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.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
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.
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