle linebacker with an underrated defense behind him. Cotchery will have another big year.
9. Chicago Bears: Off-field problems with Lance Briggs and Tank Johnson, and with Tommy Harris repeatedly kicking Rex Grossman in his coin purse (wait, he was just kidding), the Bears will not repeat their 13-3 season. They will win a weak NFC North division, but will not repeat as NFC Champs.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Again, off-field problems will lead to problems on the field. The defense is average at best, and Palmer won’t have Chris Henry for eight games, but will still have Chad Johnson and TJ Whosyamama. The offense won’t be able to offset the defensive shortcomings, but they will be in the wild card hunt. Instead of investing in better facilities or free agents, the Bengals should buy some good legal advice—or at least half a brain to split amongst the team so they stay out of the slammer.
11. Seattle Seahawks: Seattle made some serious upgrades on the defensive side of the ball by adding Patrick Kerney and Deon Grant. The once formidable offensive line is still in question two years removed from Steve Hutchinson’s departure to Minnesota. The offense should be good, but can Hasselbeck and Alexander stay healthy? If so, look for them to win the JV division of the JV conference, the NFC West.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars: Defensively, Jacksonville should be just as good as they have been in the last three years. There is some healthy competition brewing at the quarterback position between Leftwich and Garrard. Reportedly, Leftwich has the upper hand…he reported to camp in the best physical condition since his arrival. If that’s the case, then why all the talks about Daunte Culpepper? History shows that instability at the quarterback position can be disastrous to a team. Look for Maurice Jones-Drew to have a break out year.
13. Dallas Cowboys: Has anyone heard from Terrell Owens in the past few months? That’s a good sign for the Cowboys, because locker room chemistry is vital to a team that lost in that fashion in the playoffs. Tony Romo has surpassed Troy Aikman celebrity level in the lone star state; the Cowboys are hoping that translates to Aikman-like play on the field, minus all the concussions. Look for them to challenge the Eagles for the NFC East title, but they’ll probably fall short if McNabb stays healthy.
14. San Francisco 49ers: Don’t look now, but the 49ers are on the brink of thriving in the NFL despite York’s ownership. Mike Nolan, another successful Brian Billick protégé, is emerging as a great coach. Alex Smith had a quietly prosperous season last year. Frank Gore is a tank and Vernon Davis is a monster. The addition of Darrell Jackson gives Smith a vertical threat and they’ll be able to stretch the field better. They also had a great draft and Nate Clements will help improve the pass coverage.
15. Carolina Panthers: The under-achieving Panthers look to rebound from a disappointing 8-8 season. Once the favorites to win the NFC, the Panthers have slid under the radar this offseason, but the addition of Chad Lavalais will improve an already stellar defensive line. David Carr may be the best back up quarterback in the league, so the Panthers are set at the QB position.With Keyshawn Johnson beginning a new career as an analyst off the field, the Panthers have questions at the WR position because Steve Smith is their only real threat.
16. Kansas City Chiefs: With Larry Johnson getting so many touches, he’s bound to either burn out or get injured if they don’t start relying more on the passing game. Damon Huard exemplifies what the quarterback position used to represent in Baltimore—just don’t turn the ball over. He’ll be in competition with Brodie Croyle for the starting position. Again, instability at the QB position leaves me skeptical. The WR position lacks explosiveness. The defense will be improved with the additions of Donnie Edwards and Napoleon Harris.
17. St. Louis Rams: Adding Drew Bennet gives Marc Bulger yet another offensive threat—Bulger will be a top 5 fantasy quarterback. Steven Jackson is motivated and is predicting to break the NFL record for yards from scrimmage. I don’t know about all that, but he should have a big year both running and catching the ball. The defense is still questionable as they added some B list free agents like Mike Rumph. But, if the defense holds up, the stellar offense makes them a legitimate threat in the NFC West.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Call it a hunch, but I don’t think the Steelers will make the playoffs this season. Hines Ward is entering the twilight of his career. Big Ben is still recovering from that hit from Bart Scott, who straight up broke him in half during that embarrassment of a game vs. the Ravens. Willie Parker should have another big season, but the running game won’t be enough to lift the offense. The defense should be above average, but they lost a leader in Joey Porter. The Bengals and the Ravens will prove to be too much for them in ’07. It will take a few years for the Steelers to thrive under new head coach Mike Tomlin after the departure of local icon Bill Cowher.
19. Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals had an outstanding draft, but they’re not quite there yet. The defense still needs improvement and the offensive line is unproven. Matt Leinart is about to turn the corner, and Pro Bowl wideouts Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald will certainly help. Edgerrin James is due for another sub par year running behind an untested offensive line and with no fullback to lead block.
20. New York Giants: This season will make or break Eli Manning’s career, it’s do or die time. He will never live up to the hype of his older brother, especially without a solid running game. The Brandon Jacobs/Reuben Droughns combination will prove inefficient, especially behind a sub par offensive line that is sans Luke Petigout. They lost some big names on defensive like LaVar Arrigton. Look for Big Blue to finish near the bottom of the NFC East.
21. Tennessee Titans: The Titans off-field problems surrounding Pacman Jones and the loss of starters Travis Henry and Drew Bennet will prove too difficult to overcome this season. Vince Young is a heck of a football player, but he needs to be surrounded with more talent in order for him to thrive. They had a pretty bad offseason, where they dropped the ball in the draft and have failed to make solid free agent acquisitions. The defense will be below average and will struggle in pass coverage.
22. Atlanta Falcons: Picking up aging Joe Horn was a bit of a head scratcher. Mike Vick is fighting dogs and trying to smuggle bongs through airports. They lost Patrick Kerney. This team is really hard to get a feel for, but they still have the potential to be competitive. Maybe 22 is too high, but maybe it’s not.
23. Miami Dolphins: Another team that’s hard to get a feel for. Picking up Trent Green and Joey Porter will help the team immensely, both from a leadership standpoint and play on the field. Ronnie Brown will make or break this season. If they can establish the run, the pass game will open up and the defense will improve based on field position. The defense is aging, but if they can hold up, the Dolphins could have a good season.
24. Buffalo Bills: JP Losman showed some promise last year at times, and at other times he struggle mightily. Losing Willis McGahee will pose a real problem for a running game that will struggle behind and awful offensive line. Lee Evans is the only real deep threat at wideout, and the tight end position is one of anonymity.
25. Minnesota Vikings: The offensive line is one of the best in the league and Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson should thrive running behind it. The defense should be solid, but the passing game will be one of the worst in the NFL.
26. Cleveland Browns: The Browns had a great draft, but aren’t quite there yet. Quinn and Thomas are still rookies. Charlie Frye is not the answer at QB for this team. The defense is sub par, but Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow can stretch the field on offense. They will finish last in the AFC North.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs made some great moves on defense like picking up Cato June. But there is instability at the quarterback position, which, as I’ve said, usually spells trouble. The offense could be good, but it could also be as bad as it was last year. They have improved, but they will still probably finish last in the NFC South.
28. Green Bay Packers: Oh, Brett…why did you come back to play for this team? The pass coverage should be the worst in the league, and there will be next to nothing in the running game. I feel sorry for Brett, really, I do. Last place in the NFC North.
29. Washington Redskins: The defense is just an abomination. The ‘skins only had one first day draft pick and failed to address needs on the defensive line. The offense shows some promise, but they’re going to have to outscore everyone this year to win. The NFC East is a tough division, stocked with good run defenses that can stop Portis. Last place in the NFC East.
30. Houston Texans: Houston continues to ignore needs on the offensive line and the offensive side of the ball in general. I don’t even want to go into the defense…I’m done here.
31. Oakland Raiders: Only because I think JaMarcus Russell is going to be a stud did I rank them about the Lions. This team still needs a lot of help in a lot of areas. Robert Gallery is a bum and is the biggest first round bust of the past five years. They were calling him the next Jonathan Ogden…guess not.
32. Detroit Lions: Just…no…Calvin Johnson will be able to help this team down the road if they surround him with enough talent (i.e. someone to throw him the ball). The offensive line is improved, but is young and needs some seasoning. Losing Dre Bly on the defense is a big problem considering he was the only real star on that side of the ball.
1. New England Patriots: It’s hard to argue against the defending champion Colts, but with the acquisitions of a reborn Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, and Donte Stallworth (among others), the Patriots have got to be the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Some have talked about a 16-0 season…we’ll see about that.
2. Indianapolis Colts: The defending champs come in at #2 and will be playing in Foxboro for the AFC Championship. They lost some key players on defense, like Cato June and Nick Harper, which is why they don’t rank #1 on my list…but they still have Peyton Manning and that electric offense.
3. San Diego Chargers: Speaking of an electric offense, the Bolts have the best player in the game in LaDanian Tomlinson at running back, an emerging QB in Phillip Rivers who can only get better, and a young, fast, ball-hawking defense. They’ll get ousted in the divisional round by the Pats.
4. Baltimore Ravens: Coming off of the best regular season in franchise history, the Ravens look to repeat as AFC North Champs in an increasingly weak division. Filling the void that Adalius Thomas left will not be a one man job; Bart Scott, who played some safety in college, will fill the void in pass coverage, and Jarrett Johnson will be an improvement over AD against the run. The McGahee acquisition will give the offense a legitimate running threat, which it lacked last year. Demetrius Williams is an emerging star at the WR position, and may steal the starting role from Derrick Mason mid-season. Their brutal schedule may derail the quest for another Super Bowl, but it’s easy to see the Purple City Bird Gang going deep in the playoffs.
5. New Orleans Saints: My pick for the NFC Champion. They added some veteran talent on defense and had a solid draft. It’s all downhill from here for Reggie Bush; with one year under his belt, he’s only going to get better. Look for Drew Brees to start the Pro Bowl.
6. Denver Broncos: AFC West rivals to the Chargers, look for the Broncos to have a 10 win season. The Dre Bly signing makes the three-headed monster of Bly, Champ Bailey, and Dominique Foxworth will make the Bronco’s #1 against the pass this season. Problems on offense will cause an early oust in the playoffs.
7. Philadelphia Eagles: Everytime someone tells Donovan McNabb he can’t do something, they always end up eating crow. With no big names in the receiving corps, the offense will lack explosiveness. But with Westbrook and McNabb, they will be efficient. The Eagles will have a top 10 defense and will win the NFC East, and will probably face the Saints in the NFC Championship game…who else will?
8. New York Jets: The acquisition of Thomas Jones will prove vital to the success of the Jets this season. Eric Mangini is one of the best coaches in the NFL, and they picked up two sure-fire starters on defense in the draft. Jonathan Vilma isn’t the next Ray Lewis as some proclaimed, but he is a good middle linebacker with an underrated defense behind him. Cotchery will have another big year.
9. Chicago Bears: Off-field problems with Lance Briggs and Tank Johnson, and with Tommy Harris repeatedly kicking Rex Grossman in his coin purse (wait, he was just kidding), the Bears will not repeat their 13-3 season. They will win a weak NFC North division, but will not repeat as NFC Champs.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Again, off-field problems will lead to problems on the field. The defense is average at best, and Palmer won’t have Chris Henry for eight games, but will still have Chad Johnson and TJ Whosyamama. The offense won’t be able to offset the defensive shortcomings, but they will be in the wild card hunt. Instead of investing in better facilities or free agents, the Bengals should buy some good legal advice—or at least half a brain to split amongst the team so they stay out of the slammer.
11. Seattle Seahawks: Seattle made some serious upgrades on the defensive side of the ball by adding Patrick Kerney and Deon Grant. The once formidable offensive line is still in question two years removed from Steve Hutchinson’s departure to Minnesota. The offense should be good, but can Hasselbeck and Alexander stay healthy? If so, look for them to win the JV division of the JV conference, the NFC West.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars: Defensively, Jacksonville should be just as good as they have been in the last three years. There is some healthy competition brewing at the quarterback position between Leftwich and Garrard. Reportedly, Leftwich has the upper hand…he reported to camp in the best physical condition since his arrival. If that’s the case, then why all the talks about Daunte Culpepper? History shows that instability at the quarterback position can be disastrous to a team. Look for Maurice Jones-Drew to have a break out year.
13. Dallas Cowboys: Has anyone heard from Terrell Owens in the past few months? That’s a good sign for the Cowboys, because locker room chemistry is vital to a team that lost in that fashion in the playoffs. Tony Romo has surpassed Troy Aikman celebrity level in the lone star state; the Cowboys are hoping that translates to Aikman-like play on the field, minus all the concussions. Look for them to challenge the Eagles for the NFC East title, but they’ll probably fall short if McNabb stays healthy.
14. San Francisco 49ers: Don’t look now, but the 49ers are on the brink of thriving in the NFL despite York’s ownership. Mike Nolan, another successful Brian Billick protégé, is emerging as a great coach. Alex Smith had a quietly prosperous season last year. Frank Gore is a tank and Vernon Davis is a monster. The addition of Darrell Jackson gives Smith a vertical threat and they’ll be able to stretch the field better. They also had a great draft and Nate Clements will help improve the pass coverage.
15. Carolina Panthers: The under-achieving Panthers look to rebound from a disappointing 8-8 season. Once the favorites to win the NFC, the Panthers have slid under the radar this offseason, but the addition of Chad Lavalais will improve an already stellar defensive line. David Carr may be the best back up quarterback in the league, so the Panthers are set at the QB position.With Keyshawn Johnson beginning a new career as an analyst off the field, the Panthers have questions at the WR position because Steve Smith is their only real threat.
16. Kansas City Chiefs: With Larry Johnson getting so many touches, he’s bound to either burn out or get injured if they don’t start relying more on the passing game. Damon Huard exemplifies what the quarterback position used to represent in Baltimore—just don’t turn the ball over. He’ll be in competition with Brodie Croyle for the starting position. Again, instability at the QB position leaves me skeptical. The WR position lacks explosiveness. The defense will be improved with the additions of Donnie Edwards and Napoleon Harris.
17. St. Louis Rams: Adding Drew Bennet gives Marc Bulger yet another offensive threat—Bulger will be a top 5 fantasy quarterback. Steven Jackson is motivated and is predicting to break the NFL record for yards from scrimmage. I don’t know about all that, but he should have a big year both running and catching the ball. The defense is still questionable as they added some B list free agents like Mike Rumph. But, if the defense holds up, the stellar offense makes them a legitimate threat in the NFC West.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Call it a hunch, but I don’t think the Steelers will make the playoffs this season. Hines Ward is entering the twilight of his career. Big Ben is still recovering from that hit from Bart Scott, who straight up broke him in half during that embarrassment of a game vs. the Ravens. Willie Parker should have another big season, but the running game won’t be enough to lift the offense. The defense should be above average, but they lost a leader in Joey Porter. The Bengals and the Ravens will prove to be too much for them in ’07. It will take a few years for the Steelers to thrive under new head coach Mike Tomlin after the departure of local icon Bill Cowher.
19. Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals had an outstanding draft, but they’re not quite there yet. The defense still needs improvement and the offensive line is unproven. Matt Leinart is about to turn the corner, and Pro Bowl wideouts Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald will certainly help. Edgerrin James is due for another sub par year running behind an untested offensive line and with no fullback to lead block.
20. New York Giants: This season will make or break Eli Manning’s career, it’s do or die time. He will never live up to the hype of his older brother, especially without a solid running game. The Brandon Jacobs/Reuben Droughns combination will prove inefficient, especially behind a sub par offensive line that is sans Luke Petigout. They lost some big names on defensive like LaVar Arrigton. Look for Big Blue to finish near the bottom of the NFC East.
21. Tennessee Titans: The Titans off-field problems surrounding Pacman Jones and the loss of starters Travis Henry and Drew Bennet will prove too difficult to overcome this season. Vince Young is a heck of a football player, but he needs to be surrounded with more talent in order for him to thrive. They had a pretty bad offseason, where they dropped the ball in the draft and have failed to make solid free agent acquisitions. The defense will be below average and will struggle in pass coverage.
22. Atlanta Falcons: Picking up aging Joe Horn was a bit of a head scratcher. Mike Vick is fighting dogs and trying to smuggle bongs through airports. They lost Patrick Kerney. This team is really hard to get a feel for, but they still have the potential to be competitive. Maybe 22 is too high, but maybe it’s not.
23. Miami Dolphins: Another team that’s hard to get a feel for. Picking up Trent Green and Joey Porter will help the team immensely, both from a leadership standpoint and play on the field. Ronnie Brown will make or break this season. If they can establish the run, the pass game will open up and the defense will improve based on field position. The defense is aging, but if they can hold up, the Dolphins could have a good season.
24. Buffalo Bills: JP Losman showed some promise last year at times, and at other times he struggle mightily. Losing Willis McGahee will pose a real problem for a running game that will struggle behind and awful offensive line. Lee Evans is the only real deep threat at wideout, and the tight end position is one of anonymity.
25. Minnesota Vikings: The offensive line is one of the best in the league and Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson should thrive running behind it. The defense should be solid, but the passing game will be one of the worst in the NFL.
26. Cleveland Browns: The Browns had a great draft, but aren’t quite there yet. Quinn and Thomas are still rookies. Charlie Frye is not the answer at QB for this team. The defense is sub par, but Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow can stretch the field on offense. They will finish last in the AFC North.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs made some great moves on defense like picking up Cato June. But there is instability at the quarterback position, which, as I’ve said, usually spells trouble. The offense could be good, but it could also be as bad as it was last year. They have improved, but they will still probably finish last in the NFC South.
28. Green Bay Packers: Oh, Brett…why did you come back to play for this team? The pass coverage should be the worst in the league, and there will be next to nothing in the running game. I feel sorry for Brett, really, I do. Last place in the NFC North.
29. Washington Redskins: The defense is just an abomination. The ‘skins only had one first day draft pick and failed to address needs on the defensive line. The offense shows some promise, but they’re going to have to outscore everyone this year to win. The NFC East is a tough division, stocked with good run defenses that can stop Portis. Last place in the NFC East.
30. Houston Texans: Houston continues to ignore needs on the offensive line and the offensive side of the ball in general. I don’t even want to go into the defense…I’m done here.
31. Oakland Raiders: Only because I think JaMarcus Russell is going to be a stud did I rank them about the Lions. This team still needs a lot of help in a lot of areas. Robert Gallery is a bum and is the biggest first round bust of the past five years. They were calling him the next Jonathan Ogden…guess not.
32. Detroit Lions: Just…no…Calvin Johnson will be able to help this team down the road if they surround him with enough talent (i.e. someone to throw him the ball). The offensive line is improved, but is young and needs some seasoning. Losing Dre Bly on the defense is a big problem considering he was the only real star on that side of the ball.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
O's to meet with Joe Girardi today...
Cross-published on http://www.armchairgm.com/
The Orioles are going to meet with Joe Girardi, former Marlins manager and defending NL Manager of the Year, this afternoon in Chicago to reportedly offer him the managing position. But what can Girardi bring to this club?
Girardi is a fiery, no-nonsense guy, but he is no miracle worker. He had all the success he did with the Marlins last season because he was dealing with a very young team, with most players earning somewhere around the league minimum salary. Some experts predicted the '06 Marlins to set the record for most losses in a season in the modern era. Contrary to logic and popular opinion, Girardi's Marlins were in the wild card race until about mid-September, so they certainly overachieved under his managing.
Why did Girardi get the axe in Miami? Because he didn't get along with the owner. That sounds eerily familiar to the Davey Johnson in Baltimore situation about 10 years ago, so unless Peter Angelos has changed his ways, hiring Girardi would either be a short-lived mistake or wouldn't get past this meeting in Chicago today.
But if he takes the managing position with egos like Tejada, Mora, Huff, etc., can he get through to these players? Barring some unforeseen miracle work with these under-achieving media-bashing jerks, I don't think so. When dealing with a managing style like Girardi's, you can get away confronting younger players because they still feel like they need to earn a roster spot. Players like Mora, who has been quoted saying that no man but his father (who died some time ago) is "allowed to yell" at him, will not respond to this type of managing style.
Thus, if Girardi takes this job offer, it could be an indication that the O's are FINALLY going to do the right thing here and clean house from top to bottom and allow the organization to feel the full effect of Girardi's direction. From Miggie to the bat boy, all notable players except Markakis, Roberts, and Guthrie should be released or traded if the Girardi era is going to start out on the right foot. Girardi's relationship with newly-hired COO Andy MacPhail could play a role in accepting this job. Maybe Peter Angelos got hit on the head and finally woke up after a decade of disappointment.
Speaking of Ol' Petey, where was he yesterday at the press conference? Or Dave Trembley for that matter? That was a head-scratcher...do you think if the Yankees fired Joe Torre that Mr. Steinbrenner wouldn't be front and center answering the tough questions? Another act of cowardice by the worst owner in professional sports.
Or maybe the O's are doing the same old thing...giving the fans false hope for improvement. I don't care what the front office says about Dave Trembley, this managing position is vacant, and nobody in their right mind would want to manage this team under these circumstances. But there are only 31 other jobs like this in the world, and ego and hubris come into play when someone like Girardi is offered a Major League managing position.
So, if Joe Girardi takes this job, look for the Orioles to do the right thing and clean house after this season. If he declines the job, we're back to square one and probably will have to deal with this for ANOTHER decade.
The Orioles are going to meet with Joe Girardi, former Marlins manager and defending NL Manager of the Year, this afternoon in Chicago to reportedly offer him the managing position. But what can Girardi bring to this club?
Girardi is a fiery, no-nonsense guy, but he is no miracle worker. He had all the success he did with the Marlins last season because he was dealing with a very young team, with most players earning somewhere around the league minimum salary. Some experts predicted the '06 Marlins to set the record for most losses in a season in the modern era. Contrary to logic and popular opinion, Girardi's Marlins were in the wild card race until about mid-September, so they certainly overachieved under his managing.
Why did Girardi get the axe in Miami? Because he didn't get along with the owner. That sounds eerily familiar to the Davey Johnson in Baltimore situation about 10 years ago, so unless Peter Angelos has changed his ways, hiring Girardi would either be a short-lived mistake or wouldn't get past this meeting in Chicago today.
But if he takes the managing position with egos like Tejada, Mora, Huff, etc., can he get through to these players? Barring some unforeseen miracle work with these under-achieving media-bashing jerks, I don't think so. When dealing with a managing style like Girardi's, you can get away confronting younger players because they still feel like they need to earn a roster spot. Players like Mora, who has been quoted saying that no man but his father (who died some time ago) is "allowed to yell" at him, will not respond to this type of managing style.
Thus, if Girardi takes this job offer, it could be an indication that the O's are FINALLY going to do the right thing here and clean house from top to bottom and allow the organization to feel the full effect of Girardi's direction. From Miggie to the bat boy, all notable players except Markakis, Roberts, and Guthrie should be released or traded if the Girardi era is going to start out on the right foot. Girardi's relationship with newly-hired COO Andy MacPhail could play a role in accepting this job. Maybe Peter Angelos got hit on the head and finally woke up after a decade of disappointment.
Speaking of Ol' Petey, where was he yesterday at the press conference? Or Dave Trembley for that matter? That was a head-scratcher...do you think if the Yankees fired Joe Torre that Mr. Steinbrenner wouldn't be front and center answering the tough questions? Another act of cowardice by the worst owner in professional sports.
Or maybe the O's are doing the same old thing...giving the fans false hope for improvement. I don't care what the front office says about Dave Trembley, this managing position is vacant, and nobody in their right mind would want to manage this team under these circumstances. But there are only 31 other jobs like this in the world, and ego and hubris come into play when someone like Girardi is offered a Major League managing position.
So, if Joe Girardi takes this job, look for the Orioles to do the right thing and clean house after this season. If he declines the job, we're back to square one and probably will have to deal with this for ANOTHER decade.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Why I'm kicking myself this morning...
Yesterday at my grandmother's house during a Father's Day celebration, I predicted that if the O's lost this game and got swept by the D'backs, Perlozzo would be fired today. I'm kicking myself for not blogging last night, because now instead of looking like a genius, I look like a self-promoting schmuck. Bullpen coach Dave Trembley takes over for Perlozzo on an interim basis, probably for the remainder of the west coast trip, but (hopefully) not for the remainder of the year. Andy MacPhail replaces Joe Foss as the COO of the team, which I think is an outstanding move. MacPhail is a good baseball guy and hopefully he'll make the move for Teixiera. As long he doesn't become Peter Angelos' sock puppet, he should be able to really help this organization. I don't think MacPhail will allow that to happen...if it does, I see him making it a very public ordeal and/or resigning.
All the signs were there for Perlozzo getting his pink slip...long losing streak, up-coming west coast trip, slumping bats...Sam Perlozzo got the Leo Mazzilli treatment (the last O's manager to get fired mid-season).
It's sad because, although Perlozzo has made some mistakes that have been well documented, he's not the one out there pitching in relief or not hitting in the clutch...I think he did the best he could with what he had, but, as is usually the case, the manager gets whacked because the players lack accountability. With Perlozzo's firing, I also expect pitching coach and best friend Leo "Rainman" Mazzone to walk, whether it be in the near future or after the season. From what I understand, if he walks he doesn't get paid, but Mazzone is at the point in his life where money is no longer an issue and his friendship with Perlozzo will probably supersede any financial incentives. Then again, Mazzone has put a lot of time and effort into this pitching staff and he may stay with the team for the remainder of this season for professional reasons.
I'm also happy that they didn't leave Perlozzo twisting in the wind until the All-Star break or after the season ended...he knew that he wasn't going to manage this ballclub. So who replaces him?
Reports suggest that Davey Johnson and Joe Girardi are at the top of the list to replace Perlozzo. I have a soft spot for Davey Johnson, but Girardi would be the better man for the job. To quote Bill Ordine from the Baltimore Sun, Girardi is the "anti-Perlozzo." He's a fiery, no-nonsense manager that can maybe knock some sense into guys like Tejada who don't even run out groundballs. It would also be great to steal Girardi from the Yankees, who most are looking at to replace Joe Torre.
In my mind, with the hiring of MacPhail and the firing of Perlozzo, this also marks the end of the Jim Duquette era in Baltimore. I can't imagine MacPhail allowing three different people to have their hands in baseball operations. Having an Angelos hand puppet "yes man" like Duquette isn't good for the team. We only need ONE General Manager.
This change could not have come at a better time considering Kevin Millar has made a public announcement that he will call a player's-only meeting before the start of the San Diego series. This has reportedly split the clubhouse, so the new management has some work to do in upholding whatever is left of this team's morale. Some players respect Millar because of his championship pedigree. Others have rolled their eyes and some have even (allegedly) criticized Millar for bringing this to the media, which I agree with. Keep it in-house, don't go shooting your mouth off to the media. At the same time, I think Millar is the right player to call this meeting despite his .243 batting average. Who else would do it? Someone needs to step up and be accountable, and I'm glad to see that Millar cares enough to try and salvage a disastrous 2007 campaign.
I'm sure more will come out of this story...check back frequently for updates. As long as I'm not lazy about updating again, you should hear it here first.
All the signs were there for Perlozzo getting his pink slip...long losing streak, up-coming west coast trip, slumping bats...Sam Perlozzo got the Leo Mazzilli treatment (the last O's manager to get fired mid-season).
It's sad because, although Perlozzo has made some mistakes that have been well documented, he's not the one out there pitching in relief or not hitting in the clutch...I think he did the best he could with what he had, but, as is usually the case, the manager gets whacked because the players lack accountability. With Perlozzo's firing, I also expect pitching coach and best friend Leo "Rainman" Mazzone to walk, whether it be in the near future or after the season. From what I understand, if he walks he doesn't get paid, but Mazzone is at the point in his life where money is no longer an issue and his friendship with Perlozzo will probably supersede any financial incentives. Then again, Mazzone has put a lot of time and effort into this pitching staff and he may stay with the team for the remainder of this season for professional reasons.
I'm also happy that they didn't leave Perlozzo twisting in the wind until the All-Star break or after the season ended...he knew that he wasn't going to manage this ballclub. So who replaces him?
Reports suggest that Davey Johnson and Joe Girardi are at the top of the list to replace Perlozzo. I have a soft spot for Davey Johnson, but Girardi would be the better man for the job. To quote Bill Ordine from the Baltimore Sun, Girardi is the "anti-Perlozzo." He's a fiery, no-nonsense manager that can maybe knock some sense into guys like Tejada who don't even run out groundballs. It would also be great to steal Girardi from the Yankees, who most are looking at to replace Joe Torre.
In my mind, with the hiring of MacPhail and the firing of Perlozzo, this also marks the end of the Jim Duquette era in Baltimore. I can't imagine MacPhail allowing three different people to have their hands in baseball operations. Having an Angelos hand puppet "yes man" like Duquette isn't good for the team. We only need ONE General Manager.
This change could not have come at a better time considering Kevin Millar has made a public announcement that he will call a player's-only meeting before the start of the San Diego series. This has reportedly split the clubhouse, so the new management has some work to do in upholding whatever is left of this team's morale. Some players respect Millar because of his championship pedigree. Others have rolled their eyes and some have even (allegedly) criticized Millar for bringing this to the media, which I agree with. Keep it in-house, don't go shooting your mouth off to the media. At the same time, I think Millar is the right player to call this meeting despite his .243 batting average. Who else would do it? Someone needs to step up and be accountable, and I'm glad to see that Millar cares enough to try and salvage a disastrous 2007 campaign.
I'm sure more will come out of this story...check back frequently for updates. As long as I'm not lazy about updating again, you should hear it here first.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Slap a stamp on it and mail it in...
After dropping 2 of 3 to the Rockies, with a sweep by the Nationals on the horizon, and with the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Yankees on the upcoming schedule, the Orioles are dead in the water.
The O's are in last place in the AL East, and will probably stay there for the rest of the season.
To tell you the truth, I didn't watch the game last night. I tuned in during the bottom of the 2nd inning, saw that we were losing 2-1, sighed, and turned on NFL Network to see if there was anything noteworthy going on with the Ravens. Yup, it's official...we've lost the season series to the Nationals at home and now have the 2nd worst record in all of baseball. Yes, the Devil Rays and Royals are better than the Orioles.
But I did gather some information about the game and the postgame from the Baltimore Sun, Comcast SportsNet, and my co-workers at 1570 WNST. For those who missed it, which is probably most of you, here's how it went:
The game went 11 innings; the Orioles were losing, battled back to tie it, and lost it in the 11th because of, you guessed it, the bullpen. Finally, the bats came alive again and here comes Chris Ray who decided to turn a baseball game into a walk-a-thon.
Ray gave up a bloop single to Fick, who hit it off the end of the back. That's understandable...chances are Fick got fooled and got lucky. Regardless, Tejada and Payton looked confused as to who was going to try to get the fly ball, and one of them probably could have made the play if they weren't day dreaming out there. That kind of stuff reminds me of looking at little league games when the skinny red-head kid with pale skin and seasonal allergies is out in left field sitting on his keister picking grass during a game. The O's also failed to turn a pretty easy double play, giving the Nats an extra out to work with.
In comes Ryan Langerhans, batting under .200. Instead of powering past this struggling hitter with a fastball after getting him in an 0-2 hole, what does Ray do? FOUR CONSECUTIVE SLIDERS out of the zone...you would think maybe he would get the point after the first two missed. I know I've gotten on Ray's case in the past for throwing too many fastballs, but it's a different story when you're pitching to Vladimir Guerrero. When you're up against a guy who is hitting .155, that's the time you get out your paintbrush and use your 96 mph fastball. Guzman comes up and Ray promptly walks the bases loaded. I guess at this point he's thinking about what he's going to eat at the post game meal, because Felipe Lopez comes up a drives another Chris Ray beach ball down the 1st base line for a 3 RBI triple...good night, Gracie.
After the game, Kevin Millar, one of my favorite Orioles, was the ONLY one walking around the clubhouse trying to keep his teammates spirits up. It was reported that people were sitting around on the couch, joking, laughing, carrying on, being pretty apathetic about the embarrassing display of baseball they have been playing for almost a decade. The lethargic attitude pisses me off more than anything about this club right now, but here are a few other things that will probably cause me to go onto some sort of high blood pressure medication before I turn 30, and they all revolve around how the Orioles players and management have treated the fans and the media. Some of the players should take a lesson from Danys Baez and Chris Ray, who have enough respect for the fans to talk to the media. Baez is especially impressive considering he gets booed like Barry Bonds does in Oakland every time he steps on the field at Camden Yards.
1. When the media is allowed into the locker room after the game, it's like someone flicked the lights on in the kitchen of an East Baltimore row home...the roaches scatter. It seems like it's a race to see who can get out of the clubhouse the fastest. Pretty soon we'll see Erik Bedard hopping onto Eutaw Street trying to pull his pants up with one hand while holding his shoes in the other as he bunny hops away from the media. I bet he wears tighty whities. Apparently some of these players aren't man enough to sack up and talk to the media after a loss, and the front office allows, and probably encourages, that sort of behavior.
2. Only three people from WNST have been GRANTED (as if we owe the Orioles something) press passes for the entire season, and I believe Casey Willett is the only employee whose press pass is for the whole season. The other two employees are sporadically granted daily press passes. This could stem from a number of things, most likely because of Nestor's Free The Birds movement, which I think is a great idea. We, as fans, have to try something, anything, to attempt to make a change.
3. (This story brought to you by Drew Forrester of WNST) Brent Harris, the Comcast SportsNet correspondent who covers the Orioles, was finally "granted" a full-season media credential. 65 games into the season, and the ONLY employee who covers the Orioles for Comcast finally gets a press pass...but that's not the worst part. It was the NATIONALS who gave it to him! Unbelievable...I guess once they stopped televising games, the Almightly Orioles sent out a decree across all the land proclaiming all media outlets who do not create revenue for the team are rendered unimportant...then again, the fans and media who are upset with the team "have no idea what it takes to run a baseball team," are "unimportant" and have "delusions of grandeur" (direct quote from Peter Angelos himself).
Mark this date on your calendars, sports fans: July 30th will be our saving grace...Ravens training camp starts.
The O's are in last place in the AL East, and will probably stay there for the rest of the season.
To tell you the truth, I didn't watch the game last night. I tuned in during the bottom of the 2nd inning, saw that we were losing 2-1, sighed, and turned on NFL Network to see if there was anything noteworthy going on with the Ravens. Yup, it's official...we've lost the season series to the Nationals at home and now have the 2nd worst record in all of baseball. Yes, the Devil Rays and Royals are better than the Orioles.
But I did gather some information about the game and the postgame from the Baltimore Sun, Comcast SportsNet, and my co-workers at 1570 WNST. For those who missed it, which is probably most of you, here's how it went:
The game went 11 innings; the Orioles were losing, battled back to tie it, and lost it in the 11th because of, you guessed it, the bullpen. Finally, the bats came alive again and here comes Chris Ray who decided to turn a baseball game into a walk-a-thon.
Ray gave up a bloop single to Fick, who hit it off the end of the back. That's understandable...chances are Fick got fooled and got lucky. Regardless, Tejada and Payton looked confused as to who was going to try to get the fly ball, and one of them probably could have made the play if they weren't day dreaming out there. That kind of stuff reminds me of looking at little league games when the skinny red-head kid with pale skin and seasonal allergies is out in left field sitting on his keister picking grass during a game. The O's also failed to turn a pretty easy double play, giving the Nats an extra out to work with.
In comes Ryan Langerhans, batting under .200. Instead of powering past this struggling hitter with a fastball after getting him in an 0-2 hole, what does Ray do? FOUR CONSECUTIVE SLIDERS out of the zone...you would think maybe he would get the point after the first two missed. I know I've gotten on Ray's case in the past for throwing too many fastballs, but it's a different story when you're pitching to Vladimir Guerrero. When you're up against a guy who is hitting .155, that's the time you get out your paintbrush and use your 96 mph fastball. Guzman comes up and Ray promptly walks the bases loaded. I guess at this point he's thinking about what he's going to eat at the post game meal, because Felipe Lopez comes up a drives another Chris Ray beach ball down the 1st base line for a 3 RBI triple...good night, Gracie.
After the game, Kevin Millar, one of my favorite Orioles, was the ONLY one walking around the clubhouse trying to keep his teammates spirits up. It was reported that people were sitting around on the couch, joking, laughing, carrying on, being pretty apathetic about the embarrassing display of baseball they have been playing for almost a decade. The lethargic attitude pisses me off more than anything about this club right now, but here are a few other things that will probably cause me to go onto some sort of high blood pressure medication before I turn 30, and they all revolve around how the Orioles players and management have treated the fans and the media. Some of the players should take a lesson from Danys Baez and Chris Ray, who have enough respect for the fans to talk to the media. Baez is especially impressive considering he gets booed like Barry Bonds does in Oakland every time he steps on the field at Camden Yards.
1. When the media is allowed into the locker room after the game, it's like someone flicked the lights on in the kitchen of an East Baltimore row home...the roaches scatter. It seems like it's a race to see who can get out of the clubhouse the fastest. Pretty soon we'll see Erik Bedard hopping onto Eutaw Street trying to pull his pants up with one hand while holding his shoes in the other as he bunny hops away from the media. I bet he wears tighty whities. Apparently some of these players aren't man enough to sack up and talk to the media after a loss, and the front office allows, and probably encourages, that sort of behavior.
2. Only three people from WNST have been GRANTED (as if we owe the Orioles something) press passes for the entire season, and I believe Casey Willett is the only employee whose press pass is for the whole season. The other two employees are sporadically granted daily press passes. This could stem from a number of things, most likely because of Nestor's Free The Birds movement, which I think is a great idea. We, as fans, have to try something, anything, to attempt to make a change.
3. (This story brought to you by Drew Forrester of WNST) Brent Harris, the Comcast SportsNet correspondent who covers the Orioles, was finally "granted" a full-season media credential. 65 games into the season, and the ONLY employee who covers the Orioles for Comcast finally gets a press pass...but that's not the worst part. It was the NATIONALS who gave it to him! Unbelievable...I guess once they stopped televising games, the Almightly Orioles sent out a decree across all the land proclaiming all media outlets who do not create revenue for the team are rendered unimportant...then again, the fans and media who are upset with the team "have no idea what it takes to run a baseball team," are "unimportant" and have "delusions of grandeur" (direct quote from Peter Angelos himself).
Mark this date on your calendars, sports fans: July 30th will be our saving grace...Ravens training camp starts.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Orioles update...
Well, we dropped 2 of 3 to the Colorado Rockies...I'm not going to sit here and point out all of the Orioles recent shortcomings, because it would be redundant. What has been particularly vital to our lack of success rests in the offense (or lack there of). Our starting pitching is fantastic! Man, it feels good to say that...I didn't think I'd ever say that again, at least for a few years. But, for once, the starting pitching is not to blame. In fact, our pitchers have kept us in the game recently, and they are the sole reason why we only sit five games below .500.
Last week we drafted Matt Weiters, the catcher out of Georgia Tech. This is refreshing on two fronts. First, Weiters was the best player in this years draft and he was a STEAL at #5. Second, maybe Angelos has finally ended his boycott of signing players who are represented by Scott Boras. For those who don't know, Boras is like the Drew Rosenhaus of professional baseball. Which means, by and large, he represents most of the highest paid players in baseball...Alex Rodriguez, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Barry Bonds, Carlos Lee, Andruw Jones, Barry Zito, J.D. Drew, Ivan Rodriguez, Mark Teixiera (cough cough)...
Obviously, Boras has represented some serious major league talent. But, for the most part, Angelos has directed his puppets to neglect to draft or obtain Boras clients via free agency. This is becuase Scott Boras is the kind of agent, like a Drew Rosenhaus, who demands top dollar for his clients...sometimes teams overpay (see David Newhan). Regardless, he does land the top prospects, and usually the elite players in the league. Hopefully, these interactions with Boras will lead to a Teixiera trade, or at least more business with him in the future. Pete, you've gotta spend money to make money...
Melvin Mora asked Sam Perlozzo for a night off yesterday. He's catching some flak for this, but I say good for him. He's in a slump (as are most of the O's bats), and if personal or professional reasons are playing a factor, then do what you've gotta do...he's gotta try SOMETHING. As long as he comes off of this short sabbatical with an oar for a bat, then he's doing the right thing. If he bats .190 over the next two weeks, that's another story.
O's have the day off tonight. We start the second installment of the Battle of the Beltways with the Nationals tomorrow. Too bad it doesn't mean anything, because both teams, frankly, suck. But, if the O's can catch a break here or there and get this pathetic offense turned around, we have a solid chance finishing above .500 for the first time in 9 years if our starting pitching holds up.
Last week we drafted Matt Weiters, the catcher out of Georgia Tech. This is refreshing on two fronts. First, Weiters was the best player in this years draft and he was a STEAL at #5. Second, maybe Angelos has finally ended his boycott of signing players who are represented by Scott Boras. For those who don't know, Boras is like the Drew Rosenhaus of professional baseball. Which means, by and large, he represents most of the highest paid players in baseball...Alex Rodriguez, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Barry Bonds, Carlos Lee, Andruw Jones, Barry Zito, J.D. Drew, Ivan Rodriguez, Mark Teixiera (cough cough)...
Obviously, Boras has represented some serious major league talent. But, for the most part, Angelos has directed his puppets to neglect to draft or obtain Boras clients via free agency. This is becuase Scott Boras is the kind of agent, like a Drew Rosenhaus, who demands top dollar for his clients...sometimes teams overpay (see David Newhan). Regardless, he does land the top prospects, and usually the elite players in the league. Hopefully, these interactions with Boras will lead to a Teixiera trade, or at least more business with him in the future. Pete, you've gotta spend money to make money...
Melvin Mora asked Sam Perlozzo for a night off yesterday. He's catching some flak for this, but I say good for him. He's in a slump (as are most of the O's bats), and if personal or professional reasons are playing a factor, then do what you've gotta do...he's gotta try SOMETHING. As long as he comes off of this short sabbatical with an oar for a bat, then he's doing the right thing. If he bats .190 over the next two weeks, that's another story.
O's have the day off tonight. We start the second installment of the Battle of the Beltways with the Nationals tomorrow. Too bad it doesn't mean anything, because both teams, frankly, suck. But, if the O's can catch a break here or there and get this pathetic offense turned around, we have a solid chance finishing above .500 for the first time in 9 years if our starting pitching holds up.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Peter Schrager should lay off the sauce...
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6897650
Ravens fans, read these preseason power rankings and tell me that doesn't make your blood boil. Schrager listed the Ravens 7th behind the Seahawks, Saints, and Broncos. What a slap in the face to a team that went 13-3 last season. Is he high? Hey Pete, I didn't know you and Ricky Williams liked to hang out so much!
This is just shocking because I like Schrager, I just think he was way off the mark here.
The Colts were listed as #1. No argument there. They are the defending champs.
The Patriots came in at #2 on the list. Again, no argument. They picked up Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss, and Donte Stallworth among others...and of course, they still have Tom Brady...this team has a legitimate shot at going undefeated this year. I think the Pats tried to put together a team like this so Belichick can make a final charge to the Super Bowl before he hangs it up (at least for a few years). They succeeded.
The Chargers were listed at #3. Can't argue with that one, either. They have the best player in football in LaDanian Tomlinson and a young, fast, ball-hawking defense. As long as Merriman lays off the juice, these guys have a shot at repeating as the #1 seed in the AFC.
By the way, doesn't that speak to how dominant the AFC really is when you have teams of that caliber playing in this conference?
But the Ravens belong at the #4 spot, hands down. Yeah we lost AD, but the combo of Jarret Johnson and Bart Scott are going to fill in pretty well. Johnson is a better run-stuffer than AD was, and Bart Scott will fill the void in the pass coverage. We will lose a little bit in the pass rush, but with Terrell Suggs, Scott, and if Trevor Pryce has another Pro Bowl caliber season, then what do we really have to worry about? Oh yeah...we still have Ed Reed.
He makes the case that losing Jamal Lewis will hurt this team in some way. Did you ACTUALLY watch any of the games last year? A lot of experts don't like the McGahee acquisition...I've made this case before, but it's worth repeating. He's not the bowling ball type running back who is going to run people over like Jamal USED to do, but he is more explosive, can get to the edge faster, has better hands, and has the ability to break off a 50 or 60 yard run. Also, unlike Jamal, when he gets to the second level he has the ability to make defensive backs miss tackles. McGahee is exactly what we need, and he's young. If that knee holds up, he could be here for awhile.
I'm not even going to point out the obvious in how ludicrous it is to list the Seattle Seahawks, a team that went 9-7 in the lowly NFC West last season, above the Ravens...a pop warner team could win that division! Not to mention what have they done to make the team better this year in the offseason besides sign Patrick Kerney? They didn't even have a first round draft pick!
The Saints? No way...in case you missed it last year, Petey, we beat the Saints pretty soundly in their own house. With all the emotion swirling around the Superdome, I think that speaks volumes about who is the better team. They have done nothing to suggest that they have made the team better in free agency and their draft was par at best.
The one that cracks me up the most is the Broncos. According to Schrager, the addition of Sam Adams will add to an already revamped d-line. Adams' best days were left here in Baltimore. That's why he's been floating from team to team since the 2000 season. That's laughable, but I'm not finished. This is the kicker. He calls Jay Cutler an MVP candidate. When I read that, I laughed so hard I started to cry. How much did Jay pay you to write that? Are you two dating? How could you possibly make the case for league MVP when guys like Manning (the older one), Brady, Tomlinson, and Palmer still in their prime? Unbelievable...
Granted, Travis Henry should give the Broncos running game automatic credibility coming off of a 1,500 yard season. But, this is Mike Shanahan we're talking about here! When was the last time he stuck with just ONE tailback all year? Oh yeah, I think that was back in the late 90's...what was his name again? He ran behind Elway? I dunno...Terrell something...and I think he was a little better than Travis Henry.
Pete Schrager needs to have his head examined or his urine tested.
Your thoughts, email me athomas3@washcoll.edu
Ravens fans, read these preseason power rankings and tell me that doesn't make your blood boil. Schrager listed the Ravens 7th behind the Seahawks, Saints, and Broncos. What a slap in the face to a team that went 13-3 last season. Is he high? Hey Pete, I didn't know you and Ricky Williams liked to hang out so much!
This is just shocking because I like Schrager, I just think he was way off the mark here.
The Colts were listed as #1. No argument there. They are the defending champs.
The Patriots came in at #2 on the list. Again, no argument. They picked up Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss, and Donte Stallworth among others...and of course, they still have Tom Brady...this team has a legitimate shot at going undefeated this year. I think the Pats tried to put together a team like this so Belichick can make a final charge to the Super Bowl before he hangs it up (at least for a few years). They succeeded.
The Chargers were listed at #3. Can't argue with that one, either. They have the best player in football in LaDanian Tomlinson and a young, fast, ball-hawking defense. As long as Merriman lays off the juice, these guys have a shot at repeating as the #1 seed in the AFC.
By the way, doesn't that speak to how dominant the AFC really is when you have teams of that caliber playing in this conference?
But the Ravens belong at the #4 spot, hands down. Yeah we lost AD, but the combo of Jarret Johnson and Bart Scott are going to fill in pretty well. Johnson is a better run-stuffer than AD was, and Bart Scott will fill the void in the pass coverage. We will lose a little bit in the pass rush, but with Terrell Suggs, Scott, and if Trevor Pryce has another Pro Bowl caliber season, then what do we really have to worry about? Oh yeah...we still have Ed Reed.
He makes the case that losing Jamal Lewis will hurt this team in some way. Did you ACTUALLY watch any of the games last year? A lot of experts don't like the McGahee acquisition...I've made this case before, but it's worth repeating. He's not the bowling ball type running back who is going to run people over like Jamal USED to do, but he is more explosive, can get to the edge faster, has better hands, and has the ability to break off a 50 or 60 yard run. Also, unlike Jamal, when he gets to the second level he has the ability to make defensive backs miss tackles. McGahee is exactly what we need, and he's young. If that knee holds up, he could be here for awhile.
I'm not even going to point out the obvious in how ludicrous it is to list the Seattle Seahawks, a team that went 9-7 in the lowly NFC West last season, above the Ravens...a pop warner team could win that division! Not to mention what have they done to make the team better this year in the offseason besides sign Patrick Kerney? They didn't even have a first round draft pick!
The Saints? No way...in case you missed it last year, Petey, we beat the Saints pretty soundly in their own house. With all the emotion swirling around the Superdome, I think that speaks volumes about who is the better team. They have done nothing to suggest that they have made the team better in free agency and their draft was par at best.
The one that cracks me up the most is the Broncos. According to Schrager, the addition of Sam Adams will add to an already revamped d-line. Adams' best days were left here in Baltimore. That's why he's been floating from team to team since the 2000 season. That's laughable, but I'm not finished. This is the kicker. He calls Jay Cutler an MVP candidate. When I read that, I laughed so hard I started to cry. How much did Jay pay you to write that? Are you two dating? How could you possibly make the case for league MVP when guys like Manning (the older one), Brady, Tomlinson, and Palmer still in their prime? Unbelievable...
Granted, Travis Henry should give the Broncos running game automatic credibility coming off of a 1,500 yard season. But, this is Mike Shanahan we're talking about here! When was the last time he stuck with just ONE tailback all year? Oh yeah, I think that was back in the late 90's...what was his name again? He ran behind Elway? I dunno...Terrell something...and I think he was a little better than Travis Henry.
Pete Schrager needs to have his head examined or his urine tested.
Your thoughts, email me athomas3@washcoll.edu
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Time for a hint of optimism
I've recently been told by some readers that I'm too hard on the Orioles...that I'm pessimistic, kick them around, hit 'em while they're down...
Personally, I think I'm simply telling it like it is and pulling no punches. On that note, let's focus on some good things about the Orioles.
Nick Markakis is a stud. I predicted that he would be an All-Star this year...unfortunately, he'll probably fall a bit short, giving way to Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu...not like Abreu deserves it...he's hitting .251 and is second only to A-Rod in strikeouts on the Yankees with 45. That's Yankees nation for ya, but I digress.
Defensively, the team can't get any better. Last I checked, they were tied with the Twins for the least errors this season. Not to mention the jaw-droppers by Markakis and Brian Roberts...they've been stamped into the SportsCenter Top 10 plays almost every morning. Ramon Hernandez is one of the best defenisve catchers in the league...he's probably 3rd to Jason Varitek and Ivan Rodriguez. If the ball is hit anywhere near Brian Roberts, it's an automatic out.
Speaking of Roberts, he may be the best lead off hitter in the league. I can't believe he's losing to Robinson Cano in the All-Star race, because he deserves to start. He's batting .325 and leads the AL in stolen bases. When you mix that with his spectacular defense, he should be a shoe in to start the mid summer classic...but he won't because of Yankees nation and Placido Polanco of the Tigers who is also having an outstanding year batting .329 with 30 RBIs...Polanco certainly deseves the All-Star nod.
We have some solid prospects in the minor league system, with the exception of a replacement for Melvin Mora at 3rd base.
Miguel Tejada is coming around. It looks like he's seeing the ball better. People expect a lot from Tejada and I think that those expectations are a bit excessive and unrealistic. He's really not a power hitter, which is why, hopefully, the line up in mid July will look something like Roberts, Markakis, Tejada, Teixiera. Miggie would be a great staple in our line up hitting in the 3 spot, and with Teixiera behind him, he would probably get better pitches to hit. But we've got to make that trade in order for that to happen, and hopefully Angelos won't hold Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette hostage and get this deal done.
The young arms in our starting rotation are showing a lot of promise for the future. Guthrie and Burres have "it," and when Cabrera can locate his pitches he's one of the most overpowering pitchers in the league. I think Erik Bedard is one of the top pitchers in the league, and at age 28, he's become the star of this starting rotation.
Peter Angelos is getting old...he won't live forever. Hopefully when he croaks we'll get some ownership who is hungry to win. Unfortunately, at this time, he is the owner of this franchise. He should take a long hard look at how Steve Bisciotti runs the Ravens over at One Winning Drive. But, like I said, he's not invincible...
So with all of the bad things that are going on with this team right now, us die-hards can hang our hats on the fact that the future looks pretty good for this team. It's just so hard to deal with a decade of disappointment considering how successful the Orioles have been in the past. It's even harder to deal with having an organization like the Ravens in town at the same time. Comparing the front offices of the O's and the Ravens is like ying and yang, apples and oranges. But, the future does looks bright for this ball club, and as long as we're all patient, we can rest easy knowing that a few years down the road things are bound to turn around.
Personally, I think I'm simply telling it like it is and pulling no punches. On that note, let's focus on some good things about the Orioles.
Nick Markakis is a stud. I predicted that he would be an All-Star this year...unfortunately, he'll probably fall a bit short, giving way to Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu...not like Abreu deserves it...he's hitting .251 and is second only to A-Rod in strikeouts on the Yankees with 45. That's Yankees nation for ya, but I digress.
Defensively, the team can't get any better. Last I checked, they were tied with the Twins for the least errors this season. Not to mention the jaw-droppers by Markakis and Brian Roberts...they've been stamped into the SportsCenter Top 10 plays almost every morning. Ramon Hernandez is one of the best defenisve catchers in the league...he's probably 3rd to Jason Varitek and Ivan Rodriguez. If the ball is hit anywhere near Brian Roberts, it's an automatic out.
Speaking of Roberts, he may be the best lead off hitter in the league. I can't believe he's losing to Robinson Cano in the All-Star race, because he deserves to start. He's batting .325 and leads the AL in stolen bases. When you mix that with his spectacular defense, he should be a shoe in to start the mid summer classic...but he won't because of Yankees nation and Placido Polanco of the Tigers who is also having an outstanding year batting .329 with 30 RBIs...Polanco certainly deseves the All-Star nod.
We have some solid prospects in the minor league system, with the exception of a replacement for Melvin Mora at 3rd base.
Miguel Tejada is coming around. It looks like he's seeing the ball better. People expect a lot from Tejada and I think that those expectations are a bit excessive and unrealistic. He's really not a power hitter, which is why, hopefully, the line up in mid July will look something like Roberts, Markakis, Tejada, Teixiera. Miggie would be a great staple in our line up hitting in the 3 spot, and with Teixiera behind him, he would probably get better pitches to hit. But we've got to make that trade in order for that to happen, and hopefully Angelos won't hold Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette hostage and get this deal done.
The young arms in our starting rotation are showing a lot of promise for the future. Guthrie and Burres have "it," and when Cabrera can locate his pitches he's one of the most overpowering pitchers in the league. I think Erik Bedard is one of the top pitchers in the league, and at age 28, he's become the star of this starting rotation.
Peter Angelos is getting old...he won't live forever. Hopefully when he croaks we'll get some ownership who is hungry to win. Unfortunately, at this time, he is the owner of this franchise. He should take a long hard look at how Steve Bisciotti runs the Ravens over at One Winning Drive. But, like I said, he's not invincible...
So with all of the bad things that are going on with this team right now, us die-hards can hang our hats on the fact that the future looks pretty good for this team. It's just so hard to deal with a decade of disappointment considering how successful the Orioles have been in the past. It's even harder to deal with having an organization like the Ravens in town at the same time. Comparing the front offices of the O's and the Ravens is like ying and yang, apples and oranges. But, the future does looks bright for this ball club, and as long as we're all patient, we can rest easy knowing that a few years down the road things are bound to turn around.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
A sad realization...
Remember when I asked if we would see the Orioles team who would fold or the Orioles team who would resurrect itself following a wretched series in Anaheim? Well, yesterday and tonight, we just saw...the Orioles...
That's right, the same old Orioles who have continued to install false hope in die-hard fans (including myself) by winning six in a row and then losing 5 in a row...if they lose tomorrow, that six game winning streak will be a wash...but hasn't it been already?
When the Mariners saw that the Orioles were coming to town, how did they feel? I'm certain they weren't scared of this team, and I'll take it a step further...they relished the opportunity to play the Orioles at home. Sadly, the O's are now held in the same place as the Royals and Devil Rays in the American League, and probably have been held in that regard for longer than most of us would like to admit, myself included.
I continue to watch this team with an unwavering bias and false sense of hope. Did any of us REALLY think that we had a shot at finishing second place in the AL East? Be honest...my heart said yes but my brain said no...I may have been tricked into thinking that at one time, mostly due to the passionate feelings I still have for the Ghost of Orioles' past...Davey Johnson, Pat Gillick, Earl Weaver, Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson, Dave McNally, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Boog Powell...the list ends sometime around the late 90's with the FORCED exodus of Jon Miller.
For Pete's sake (pun intended), I STILL watch the O's with my family during family functions, including anniversaries and even freakin' Easter! We cheer our hearts out, and usually, sadly, to no avail.
Everytime we gather around the big screen at my house (by the way, we can't watch MASN in high-def) we always naively talk about the possibility of the O's turning the corner and becoming a winning team...but, as it looks right now, all of us are clinging to a sense of false hope and a stubborn hubris that connects all Baltimore Orioles fans to a past filled with excellence...unfortunately, the present is filled with disappointment.
As I'm writing this, I am watching SportsCenter...check it out this morning...Sal Palantonio does a great piece on the Ravens. Ray Lewis is apparently more motivated than ever...he is leaner and faster than he has been since the 2000 Super Bowl season...that's scary.
I also hear that Willis McGahee has a new sense of motivation, which is great considering that our running game severely under-achieved last year behind an offensive line that shattered a team record for sacks allowed. Sure, pass blocking and run blocking are different parts of the game, but you can't tell me that they would be that dominant in one aspect of the game and suck in the other. Did McNair's quick release and pocket presence play a role? Certainly...but Ogden had one of the best years of his career last year, and the young guns who replaced injured veterans continued to surprise all of us throughout the entire season. I never thought that the bowling-ball style that Jamal Lewis brought to the team last year fit our offense with McNair as the signal caller (see Eddie George). We were in dire need of a running back who could break one off for 50 or 60 yards once in a while to balance the offense and keep the defense guessing...Jamal couldn't do that last year...some don't like the McGahee acquisition...I say they'll be eating crow come January...his style reminds me of an Eddie George...he just needs to run behind a line that can block and not behind the porous Buffalo Bills O-line who allowed more penetrations than Pam Anderson last year.
The Ravens OTA's this week are chock-full of star power...Ed Reed, Derrick Mason, Trevor Pryce, Ray Lewis, Jonathon Ogden...it's exciting to see the important team leaders make an appearance at these camps...a few years ago, would you expect to see #52 or #75 suiting up in June? Hell no...this team is hungry, and it's sad to see the disparaging comparison between the ultimate organization at One Winning Drive and the insulting mockery at the Warehouse.
"The Orioles' nightmare season continues as another late inning lead slips away...Mariners beat them tonight."
"The Orioles blow another lead...that's what they do...Mariner's win"
~Those two quotes from Scott Van Pelt...the first occurred this morning at the end of SportsCenter and the second closed the 11 PM night-cap edition...isn't it sad the SportsCenter doesn't even show O's highlights half of the time? They only get on when Markakis makes a spectacular defensive play...
Let's make that deal for Teixiera...
That's right, the same old Orioles who have continued to install false hope in die-hard fans (including myself) by winning six in a row and then losing 5 in a row...if they lose tomorrow, that six game winning streak will be a wash...but hasn't it been already?
When the Mariners saw that the Orioles were coming to town, how did they feel? I'm certain they weren't scared of this team, and I'll take it a step further...they relished the opportunity to play the Orioles at home. Sadly, the O's are now held in the same place as the Royals and Devil Rays in the American League, and probably have been held in that regard for longer than most of us would like to admit, myself included.
I continue to watch this team with an unwavering bias and false sense of hope. Did any of us REALLY think that we had a shot at finishing second place in the AL East? Be honest...my heart said yes but my brain said no...I may have been tricked into thinking that at one time, mostly due to the passionate feelings I still have for the Ghost of Orioles' past...Davey Johnson, Pat Gillick, Earl Weaver, Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson, Dave McNally, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Boog Powell...the list ends sometime around the late 90's with the FORCED exodus of Jon Miller.
For Pete's sake (pun intended), I STILL watch the O's with my family during family functions, including anniversaries and even freakin' Easter! We cheer our hearts out, and usually, sadly, to no avail.
Everytime we gather around the big screen at my house (by the way, we can't watch MASN in high-def) we always naively talk about the possibility of the O's turning the corner and becoming a winning team...but, as it looks right now, all of us are clinging to a sense of false hope and a stubborn hubris that connects all Baltimore Orioles fans to a past filled with excellence...unfortunately, the present is filled with disappointment.
As I'm writing this, I am watching SportsCenter...check it out this morning...Sal Palantonio does a great piece on the Ravens. Ray Lewis is apparently more motivated than ever...he is leaner and faster than he has been since the 2000 Super Bowl season...that's scary.
I also hear that Willis McGahee has a new sense of motivation, which is great considering that our running game severely under-achieved last year behind an offensive line that shattered a team record for sacks allowed. Sure, pass blocking and run blocking are different parts of the game, but you can't tell me that they would be that dominant in one aspect of the game and suck in the other. Did McNair's quick release and pocket presence play a role? Certainly...but Ogden had one of the best years of his career last year, and the young guns who replaced injured veterans continued to surprise all of us throughout the entire season. I never thought that the bowling-ball style that Jamal Lewis brought to the team last year fit our offense with McNair as the signal caller (see Eddie George). We were in dire need of a running back who could break one off for 50 or 60 yards once in a while to balance the offense and keep the defense guessing...Jamal couldn't do that last year...some don't like the McGahee acquisition...I say they'll be eating crow come January...his style reminds me of an Eddie George...he just needs to run behind a line that can block and not behind the porous Buffalo Bills O-line who allowed more penetrations than Pam Anderson last year.
The Ravens OTA's this week are chock-full of star power...Ed Reed, Derrick Mason, Trevor Pryce, Ray Lewis, Jonathon Ogden...it's exciting to see the important team leaders make an appearance at these camps...a few years ago, would you expect to see #52 or #75 suiting up in June? Hell no...this team is hungry, and it's sad to see the disparaging comparison between the ultimate organization at One Winning Drive and the insulting mockery at the Warehouse.
"The Orioles' nightmare season continues as another late inning lead slips away...Mariners beat them tonight."
"The Orioles blow another lead...that's what they do...Mariner's win"
~Those two quotes from Scott Van Pelt...the first occurred this morning at the end of SportsCenter and the second closed the 11 PM night-cap edition...isn't it sad the SportsCenter doesn't even show O's highlights half of the time? They only get on when Markakis makes a spectacular defensive play...
Let's make that deal for Teixiera...
Monday, June 4, 2007
It's like a broken record...
Jeremy Guthrie has a solid outing and leaves with the lead, Sam Perlozzo pulls Guthrie too early, Chris Ray hangs a slider in the 9th to a power hitter and crushes the ball into next week...sounds a bit redundant.
The Orioles came into Anaheim red hot and had the opportunity to take 3 of 4 from the Angels. In fact, the O's led in all four games at one point or another. But the O's didn't get the clutch hits, Jay Gibbons is just awful, Steve Trachsel had a rare bad outing, and the supposed "revamped" bullpen is blowing games.
All the blame doesn't belong to Chris Ray...its rare to find a perfect closer. We had someone close to perfect, but now he's playing north of the border. The word is out on Chris Ray. In pressure situations, he's eventually going to throw you a fastball. So like Vlad and A-Rod, hitters in the league are gonna sit on the fastball or knock a belt-high slider out of the park. Speaking of Chris Ray's fastball, where did the bite to that thing go? He's throwing beach balls fatter than Rosie O'Donnell.
Guthrie is being a team player in the post game interviews...what a class act. He never points the finger at anybody, but I wonder what he REALLY thinks. If the O's aren't careful he's not going to want to stay in Baltimore when his contract comes up. This kid reminds me of a young Mike Mussina, but with a BETTER fastball. Like Mussina, Guthrie could end up a Yankee if Angelos plays the waiting game (as he always does) when his contract expires.
Speaking of not letting people go, the O's should make sure Nick Markakis is a lifetime Oriole. The catch he made in right field on Saturday was spectacular! Check it out here, it doesn't get any better than this:
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=575619&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive06/060207_balana_markakis_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=false&gid=2007/06/02/balmlb-anamlb-1&vid=7758&mid=200706022001938&cid=mlb&fid=400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1
The draft is coming up this week...I'd like to see them take a power hitting outfielder or a pitcher. Also, still waiting on this Teixiera trade...they've gotta get this done. The Rangers will be asking for a lot, but if I'm Mike Flanagan or Jim Duquette I'm offering anyone but Markakis or Bedard because we are in desperate need of a clean-up hitter (see my previous post).
Bedard vs. Hernandez tonight...should be a great pitcher's duel. I think this one will be low scoring, which means the score will actually be 13-10. Will we see the Orioles collapse after a 3 game skid, or will we see them bounce back?
The Orioles came into Anaheim red hot and had the opportunity to take 3 of 4 from the Angels. In fact, the O's led in all four games at one point or another. But the O's didn't get the clutch hits, Jay Gibbons is just awful, Steve Trachsel had a rare bad outing, and the supposed "revamped" bullpen is blowing games.
All the blame doesn't belong to Chris Ray...its rare to find a perfect closer. We had someone close to perfect, but now he's playing north of the border. The word is out on Chris Ray. In pressure situations, he's eventually going to throw you a fastball. So like Vlad and A-Rod, hitters in the league are gonna sit on the fastball or knock a belt-high slider out of the park. Speaking of Chris Ray's fastball, where did the bite to that thing go? He's throwing beach balls fatter than Rosie O'Donnell.
Guthrie is being a team player in the post game interviews...what a class act. He never points the finger at anybody, but I wonder what he REALLY thinks. If the O's aren't careful he's not going to want to stay in Baltimore when his contract comes up. This kid reminds me of a young Mike Mussina, but with a BETTER fastball. Like Mussina, Guthrie could end up a Yankee if Angelos plays the waiting game (as he always does) when his contract expires.
Speaking of not letting people go, the O's should make sure Nick Markakis is a lifetime Oriole. The catch he made in right field on Saturday was spectacular! Check it out here, it doesn't get any better than this:
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=575619&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive06/060207_balana_markakis_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=false&gid=2007/06/02/balmlb-anamlb-1&vid=7758&mid=200706022001938&cid=mlb&fid=400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1
The draft is coming up this week...I'd like to see them take a power hitting outfielder or a pitcher. Also, still waiting on this Teixiera trade...they've gotta get this done. The Rangers will be asking for a lot, but if I'm Mike Flanagan or Jim Duquette I'm offering anyone but Markakis or Bedard because we are in desperate need of a clean-up hitter (see my previous post).
Bedard vs. Hernandez tonight...should be a great pitcher's duel. I think this one will be low scoring, which means the score will actually be 13-10. Will we see the Orioles collapse after a 3 game skid, or will we see them bounce back?
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Bringing Teixeira to Baltimore; Davey Johnson to Replace Perlozzo?
It has been made known over the past couple of days that the Texas Rangers are shopping All-Star first baseman Mark Teixeira, and the Orioles should jump on this opportunity. With the Rangers free-falling in the AL West, it would make sense for them to shop Teixeira for a young pitching prospect or young power-hitting outfielder. Also, don't be surprised if they clean house next year, considering they have Sammy Sosa and some other older players with one year left on their contract.
The Orioles are in dire need of a clean-up hitter because Tejada and Hernandez just don't fit that role. Tejada would be better used in the 3 or 5 spot, and Hernandez would probably be hitting 6th on any other team. Not to mention, a few years down the road, Brian Roberts leading off and Markakis and Teixeira hitting 3 and 4 would make the Orioles line up a powerful force.
And bringing Mark Teixeira here just makes sense. He's a Mt. St. Joe's graduate, he grew up watching and loving the Orioles, and has made it known that it would be his "dream job" to suit up in orange and black. The only problem is, because of Teixeira's numbers and talent, the Rangers would be looking for Nick Markakis or Erik Bedard, probably with a few minor leaguers on the side. But the Orioles cannot afford to trade away Markakis or Bedard. They came up through our system (two of the very few on our roster) and have had a lot of success at the major league level. I'd hate to see them go from a baseball fan standpoint, and from a marketing standpoint, Markakis is especially crucial for the future success of the Orioles franchise.
If I were Mike Flanagan, I'd offer Hayden Penn, Adam Loewen and JR House for Teixeira. I'd hate to get rid of Loewen, but if we have to give up a young starting pitcher who came up through our farm system, we would be much better off letting Loewen and Penn go versus trading Erik Bedard. Trading Bedard would desimate an already shaky starting rotation. Catcher JR House, who is the heir-apparent to Ramon Hernandez, is our best AAA player. But Teixeira's power numbers would make up for House's absence in the line-up a few years down the road. Not to mention, JR House would give the Rangers the run production they would need in Teixeira's absence, which is what they will be looking for when they let Teixeira go. Most importantly, Teixeira's presence on the team would help the Orioles RIGHT NOW, who are still in the wild card hunt (hard to believe, I know). But we'll see how long that lasts...and hopefully Angelos doesn't handcuff our GMs from making this deal
We've gone on a pretty solid winning streak here, and that's good to see. But we've done it against the injury-depleted A's and the lowly Royals. Not to take anything away from the team...they've played well recently and you've got to play the teams on the schedule, but these teams just aren't that good right now. I'd like to see them take 3 of 4 from the surging Angels during the next series...then I'll REALLY be optimistic going into the summer months.
Speaking of optimism, there has been a whisper about the Baltimore sports world of the beloved Davey Johnson interested in the Orioles managing position if, I mean when, Sam Perlozzo gets his pink slip. When I heard that on WNST a few days ago, I almost swerved off the road for two reasons. First, I can't believe he would want to return after how he was treated by Angelos and our front office. Second, I am a very nostalgic Orioles fan, because frankly that's all us O's fans have left. I remember driving home from little league games with my dad listening to Jon Miller on the radio and Davey Johnson managing the team. Those were great times...everything was much simpler then...
But the fact of the matter is Davey Johnson has not been involved in baseball in quite some time. Jim Leyland, the Detroit Tigers manager, took a lot of time off of coaching before arriving in Detroit and turning that team around. But he did stay involved in the game...he kept his finger on the pulse of baseball by being a scout. Sure, he wasn't coaching, but he had a feel for the change of the game...the progression from the ignorance era (mid to late 90s) to the full realization of the steroid era...he saw the subtle changes in the game, the changes in the players attitudes, the way other people coached, and the how teams dealt with adversity and turned their organizations around (or in the Orioles case, got worse). It was the best move Leyland ever made, because he had a chance to take a step back and take it all in. Now, he's one of the best managers in the American League.
Unfortunately, Davey Johnson has been so far away from the game for so many years that it wouldn't be practical for him to come back. But if he did, I would certainly hope for the best for him, and it would be one of the best stories in Baltimore sports history if he took the job and succeeded.
The Orioles are in dire need of a clean-up hitter because Tejada and Hernandez just don't fit that role. Tejada would be better used in the 3 or 5 spot, and Hernandez would probably be hitting 6th on any other team. Not to mention, a few years down the road, Brian Roberts leading off and Markakis and Teixeira hitting 3 and 4 would make the Orioles line up a powerful force.
And bringing Mark Teixeira here just makes sense. He's a Mt. St. Joe's graduate, he grew up watching and loving the Orioles, and has made it known that it would be his "dream job" to suit up in orange and black. The only problem is, because of Teixeira's numbers and talent, the Rangers would be looking for Nick Markakis or Erik Bedard, probably with a few minor leaguers on the side. But the Orioles cannot afford to trade away Markakis or Bedard. They came up through our system (two of the very few on our roster) and have had a lot of success at the major league level. I'd hate to see them go from a baseball fan standpoint, and from a marketing standpoint, Markakis is especially crucial for the future success of the Orioles franchise.
If I were Mike Flanagan, I'd offer Hayden Penn, Adam Loewen and JR House for Teixeira. I'd hate to get rid of Loewen, but if we have to give up a young starting pitcher who came up through our farm system, we would be much better off letting Loewen and Penn go versus trading Erik Bedard. Trading Bedard would desimate an already shaky starting rotation. Catcher JR House, who is the heir-apparent to Ramon Hernandez, is our best AAA player. But Teixeira's power numbers would make up for House's absence in the line-up a few years down the road. Not to mention, JR House would give the Rangers the run production they would need in Teixeira's absence, which is what they will be looking for when they let Teixeira go. Most importantly, Teixeira's presence on the team would help the Orioles RIGHT NOW, who are still in the wild card hunt (hard to believe, I know). But we'll see how long that lasts...and hopefully Angelos doesn't handcuff our GMs from making this deal
We've gone on a pretty solid winning streak here, and that's good to see. But we've done it against the injury-depleted A's and the lowly Royals. Not to take anything away from the team...they've played well recently and you've got to play the teams on the schedule, but these teams just aren't that good right now. I'd like to see them take 3 of 4 from the surging Angels during the next series...then I'll REALLY be optimistic going into the summer months.
Speaking of optimism, there has been a whisper about the Baltimore sports world of the beloved Davey Johnson interested in the Orioles managing position if, I mean when, Sam Perlozzo gets his pink slip. When I heard that on WNST a few days ago, I almost swerved off the road for two reasons. First, I can't believe he would want to return after how he was treated by Angelos and our front office. Second, I am a very nostalgic Orioles fan, because frankly that's all us O's fans have left. I remember driving home from little league games with my dad listening to Jon Miller on the radio and Davey Johnson managing the team. Those were great times...everything was much simpler then...
But the fact of the matter is Davey Johnson has not been involved in baseball in quite some time. Jim Leyland, the Detroit Tigers manager, took a lot of time off of coaching before arriving in Detroit and turning that team around. But he did stay involved in the game...he kept his finger on the pulse of baseball by being a scout. Sure, he wasn't coaching, but he had a feel for the change of the game...the progression from the ignorance era (mid to late 90s) to the full realization of the steroid era...he saw the subtle changes in the game, the changes in the players attitudes, the way other people coached, and the how teams dealt with adversity and turned their organizations around (or in the Orioles case, got worse). It was the best move Leyland ever made, because he had a chance to take a step back and take it all in. Now, he's one of the best managers in the American League.
Unfortunately, Davey Johnson has been so far away from the game for so many years that it wouldn't be practical for him to come back. But if he did, I would certainly hope for the best for him, and it would be one of the best stories in Baltimore sports history if he took the job and succeeded.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
The Preakness and The Battle of the Beltways...
Walking through the inner harbor this past week, you would have had no idea that the Preakness and the first installment of the Battle of the Beltways were happening this weekend. A critical marketing blunder as far as Baltimore sports fans are concerned...
Anyone notice the attendance at RFK Stadium this weekend? Probably the best numbers they've seen all season (I believe Saturday nights game brought about 30,000 fans to the ball park). Good for them...the Nationals, although struggling now, are at least doing it the right way. What I mean by that is that the Nats front office has acknowledged that this was a building year for the young team, instead of snowballing the fans (Jim Duquette) by rationalizing losing as "bad luck." Where's the accountability in the Orioles franchise? It's never anyone's fault, is it?
As far as the Preakness goes, this once wonderful and prestigious event is now known more for being a rowdy party in the infield. When asking one of my friends why he was going he replied "Dude...CHICKS AND BEER." Not for the thrill of the race, not because it was tradition, and not because it could be the last one EVER at Pimlico. I guess the MJC wants to continue to attract the party crowd and continue to steer away sports fans. Hell, they don't care...as long as 110,000 people show up every year and they see dollar signs. But attracting that demographic is destroying the race. The Preakness has fallen from grace, and it may not even return to Baltimore next year! It's hard to account for what EXACTLY is the reason for this possibilty, personally I think it's that we don't have slots at the racetrack. It's probably a combination of many things, but if this truly was the last year for the Preakness, that would be a travesty of EPIC proportions considering what The Preakness used to represent in this city.
I'm not saying I don't like going to the Preakness, but I've only been ONCE. It was the year that Afleet Alex won the race. I got hit in the head with a full can of beer and got peed on by a drunk guy who proceeded to try to fight me. It wasn't my favorite thing in the world, but aside from those two incidents it was pretty fun. It's great when your in high school and college and can go and party and pretty much get away with anything. It's a right of passage for Baltimore youths. But I'm getting to the point in my life where I don't want to stand in urine and vomit for 9 hours. If I wanted to do that, I'd hang out in Lindsay Lohan's hotel room.
Side note about the O's recent series "victory":
When is Danys Baez going to get his act together and when is Sam Perlozzo going to STOP PUTTING HIM IN THE GAME? He ALWAYS blows it, and he royally screwed Bedard's effort today, who pitched a gem and even got an RBI! But Bedard did let me down...after the game, it became known that he asked to come out of the game in the 7th, instead of giving our bullpen a break. He said he was "tired from hitting and running the bases." Excuse me? You're a professional athlete, champ...sprinting 90 feet shouldn't exhaust you to the point where you ask to come out of the game.
In Saturday's game, Chris Ray got bailed out from blowing ANOTHER save because the smoking line drive that was hit off of a middle-of-the-plate, belt-high fast ball was luckily hit right at Freddie Bynum. Considering the closeness of these games, we COULD have walked out of DC this weekend being swept by the lowly Nationals. Thank god we didn't.
Other than the bullpen, it was nice to see some fight in this team again, and overall, they played well during the series in DC after their lackluster efforts in Boston and Toronto. Where was that fire and passion then? In Toronto, the players were SITTING DOWN in the dug out during the 9th inning of a 2-1 game instead of supporting their teammates at the plate. Today and yesterday, they were up in the dugout during the close contests...glad to see that they care again. It was also nice to sneak in a series win at the end of a road trip. Let's see if they can keep it going against Toronto on Tuesday, a game which I will be attending with my dad. Look for us when a right-handed batter is at the plate (we'll be in the background). We're going against Burnett, who has been dominant against us this year, but I'm optimistic...he's due for a loss.
Anyone notice the attendance at RFK Stadium this weekend? Probably the best numbers they've seen all season (I believe Saturday nights game brought about 30,000 fans to the ball park). Good for them...the Nationals, although struggling now, are at least doing it the right way. What I mean by that is that the Nats front office has acknowledged that this was a building year for the young team, instead of snowballing the fans (Jim Duquette) by rationalizing losing as "bad luck." Where's the accountability in the Orioles franchise? It's never anyone's fault, is it?
As far as the Preakness goes, this once wonderful and prestigious event is now known more for being a rowdy party in the infield. When asking one of my friends why he was going he replied "Dude...CHICKS AND BEER." Not for the thrill of the race, not because it was tradition, and not because it could be the last one EVER at Pimlico. I guess the MJC wants to continue to attract the party crowd and continue to steer away sports fans. Hell, they don't care...as long as 110,000 people show up every year and they see dollar signs. But attracting that demographic is destroying the race. The Preakness has fallen from grace, and it may not even return to Baltimore next year! It's hard to account for what EXACTLY is the reason for this possibilty, personally I think it's that we don't have slots at the racetrack. It's probably a combination of many things, but if this truly was the last year for the Preakness, that would be a travesty of EPIC proportions considering what The Preakness used to represent in this city.
I'm not saying I don't like going to the Preakness, but I've only been ONCE. It was the year that Afleet Alex won the race. I got hit in the head with a full can of beer and got peed on by a drunk guy who proceeded to try to fight me. It wasn't my favorite thing in the world, but aside from those two incidents it was pretty fun. It's great when your in high school and college and can go and party and pretty much get away with anything. It's a right of passage for Baltimore youths. But I'm getting to the point in my life where I don't want to stand in urine and vomit for 9 hours. If I wanted to do that, I'd hang out in Lindsay Lohan's hotel room.
Side note about the O's recent series "victory":
When is Danys Baez going to get his act together and when is Sam Perlozzo going to STOP PUTTING HIM IN THE GAME? He ALWAYS blows it, and he royally screwed Bedard's effort today, who pitched a gem and even got an RBI! But Bedard did let me down...after the game, it became known that he asked to come out of the game in the 7th, instead of giving our bullpen a break. He said he was "tired from hitting and running the bases." Excuse me? You're a professional athlete, champ...sprinting 90 feet shouldn't exhaust you to the point where you ask to come out of the game.
In Saturday's game, Chris Ray got bailed out from blowing ANOTHER save because the smoking line drive that was hit off of a middle-of-the-plate, belt-high fast ball was luckily hit right at Freddie Bynum. Considering the closeness of these games, we COULD have walked out of DC this weekend being swept by the lowly Nationals. Thank god we didn't.
Other than the bullpen, it was nice to see some fight in this team again, and overall, they played well during the series in DC after their lackluster efforts in Boston and Toronto. Where was that fire and passion then? In Toronto, the players were SITTING DOWN in the dug out during the 9th inning of a 2-1 game instead of supporting their teammates at the plate. Today and yesterday, they were up in the dugout during the close contests...glad to see that they care again. It was also nice to sneak in a series win at the end of a road trip. Let's see if they can keep it going against Toronto on Tuesday, a game which I will be attending with my dad. Look for us when a right-handed batter is at the plate (we'll be in the background). We're going against Burnett, who has been dominant against us this year, but I'm optimistic...he's due for a loss.
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