Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin Youtube Spotify Podcast

Paid Advertisement

Luke Jones

Live from Westminster: Veteran CB Harris to IR, Mason and Birk return to practice

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — The Walt Harris era has ended before the first preseason game. The veteran cornerback, who initially rejected a veteran-minimum offer from the Ravens before signing a deal in late June, was placed on Injured Reserve to make room for newly-signed free agent rookie cornerback Chris Hawkins. The rookie from LSU was most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was previously reported that Harris had been released, but it’s likely he was designated for IR with him suffering from Achilles tendon and knee issues. Harris was in and out of practice over the first two weeks of training camp as he was dealing with an Achilles tendon issue. The 36-year-old missed all of last season with the San Francisco 49ers due to a torn ACL. “Walt was really disappointed that he wasn’t able to get healthy and practice,” coach John Harbaugh said. “That was the toughest thing.” Harbaugh left open the possibility of Harris return should he be able to get healthy, but the two sides did not discuss a return when the Ravens informed Harris of the decision. Receiver Derrick Mason returned to the practice field Friday morning after being sidelined two days with a right ankle

The return of the Baltimore Colts fight song?

Luke Jones

On an otherwise slow day in Westminster, I came across this link earlier this afternoon. Yes, the Baltimore Ravens are considering changing the team’s fight song and adopting the old Baltimore Colts fight song with new lyrics. The Ravens’ current fight song has never caught on with fans as many critics believe it’s a shame to have such a tradition-filled fight song going unused. I can already hear some complaining that the Ravens need their own identity and shouldn’t latch on to the Colts’ tradition, but this statement carries far less weight than it used to as the Ravens are beginning their 15th season in Baltimore. As a third-generation Baltimore football fan who was only an infant when the Colts left town in the middle of the night in March 1984, the old fight song pays homage to Baltimore’s rich football history. If the Ravens’ current fight song had even an iota of the same sentiment, this question wouldn’t even be pondered after so many years. The choice is obvious, isn’t it?

Live from Westminster: Over-30 club given day off as Ehrlich visits practice

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — It was another day of training camp with another celebrity sighting at McDaniel College. While the hoopla from Wednesday’s visit from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Hall of Famer John Madden was absent, former Maryland governor Bob Ehrlich attended practice with his family. Ravens coach John Harbaugh and Senior VP of Public & Community Relations Kevin Byrne joked they expected Gov. Martin O’Malley to visit on Friday after seeing Ehrlich in Westminster. As for the morning practice, it was an “over-30” day as veterans 30 or older were given the morning off as has become the custom with Harbaugh’s camps. This group included Todd Heap, Derrick Mason (ankle), Walt Harris, Travis Fisher, Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg, and Ray Lewis. Safety Ed Reed (hip), linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo (quad), and center Matt Birk (elbow) would also fall into this group, but the three remain on the PUP list. Quarterback Marc Bulger provided a scare when he injured a finger taking a snap in the morning session and went inside with a member of the training staff. However, Bulger returned to the field and the injury is not considered serious, according to Harbaugh. “He took a snap on the finger,”

Live from Westminster: Ravens welcome Goodell, Madden to camp

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — It lacked the hoopla of last season’s surprise visit from Snoop Dogg, but the Ravens rolled out the purple carpet for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster John Madden this morning at McDaniel College. The two arrived shortly after 9:00 a.m. in the large Madden Cruiser—or whatever they’re calling it these days. Goodell and Madden visited with general manager Ozzie Newsome and coach John Harbaugh before the commissioner stepped to the podium to answer questions from the Baltimore media. Goodell also met with Ravens season ticket holders at McDaniel as well as an encounter with the Ravens in a players-only meeting at noon. “It’s exciting; it’s different,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not something that you’re kind of used to. You feel like you want to do a good job and show him that we know what we’re doing. Players are kind of excited.” As for the action on the field Wednesday morning, Derrick Mason sat out the session as he recovers from a right ankle injury. He was walking around on the field—with the ankle taped—during practice and doesn’t appear to be feeling too many ill effects. Cornerback K.J Gerard (hamstring) and offensive

Live from Camden Yards: Game 1 of Showalter Era, Orange Crush Chat at 7 PM!

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — After weeks of speculation and a 40-minute press conference on Monday, we’ll witness the start of the Buck Showalter era in Baltimore as the Orioles (32-73) host the Los Angeles Angels (54-53) at 7:05 this evening. Showalter spoke to the media immediately after holding his first team meeting. You can hear Showalter’s first pre-game press conference with the media as well as reaction from Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault. It was a quiet clubhouse as Showalter met with his new team for the first time, but the new manager wasn’t surprised at the response given the way the season has gone and the changes the team has undergone since early June. “I tried to get a little feedback, but a little quiet right now,” Showalter said after meeting with his players. “We’ll do that one-on-one, but it was good. It was fun for me. I try to keep in mind [this] is the third time they’ve been through this, so I’m sensitive of that.” Showalter will spend the coming days trying to get a feel for the players on a different level from what he’s watched on television over the last few weeks.

Live from Westminster: Mason injures ankle, doesn't appear serious

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — The Ravens received another injury scare as veteran receiver Derrick Mason was helped off the field with a sprained right ankle in the morning practice. The injury occurred on a hit from strong safety Dawan Landry. “It just looks like a sprained ankle right now,” said Harbaugh, who had not received a report from the training staff at the conclusion of practice. “At this stage there’s no timetable [for a return] as of yet.” The injury is not believed to be serious, as Mason was seen walking with a slight limp through the team hotel. The ankle was taped, but there was no splint or walking boot. There were no other new injuries to report from the Tuesday morning session, but cornerback Chris Carr remains out with a sore back. Check back right here for other injury updates and news from the morning session (time-stamped below) and head to the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault to hear from John Harbaugh, Jared Gaither, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata. Fabian Washington also checked in from the practice field with Thyrl Nelson! _____________________________________________________________________ 3:23 p.m. — K.J. Gerard is again absent from the afternoon session as he’s battling a hamstring issue. Offensive

Showalter impresses, but MacPhail’s actions will tell real story

Luke Jones

New Orioles manager Buck Showalter said all the right things when he was introduced to the Baltimore media on Monday afternoon. Showalter spoke with conviction and respect for the organization’s storied past, citing a desire to involve former players with the present organization. He stressed the goal to win as many games as possible—for the rest of this season and beyond. He talked about the only way to get people to return to the ballpark—a winning product. Showalter even plans on making Baltimore his permanent residence, embracing the fabric of the local community. As for playing in the top-heavy American League East? He insists it cannot, and will not, be an excuse for failing. He reminisced about his first trip to Memorial Stadium and his affection for late Orioles manager Johnny Oates—a friend and mentor of his—and how he’ll wear No. 26 in his memory. And despite the stoic, hard-nosed reputation that precedes him, Showalter showed a warm sense of humor in his first appearance as Orioles manager. However, through all of the rhetoric, one statement struck a chord more than any other throughout the 40-minute press conference. “One common denominator of all great organizations that are able to sustain

Live from Westminster: Gaither's health remains mystery, will have tests done Monday

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — Despite assurances that Jared Gaither was merely suffering from back cramps after being carted off the field Friday afternoon, the offensive tackle was again absent on Sunday morning as his immediate status remains unknown. Ravens coach John Harbaugh added no clarity to the situation but disclosed Gaither will have blood work done and the medical staff will run the tackle through a series of tests on Monday. “I’d like to be able to tell you what it is,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know.” Gaither arrived training camp weighing 311 pounds, more than 20 pounds lighter than the weight at which he played last season. This was not the wishes of the coaching staff and Gaither’s rationale for dropping so much weight is a mystery to Harbaugh. “[Gaither] made a decision [to drop weight],” the Ravens coach said after Sunday morning’s practice. “He’s working out on his own. It’s not like he was around. He made the decision to go lighter. He can explain to you why.” You can hear more from Harbaugh in addition to Derrick Mason, Donte’ Stalloworth, and Todd Heap in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault right now! Check back right here for updates (time-stamped below)

Live from Westminster: Gaither misses practice as first fight breaks out

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — The Ravens were back on the practice field Saturday morning, but two key starters were absent. After being carted off the field with back cramps Friday afternoon, Jared Gaither was absent from both sessions on Saturday. We didn’t hear from John Harbaugh after practice, so we’ll assume it’s a precautionary measure at this point. However, given the Ravens’ propensity for hiding the severity of injuries, it’s certainly worth monitoring in the coming days. Cornerback Fabian Washington did not practice after returning to the field wearing a red non-contact jersey on Friday afternoon. He did, however, return to the field in the afternoon wearing the same non-contact top. With the fragile state of the defensive backfield after the loss of Domonique Foxworth for the season, there’s no reason for the Ravens to rush Washington’s return to the field with three weeks remaining in training camp. We also witnessed our first fight of the summer as rookie defensive tackle Art Jones mixed it up with offensive lineman Bryan Mattison after a play during passing drills. A dogpile quickly followed but order was restored and the two shook hands after the scrum. You can hear more from Jones about the

Live from Westminster: Foxworth gone for season, Gaither provides scare in afternoon

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — The excitement was palpable as the Ravens took the field for their first full-squad practice on Friday morning, but the mood changed dramatically with the absence of starting cornerback Domonique Foxworth and WNST.net learning he tore the ACL in his right knee on Thursday evening during an “orientation” practice. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK8sH3opNLQ[/youtube] The Ravens will now piece together a secondary for the start of training camp as they await the returns of Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb, both returning from ACL injuries last season. With all three cornerbacks currently out of practice, Chris Carr and Travis Fisher lined up with the first-team defense. Not exactly a tandem that inspires confidence. Be sure to head to the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault to hear from Domonique Foxworth, John Harbaugh, Ray Lewis, Anquan Boldin, and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison regarding the Foxworth injury and the first day of full-team workouts. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAg82Us638Q[/youtube] Check back right here for updates (time-stamped below). _______________________________________________________ 6:30 p.m. — The Ravens have confirmed Jared Gaither was merely dealing with back cramps this afternoon when he was carted off the field. Definitely good news on a day when it’s much needed. The team has also brought in former Pittsburgh Steelers

Orioles deal Tejada to San Diego, get a Wynn in return

Luke Jones

The Orioles may have only two wins since the All-Star Break, but they’ll be getting a Wynn on Thursday night. Multiple outlets are reporting third baseman Miguel Tejada has been dealt to the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Wynn Pelzer. The 24-year-old is 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games for Double-A San Antonio. Tejada signed a one-year, $6 million deal to return to Baltimore in January but will now compete in a pennant race for the first-place Padres. The 36-year-old hit .269 with seven home runs and 39 RBI in 97 games for the Orioles. The deal is pending league approval, indicating the Orioles will likely pay a portion of Tejada’s remaining salary to acquire the right-handed Pelzer from the Padres system. With Tejada being dealt, third baseman Josh Bell will be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to presumably become the everyday starter at third base. Bell is hitting .263 in 19 at-bats for the Orioles this season in two brief stints in Baltimore.

Orioles finally hire Buck Showalter as next manager

Luke Jones

After weeks of speculation, the Orioles have finally hired Buck Showalter as their next manager. Currently on pace to finish with the worst record in franchise history, the Orioles (31-70) will hedge their bets on Showalter—and his .514 career winning percentage (882-833)—to steer a sunken ship for the remainder of 2010 in hopes of making improvements in the offseason. “My job with ESPN allowed me to follow this organization closely over the last several years, and although the current record may seem to indicate otherwise, I see enormous potential with this club,” Showalter said in a statement released by the Orioles. “I look forward to the challenge of competing in the American League East. Baltimore is a tremendous baseball town with passion and pride in its club and my family and I look forward to making it our new home.” Showalter will reportedly take over the club next Tuesday, Aug. 3 when the Orioles begin a seven-game homestand against the Los Angeles Angels. Reports indicate he has agreed to manage the club for the rest of the season and will receive a three-year contract through 2013. “Buck Showalter’s proven track record makes him the right choice for manager of the

Live from Westminster: Cody passes conditioning test, vets checking into hotel

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — Good afternoon from McDaniel College as the Ravens have wrapped up their second day of partial-squad workouts with the biggest news being the debut of rookie defensive tackle Terrence Cody who passed his conditioning test earlier this morning and participated fully in the morning workout. This was obviously good news to coach John Harbaugh, who expressed pleasant surprise when learning the 350-pound tackle had passed the test. Rookie cornerback Prince Miller also passed the conditioning test and practice while the status of the other members of the PUP list remained unchanged for the morning session. As for action on the field, it was another light, non-contact workout with players practicing in shells and shorts. Harbaugh will give the afternoon off to selected veterans already in camp as we await the arrival of the remaining veterans this afternoon. Check back here throughout the day for updates (time-stamped below) and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the quickest updates from the field. ____________________________________________________________ 5:30 p.m. — The Ravens have wrapped up the afternoon practice as the veterans continue to check into Westminster for training camp. Most selected veterans who reported on Monday were given the afternoon

Clarifying the Physically Unable to Perform List

Luke Jones

With so much discussion over the PUP (physically unable to perform) list over the last couple weeks regarding Ed Reed and today’s announcement that 10 players—including second-round pick Terrence Cody—have been placed on PUP, it’s easy to get confused with the meaning of the designatioin. In Reed’s case, the discussion in recent weeks is in regards to the reserve PUP list, which states: This list designates players with serious injuries that will keep them from being able to start a season on the 53-man roster but may be able to return to the roster during the regular season. The players must be placed on this roster at or before the league-wide 65-man summer roster cutdown to be eligible for this designation, and they must stay on this list for at least the first six weeks of the regular season. After this time, teams have three weeks to evaluate such players, after which each such player must be placed on the 53-man roster, injured reserve, or waivers. This morning’s designation (Reed, Cody, Fabian Washington, Lardarius Webb, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Oniel Cousins, Walt Harris, Matt Lawrence, Prince Miller, and Rodelin Anthony) was for the active PUP list, which is the first step taken

Mount Cody passes Wed. AM conditioning test, back on field in Westminster

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. —  The Ravens have wrapped up their first day of workouts of the summer with rookies, quarterbacks, and selected veterans participating in helmets and shells without contact in the morning and afternoon sessions. The biggest news of the morning was the first revelation of who would be placed on the active PUP (physically unable to perform) list to start training camp. These players include rookie defensive tackle Terrence Cody and cornerback Walt Harris, who did not pass their respective conditioning tests. Others believed to be on the list are safety Ed Reed (hip), cornerbacks Fabian Washington (knee) and Lardarius Webb (knee), linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo (leg), offensive tackle Oniel Cousins (throat), running back Matt Lawrence (knee), cornerback Prince Miller, and receiver Rodelin Anthony. It is still undetermined whether Jared Gaither (foot) will be played on PUP, as he was not present for Tuesday morning’s session despite John Harbaugh saying he expected him to be there Monday afternoon. Unlike the reserve PUP list that keeps a player sidelined for the first six weeks of the regular season, players may come off the active PUP list at any point during training camp. However, once they’re removed, they are no longer eligible

2010 Ravens Training Camp Preview: 10 Purple Questions

Luke Jones

As the Ravens begin their 15th training camp at McDaniel College in Westminster, expectations are as high as they’ve ever been for a team with serious Super Bowl aspirations in 2010. From the acquisition of impact receiver Anquan Boldin to the continued maturity of quarterback Joe Flacco, prognosticators across the country have earmarked the Ravens as serious contenders to raise the Lombardi Trophy at Cowboys Stadium in early February. Despite the loud optimism for this Ravens team, many questions remain unanswered, as is the case with any of the 32 teams in late July. In honor of this year’s 10th anniversary of the Ravens’ Super Bowl XXXV victory, I pose 10 questions as the men in purple report to McDaniel College this week: 1. What’s the deal with Ed Reed? Reed’s name has created buzz throughout the offseason dating back to his uncertainty of whether he would return following the Ravens’ playoff loss in Indianapolis. Since then, the All-Pro safety has declared his intention to return, but when we’ll see him on the field is anyone’s guess. After undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, Reed declared himself at only “35 percent” as late as last week

Live from Westminster: Ravens agree to 3-year deal with "Mount" Cody

Luke Jones

WESTMINSTER, Md. — Good afternoon from the Best Western in Westminster as the time has finally come for the Ravens to report for training camp and begin preparation for the 2010 season. Rookies, quarterbacks, and select veterans will trickle in throughout the day with their first workout scheduled for Tuesday morning at 8:45 a.m. We’ll hear from coach John Harbaugh at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon as we hope to get an update on the condition of rookie linebacker Sergio Kindle who is hospitalized after suffering a fall in Austin, Texas on Thursday night. Kindle and fellow second-round pick Terrence Cody remain unsigned, as only six of the 32 players from the second round have inked contracts with their respective teams as of Monday morning. In addition to our live reports every hour (on the :30s) on AM 1570 WNST (and streaming live on the web at WNST.net), check right here for our daily “Live from Westminster” blog and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (@WNST) for the quickest updates from McDaniel College throughout the summer. As always, please remember to join the WNST Text Service to have training camp news sent directly to your mobile device. All updated information

Orioles roster moves: Gonzalez back, Patton promoted (and demoted)

Luke Jones

With the bullpen completely spent after extensive work in the last three games, the Orioles needed immediate relief help. The Orioles announced a series of roster moves prior to Wednesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez has been reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, left-handed pitcher Troy Patton has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, and third baseman Josh Bell has been optioned to the Tides. To make room for Gonzalez on the 40-man roster, Jim Johnson has been moved from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Gonzalez was placed on the disabled list on April 10 with a strained left shoulder. At the time of his injury, Gonzalez had recorded one save in three appearances, much to fans’ chagrin. Patton was 6-9 with a 4.91 ERA in 18 starts for Norfolk this season. He posted a 3.44 ERA over his last nine outings for Norfolk. This will be Patton’s first stint in the big leagues since 2007. Patton’s stay with the Orioles could be brief, as Kevin Millwood is expected to return from the disabled list to make the start on Thursday night. Patton will wear uniform No. 54. Bell batted .263 (6-19)

Orioles option Tillman to Norfolk

Luke Jones

Chris Tillman is heading to the minors—again. After being hammered for eight runs in 2 2/3 innings in Monday night’s loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, the 22-year-old has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Tillman is 1-4 with a 7.92 ERA (25.0 IP, 22 ER) in six starts with the Orioles this season. He made two starts after being promoted for the second time this season on July 10, going 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA (10.0 IP, 8 ER), including a victory in which he pitched a career-high 7 1/3 innings on July 10 against the Texas Rangers. A corresponding roster move will be announced prior to tomorrow’s game against Tampa Bay. The most likely candidates are veteran starting pitcher Kevin Millwood (on the 15-day DL) or reliever Mike Gonzalez (60-day DL). It was announced earlier Tuesday that Millwood would make his returning start on Thursday night.

Orioles reinstate Scott from DL, demote Mata to Norfolk

Luke Jones

As expected, the Orioles have activated outfielder Luke Scott from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for Scott on the roster, right-handed reliever Frank Mata has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Scott has been on the disabled list since July 1 with a strained left hamstring. At the time of the injury, Scott was batting .274 (61-223) with 12 home runs and 30 RBI in 66 games for the Orioles. Mata pitched to a 7.79 ERA (17.1IP, 15ER) in 15 games for the Orioles after making his major league debut on May 26. He allowed just one earned run in his first seven appearances for the Orioles, but has given up eight earned runs in his last four appearances (5.1 innings).

Orioles place Millwood on DL, activate Pie

Luke Jones

As speculated after his miserable outing on Monday, starting pitcher Kevin Millwood has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm (flexor mass). Millwood is 2-8 with a 5.77 ERA (107.2 IP, 69 ER) in a team-high 18 starts for the Orioles. The move will surely cloud his future as the Orioles were expecting to shop Millwood at the July 31st trading deadline To fill Millwood’s spot on the roster, the Orioles have activated outfielder Felix Pie, who has been on the disabled list since April 16 with a strained upper back muscle. Pie was batting .400 (8-20) with two doubles, a home run and one RBI for the Orioles at the time of his injury. By activating Pie from the 60-day disabled list, the Orioles’ 40-man roster is at capacity. The left-handed outfielder is scheduled to play left field and bat seventh in the lineup against Detroit on Tuesday night. With Millwood going to the DL, third baseman Josh Bell and reliever Frank Mata appear safe for now, though the Orioles will need a starting pitcher for Saturday night. If you’re on the WNST Text Service, you received the Kevin Millwood news first! Be sure

Enduring the second half: What I’d like to see from the Orioles (Part 1 of 2)

Luke Jones

With the Orioles officially reaching the halfway point of the season on Sunday, the second half of the schedule began much like the first—with a 12-9 loss in Detroit on Monday afternoon. It’s no secret that much of Baltimore has shifted its attention to the Ravens and the upcoming start of training camp with the Orioles appearing destined to finish with the worst record in franchise history. Whether you choose to persevere through the season’s final three months or tune out in hopes of regaining your sanity after the horrid first half, much needs to be accomplished between now and October—on and off the field. The most critical question of whether Andy MacPhail and Peter Angelos will commit to significantly improving the roster via free agency and trades in the offseason will linger long after October—and beyond—but in the mean time, a plethora of other issues can be addressed, some by the organization and others by players themselves. If I had a crystal ball to predict what will unfold over the final three months of 2010, here’s what I’d like to see: 1. A new skipper is hired This one is a no-brainer, but it’s imperative that the Orioles bring

Orioles promote 3B Josh Bell, place Luke Scott on DL

Luke Jones

The Orioles have placed Luke Scott (left hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list. We saw that coming. What we didn’t see coming was a promotion for Triple-A Norfolk third baseman Josh Bell, but he will surprisingly take Scott’s spot on the 25-man roster. Bell batted .266 (76-286) with 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBI in 74 games for the Tides. In 24 games in June, Bell hit .272 (25-92) with nine doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI and a .500 slugging percentage. Bell’s 24 doubles are second-most in the International League and tied for 12th-most in all of minor league baseball. He is tied for 10th in the league in homers. He was acquired on July 30, 2009 along with pitcher Steve Johnson from the Los Angeles Dodgers for closer George Sherrill. Bell will wear No. 25, most recently worn by Garrett Atkins. Update: Bell was 1-for-4 in his debut and made a throwing error at third base in the Orioles’ 8-1 loss to the Athletics Thursday night.

Ripken, Orioles still talking about a future role

Luke Jones

While most attention remains on the Orioles’ continued search for a manager, Cal Ripken continues to have discussions with Peter Angelos—and Andy MacPhail—about the current state of the organization. Ripken told MASN and The Sun that he continues to have an open dialogue about a future role with the club, but it’s unclear how involved he will become. “We have had some talks about learning and advising and being available when you can,” he said. “It’s sort of a secondary position or an advisory position. There’s a fairness on both sides–how much can you give, can you be involved as much as you need to be, or can’t you? Some of those issues need to be looked at.” Ripken did not rule out accepting a secondary position and working his way up the proverbial front office ladder below MacPhail. Of course, the continued discussions build on a Ken Rosenthal story from earlier in the season that claimed Ripken had asked for job only to be turned town by the club. One job Ripken won’t be taking is the Orioles’ current managerial opening, citing all of the travel conflicting with his desire to be close to home over the next two

Showalter says Orioles have “some great pieces” on Baseball Tonight

Luke Jones

Buck Showalter has been tight-lipped about last week’s interview for the Orioles managerial position, but he broke his silence on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight Sunday evening, sharing his impressions on the current state of the Baltimore Orioles. For anyone hoping to get a legitimate read on Showalter’s thoughts, you’ll probably have to wait as he was hesitant to discuss specifics, citing his respect for interim manager Juan Samuel and not wanting to comment specifically about “his” job. The 54-year-old former manager did, however, confirm his interest in the position. Despite the Orioles’ league-worst 23-52 record, the former big league manager acknowledged there is some talent with which to work in Baltimore. “It’s a tough situation, but the one mistake people make, I think, is just because a club has lost X number of games that everything there is bad,” Showalter told Karl Ravech on Baseball Tonight. “There are some great pieces there.” When asked why he would consider taking a managerial job in Baltimore given its current state and having to play in the toughest division in baseball, Showalter said any managerial job is a rare privilege. “We’ll see where it takes us and what’s presented to somebody. And you take

Ravens ink QB Marc Bulger to 1-year deal

Luke Jones

In an effort to improve their depth behind starter Joe Flacco, the Baltimore Ravens have signed veteran quarterback Marc Bulger to a one-year, $3.8 million deal Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal will also include incentives that could be reached should Bulger receive more snaps than expected in 2010. Entering his 10th season, Bulger had spent his entire career with the St. Louis Rams, taking the reins of the St. Louis offense permanently in 2003 after backing up Kurt Warner for two years. The 33-year-old quarterback played in nine games last season, going 140 of 247 for 1,469 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. The Rams released Bulger in early April, clearing the way for St. Louis to draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford with the top pick of the NFL Draft a few weeks later. Bulger joins returning backups Troy Smith and John Beck but clearly figures to be the No. 2 behind Flacco, who is entering his third season as the team’s starter. A $3.8 million investment in a backup is a hefty price, but general manager Ozzie Newsome has significantly improved the depth at the quarterback position. Are you on the WNST Text Service? If so,

Live from Camden Yards: Marlins players in “shock” over Gonzalez firing

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — While the Orioles (19-51) prepare for the second of a three-game set against Florida (34-36) tonight at 7:05 p.m., the opposition is dealing with the surprising dismissal of manager Fredi Gonzalez earlier this morning. The Marlins clubhouse was filled with shock and disappointment regarding the firing, as first baseman Gaby Sanchez described it as a “shock” and Jorge Cantu did not learn of the news until this morning just like everyone else. Triple-A manager Edwin Rodriguez takes over on an interim basis as it appears Bobby Valentine will eventually become the next manager of the Marlins. He and owner Jeffrey Loria have known each other for 20 years, dating back to their days with the Texas Rangers. And, of course, if you’re on the WNST Text Service, you received the news that Valentine had official withdrew his name from consideration for the Orioles’ managerial position. It’s certainly no coincidence as Marlins president David Samson confirmed  the club had contacted Valentine earlier today about the job. The Marlins’ situation is certainly a stark contrast from the Orioles’ recent firing of Dave Trembley, who seemingly flapped around in the wind for weeks before finally receiving his walking papers. In Orioles

A staggering look at the numbers as Orioles drop to 19-51

Luke Jones

What more is there to say that hasn’t already been said after the previous 50 losses this season? The Orioles lost 10-4 to the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night. Jeremy Guthrie was plagued by a four-run second inning, retired 13 of 14 batters, and then walked Chris Coghlan to begin the seventh before giving up an RBI-double to Gaby Sanchez. That marked Guthrie’s exit as he fell to 3-9 on the season. The bullpen was awful, giving up three earned runs in three innings to put the game even further out of reach than it already was. On a bright note, Matt Wieters hit a three-run, opposite-field homer in the second inning on a typical Baltimore summer night in which the ball was really carrying at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The struggling catcher now has 6 RBI in his last two games despite a .225 average. It was also the Orioles’ first three-run home run since May 1. Instead of analyzing why the Orioles lost again (it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, does it?), here’s a glimpse at some staggering numbers and scenarios: – The Orioles are now 19-51, a .271 winning percentage that now puts the club on

Live from Camden Yards: Jake Fox to O’s, Tillman optioned to Norfolk

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — As reported earlier today, the Orioles have acquired infielder/outfielder Jake Fox from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league pitcher Ross Wolf and cash considerations. It’s a move that’s sure to excite few but isn’t a bad gamble if you take a look at Fox’s career minor league numbers. And, oh yeah, he’s a former Cub, which Andy MacPhail seems to like for some reason. Interim manager Juan Samuel intends to use the 27-year-old Fox in a utility role off the bench and as a third catcher to help spell Matt Wieters—who could then be the designated hitter on occasion—and backup Craig Tatum. That’s fine for now, but Fox needs to receive regular opportunities at some point. Regardless of whose playing time suffers as a result, there’s no such thing as “stepping on anyone’s toes” when the club is 19-50. “He’s an added bat,” Samuel said. “We’re going to do everything we can to get him in there and get some offense. That’s just an extra guy to help us off the bench, to pinch hit if we need to throw him in against a left-hander. … I’m going to try to play as many guys as

Orioles managerial search: Now, later, or both?

Luke Jones

With Buck Showalter scheduled to interview with the Orioles on Wednesday and Eric Wedge receiving a callback in the near future, the search continues for a permanent manager while Juan Samuel steers a sunken ship for the time being. Bobby Valentine whisked through town with an apparent “thanks, but no thanks” after taking a glimpse at a team currently 31 games below .500 and 24 games out of first place on the first day of summer. It’s no secret this job is an incredibly difficult—if not impossible—sell to any experienced name attached to the managerial search. And with Andy MacPhail proclaiming the organization’s preference for an experienced skipper, the Valentines, Showalters, and Wedges of the baseball world would need an incredible amount of hubris to willingly jump aboard now to manage a team on track to become one of the worst in the history of the game. Waiting until the off-season would not only provide an expanded field of candidates but also remove the stigma of having the eventual manager attached to whatever the final record will be for the 2010 edition of the Orioles. However, with Nick Markakis’ recent comments questioning the direction of the organization, stretching the process

The beginning of the end for Markakis in Baltimore?

Luke Jones

Just to be clear, the Orioles have no intention of trading Nick Markakis. And Markakis—despite his comments earlier this week questioning both his teammates’ approach and the direction of an organization in the midst of its 13th straight losing season—doesn’t want to leave Baltimore, at least not beyond the general sense of wishing to be anywhere else but on a team that is 31 games below .500 in the middle of June. Even so, it’s hard to imagine Markakis’ outspokenness sat very well with Andy MacPhail as he opened the paper Friday morning to see the comments questioning his vision for the organization after three years in charge. “At this point, yeah. Where are we going?” the right fielder said when asked about the current state of the franchise by Jeff Zrebiec. “I know we have a lot of injured guys. We’re in the toughest division in baseball, and we’re a last-place team. But at this point, it’s mind-boggling. You don’t even know what to think, but you still have to be professional and go out and play every day.” While most have focused on his statements about his teammates’ lack of an approach at the plate and his defense

O-mazin’ Orioles swept by Mets as chase of history is on

Luke Jones

It’s fitting the Orioles concluded a forgettable 2-7 homestand against the New York Mets this weekend. For it was this same Mets franchise that set the modern record for futility with a 40-120 record as an expansion team in 1962, and the Orioles’ biggest—if not only—storyline is quickly becoming where they might land among the worst teams in the history of major league baseball. With the Orioles falling 11-4 on Sunday and now holding an appalling 17-46 record (on pace to lose 119 games), it’s getting harder and harder to ignore a potential date with history, though not the kind anyone wanted to see in Baltimore this season—or any season for that matter. Those “Amazin’ Mets” lost their 63rd game of the season, giving Casey Stengel and the feeble Metropolitans a 17-46 record, the same mark the Orioles hold as they embark on a West Coast trip to San Francisco and San Diego this week. But unlike the Mets, expectations were far higher for an Orioles club many hoped would be far more intriguing—and successful—than any Baltimore has witnessed in 13 years. The decision to fire manager Dave Trembley was made in order to ignite a spark for a baseball

Live from Camden Yards: “Calm” Arrieta set to make MLB debut tonight

Luke Jones

***Join us in the Orange Crush chat right now!*** BALTIMORE — It lacks the hoopla of the “Strasburg-mania” we saw in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night, but pitching prospect Jake Arrieta will make his major league debut this evening against the New York Yankees (37-22) as the Orioles (16-43) hope to salvage the finale of a three-game series. Arrieta was leading the International League in opponents batting average (.189), second in innings pitched, and tied for third with six wins. The 24-year-old was 6-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts for the Norfolk Tides. He will wear the No. 57, joining the likes of Juan Guzman, Karim Garcia, Erik Bedard (briefly), Julio Manon, and Garrett Olson as players to wear the number for the Orioles. Needless to say, Arrieta has little pressure living up to the history of that number. If one weakness reared its ugly head in Arrieta’s minor league career, it was his propensity for surrendering walks. The right-hander was tied for second in the International League with walks allowed (34), which may cost him dearly against the patient Yankees lineup. Arrieta appeared calm in his preparation for tonight’s start, casually walking into the office of interim

Live from Camden Yards: Arrieta to make MLB debut Thursday

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Good evening from a dreary, damp Oriole Park at Camden Yards as the Orioles (16-42) prepare to battle the New York Yankees (36-22) in the second of a three-game series tonight at 7:05 p.m. Chris Tillman will make his third start of the season, but another young pitcher grabbed the headlines this afternoon when the Orioles announced Jake Arrieta will make his major league debut Thursday night instead of the speculated Saturday game against the New York Mets. Jeremy Guthrie’s scheduled start will be moved to Friday night, giving the right-hander an extra day of rest. Arrieta is 6-2 with a 1.85 ERA in 11 starts with the Norfolk Tides this season, striking out 64 while walking 34. Arrieta’s biggest struggle in the minor leagues has been limiting walks, which will present a challenge against the patient New York lineup. However, interim manager Juan Samuel showed no hesitation in sending Arrieta to the hill against the 2009 world champions. “Hey, we don’t get to pick who we play,” said Samuel, citing how well the 24-year-old as pitched at Triple A and the need for Arrieta to gain experience. With Arrieta’s promotion, it likely means Brad Bergesen will remain

Live from Camden Yards: Roberts’ back “not really good,” more tests coming

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Good afternoon from Oriole Park at Camden Yards as the Orioles (16-41) prepare to welcome the New York Yankees (35-22) for the first of a three-game set this evening at 7:05 p.m. The biggest piece of news from Juan Samuel in his pre-game meeting with the media was an update on Brian Roberts described as “not really good.” After previously being scheduled to play in an extended spring training game last Friday, Roberts continues to experience lower back pain and will undergo a battery of tests over the next few days. While all parties have downplayed the possibility of surgery ever since Roberts missed most of spring training with a herniated disc, Samuel did not seem optimistic over the second baseman’s prognosis and whether he might have to undergo surgery. “We don’t know,” Samuel said. “Like I said, they’re going to run more tests here in the next two or three days, and we’ll see once the doctors evaluate his situation, we will know more on that.” Roberts is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday, but his status for the remainder of the season remains very much in doubt at this point. Mike Gonzalez

Harbaugh, Ravens applaud communication over OTA violations

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens continued this week’s minicamp by applauding the communication between the organization and the players union regarding violations that forced the team to cancel its final week of offseason practices on Monday. Coach John Harbaugh informed the media that union reps Todd Heap and Chris Carr came to him with concerns regarding the first OTA week in which six players ran over the allowed time for meetings and two players spent too much time on the practice field. As a result, the organization sent their schedule and tape to league executives who then forced the Ravens to cancel next week’s final OTA practices before training camp. “I agree with it; I’m accountable for that,” Harbaugh said. “As an organization we want to do things the right way. We want to be within the rules at all times. We want our players to communicate with us when they have an issue, and they did. We deserved to lose those last two days. That’s the way it goes, and I think we’ve had a great offseason program anyway, and after this week, it’ll be time to move on to the regular part of it.” Despite the

Sunday Orioles Notes: Simon on schedule to return soon

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — The woes continue for the Orioles (15-41) as they’ll try to snap a season-high 10-game losing streak and salvage a game in the series against the Red Sox (33-24) this afternoon at Camden Yards. The Baltimore lineup has produced just 10 runs in its last eight games and 16 runs in the current 10-game skid. In comparison, the Red Sox scored 11 runs in Friday night’s game alone. Trying to inject any kind of offense he can possibly find, interim manager Juan Samuel will rest the struggling Corey Patterson, replacing him with Julio Lugo in the leadoff spot and Luke Scott taking his spot in left field this afternoon. Here are this afternoon’s lineups: Boston SS Marco Scutaro 2B Dustin Pedroia DH David Ortiz 1B Kevin Youkilis C Victor Martinez 3B Adrian Beltre LF Bill Hall CF Mike Cameron RF Darnell McDonald SP John Lackey (6-3, 4.95 ERA) Baltimore 2B Julio Lugo DH Miguel Tejada RF Nick Markakis 1B Ty Wigginton LF Luke Scott CF Adam Jones 3B Scott Moore C Craig Tatum SS Cesar Izturis SP Brian Matusz (2-6, 5.28 ERA) Don’t forget to join us in the Orange Crush chat this afternoon at 1:30 p.m., as

Saturday Orioles Notes: Bergesen to bullpen (at least temporarily)

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — It’s another hot day at Camden Yards accompanied by little good news as the Orioles (15-40) prepare to face the Red Sox (32-24) in the second of a three-game set after Boston battered the Baltimore pitching staff in an 11-0 rout on Friday night. Brad Bergesen has been moved to the bullpen—at least temporarily—to add another arm with the luxury of an off day on Monday. The rest of the staff will work on regular rest with the 24-year-old working in a relief role. Interim manager Juan Samuel said there are no defined plans to keep Bergesen in the bullpen long-term, but that could change as Jake Arrieta continues to dominate Triple-A batters. “We don’t know how long he’s going to be down there,” the manager said. Bergesen gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings in a 9-1 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday. His earned run average now stands at 6.75 after pitching to a 3.43 clip in his rookie season a year ago. The club continues to point to an inconsistent arm slot as the main reason for Bergesen’s struggles in his sophomore campaign. The pitcher’s sinker continues to miss up in the strike zone,

Hoping for a spark, Orioles implode again in Samuel’s managerial debut

Luke Jones

It only took the Orioles a few hours to prove what everyone already knew despite the announcement of Dave Trembley being fired on Friday morning. Trembley wasn’t the one who threw 38 pitches in a three-run first inning that sealed the Orioles’ fate against the Red Sox in an 11-0 loss in front of 30,070 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, many of them Boston fans as has become the custom. He also wasn’t a member of a lineup that managed just five hits against Clay Buchholz, all singles. And while his bullpen management constantly came under scrutiny during his tenure in Baltimore, Trembley had no hand in a bullpen that surrendered seven runs when starter Chris Tillman was lifted in the second inning after giving up four runs in 1 1/3 innings. Who could blame Trembley if he checked the score of the ballgame at some point on Friday evening and breathed a sigh of relief knowing he no longer has to deal with this mess? Despite Andy MacPhail’s desire for Juan Samuel to ignite a spark—on an interim basis—for a pitiful baseball team, a plethora of grave problems remain regardless of who’s filling out the lineup card and

Trembley, Orioles point to bad breaks instead of making own luck

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — As the Orioles fall further into the abyss of the 2010 season, Thursday night’s loss ranks near the top of the most painful defeats. A 5-2 lead that appeared to be an almost certain victory transformed into an excruciating sequence of questionable decisions and bad luck in the eight inning. The final result was a 7-5 defeat and another sleepless night of asking how it went wrong for manager Dave Trembley and the Orioles (15-33). The win-loss record plainly reflects how poorly the club has played over the first two months of the season, but the bad breaks once again manifested in the eighth inning on Thursday night. A grounder deflecting off the leg of Mark Hendrickson led to an infield single and then a bad hop to Cesar Izturis kept the eventual five-run inning alive on two occasions. Later, a three-run double by Kevin Kouzmanoff sealed the Orioles’ fate as the club snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, a common theme as we approach the 50-game mark of the season. “You hate to get a game taken away from a guy who has pitched as well as [Brad] Bergesen did and lose it under those conditions,”

8

Paid Advertisement

Podcast Audio Vault

Spotify Apple Youtube
8
8
8

Paid Advertisement

Scroll to Top
Verified by MonsterInsights