Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin Youtube Spotify Podcast

Paid Advertisement

Sports

Orioles had one more hit than you and I last night

Nestor Aparicio

The Orioles lost again last night while you were asleep. Sure, you were probably awake when it started and thought (like I did) that with Brad Bergesen on the hill at least the game stood a chance of getting over before Conan and Letterman. Alas, hasty baseball was played — the game ended in 2:09 — but the game moves a helluva lot quicker when you don’t threaten any offense. Last night in Seattle, Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn came about as close as you can get to a perfect game, allowing just one single to Nick Markakis in the fourth inning and cruising to a complete game 5-0 win over the Orioles at Safeco Field. The Orioles got ONE HIT last night. Hard to win like that. “He probably pitched one of the best games in Major League Baseball all season,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “Give the guy credit. He was on his game, and boy, he certainly pitched a gem.” “Let’s give credit where credit is due,” Trembley said. “Washburn pitched a great game. I mean, come on. … He completely dominated the game. That’s as good of a game as I’ve seen pitched against us all year.”

Orioles update: They’re still in last place

Nestor Aparicio

While we were all busy following the tragic death of Steve McNair over the weekend the Orioles were still busy losing and playing bad baseball. It seems like the franchise goes further into the witness protection program when they play on the West Coast but all of the mistakes and lousy pitching hasn’t been lost on me. I actually watched all of the late-night garbage over the Fourth of July weekend. Where to begin? Well, they’re still in last place at 36-46. They managed to cross the official “midseason” point in the cellar. They still manage to regularly find ways to blow big-early game leads. And, thankfully for me, Jim Palmer is still employed by MASN so I can actually have a few chuckles with my unending yield of losses after midnight. Palmer continually called it “bad baseball” and reinforced his opinions with many facts, observations and criticisms that would qualify as comedy after midnight if it weren’t so sad. I think he’s almost bored with it and was more interested in making funny faces with Gary Thorne than watching the Orioles blow one more game after a decent starting effort. I could itemize the entire weekend and point specific

Remembering Steve McNair

Luke Jones

With the tragic news of the passing of Steve McNair on the Fourth of July, it’s difficult to contemplate his legacy, both in the NFL and here in Baltimore. McNair will not only be remembered as the man who helped lead the Baltimore Ravens to their best regular season record, a 13-3 mark in 2006, but also as a worthy adversary playing for the Tennessee Titans. Prior to the league’s switch to the current AFC North division format in 2002, the Ravens’ fiercest AFC Central rival was the Titans with McNair and running back Eddie George leading the way.  The tenacious McNair was a feared opponent for the Ravens’ vaunted defense, breaking Baltimore hearts in the 2003 Wild Card matchup at M&T Bank Stadium. My favorite memory of McNair will always be his preseason debut as the Ravens’ quarterback against the New York Giants in 2006.  Though McNair played only one series, he led the team on an 80-yard drive, culminating with a 6-yard touchdown run. The electricty in M&T Bank Stadium—for a preseason game no less—was palpable and set the tone for what would be a memorable 13-3 regular season.  After witnessing quarterback after quarterback fail to lead the

Any memories of Steve McNair?

Nestor Aparicio

Obviously a very sad day here for anyone who cheered for Steve McNair or knew him. Obviously, he made quite a mark with the Baltimore fans just six months ago when he co-hosted our fan party in Nashville. This is a place to post memories. Post below and we’ll get them onto the site… Also, if anyone has any pictures they took from that night we’d love to get them (NASTY@WNST.net) and post them here on the site. Here’s the video from our night with McNair at Limelight in Tennessee back in January: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWIhXSp07UQ[/youtube]

Latest updates on Steve McNair murder here…

Nestor Aparicio

UPDATED 4:54 p.m. — Nashville police have now confirmed Steve McNair’s death was indeed a murder. More at The Tennessean including: “A Sunday morning autopsy revealed that McNair was shot four times – twice in the head, twice in the chest. His girlfriend, 20-year-old Sahel Kazemi, died of a gunshot wound to the side of the head. A semi-automatic pistol was found on the floor under her body. But it will take many days of interviews with their families and friends and witnesses who saw McNair out on the town Friday night before police will rule whether the deaths were a murder-suicide or a double homicide. “While it is clear McNair’s death is a homicide, the police department is not classifying Kazemi’s death, pending further investigation and interviews with persons who knew her and McNair,” police spokesman Don Aaron said at press conference this afternoon. “We can’t be close-minded,” Aaron said. “All scenarios are on the table.” The autopsy showed the two had died in the early hours of Saturday morning, hours before their bodies were discovered by a friend of McNair’s who had a key to the Second Avenue condominium. Police are still waiting for the results of ballistics

Orioles’ July will be pivotal on different levels

Luke Jones

Any baseball fan will tell you the 162-game schedule is filled with peaks and valleys.  You’re never as good as your highest point—such as a nine-run comeback win—or as terrible as your lowest moment—like a five-run blown lead in the ninth inning. This year’s World Series champion is bound to undergo at least a five- or six-game losing streak, and even the worst team in the majors—I’m talking to you, Washington—will manage to win five or six games in a row at some point this season. The difference between the good teams and the not-so-good teams in Major League Baseball is an ability to heighten the peaks while shortening the dark valleys. The Orioles’ last two games are a perfect example of how exhilarating—and sobering—the game can be in less than 24 hours.  After completing the greatest comeback in franchise history Tuesday night, the club collapsed in the ninth inning on Wednesday, blowing a 5-1 lead in an eventual 6-5 loss in 11 innings. How will the Orioles respond to these two polarizing contests?  If we look at the club’s body of work this season, the west coast trip—and the month of July—will not be pretty. From the pleasant 6-3

It’s about time for Dave Trembley to go…

Nestor Aparicio

Being on the radio every day over the years I’ve had the sad fortune to listen to more than my fair share of “fire the manager/coach” calls from knee-jerk reactionaries on a mission to be a public “coach killer.” In general, it’s just not my style to call for the firing of a skipper. In fact in my 17 years on the radio – from Johnny Oates to Davey Johnson, from Phil Regan to Sam Perlozzo, from Mike Hargrove to Lee Mazzilli – I’ve never gone on the air in any fashion and said, “Fire the manager.” (Not even for Mazzilli, who was such a freaking train wreck that it was reprehensible.) But, today, I’m strongly toying with the idea that it might be getting close to the time for Dave Trembley to exit. I’ve watched the first three months of the 2009 version of the Orioles. They lack consistency in virtually every aspect of the game. They even lack consistent effort, Tuesday night’s miracle notwithstanding. They’re in dead last place and going nowhere anytime soon. They run the bases like Jeff Stone on certain nights. The mental mistakes and ill-placed errors are maddening at times. But, for me, the

Red Sox-Orioles Facebook News Feed

Luke Jones

If you’re not familiar with the phenomenon that is Facebook, this won’t be the blog for you. Anyone keeping an eye on the popular social networking site while watching the Orioles’ miraculous comeback victory over the Red Sox on Tuesday night inevitably saw a variety of angry wall messages and statuses (10-1) that gradually transformed into reserved hope (10-6) and, finally, jubilation (Orioles win, 11-10!). While viewing all of these messages, I imagined what the Facebook news feed would look like describing this wild game and the various people involved.  It might go a little something like this: * 24,000 Boston fans are attending the event “Red Sox vs. Orioles at Fenway Park South.” * 7,969 Baltimore fans are attending the event “Getting Drowned Out by Obnoxious ‘Sahx’ Fans in My Home Ballpark.” * Adam Jones created the group “Outfield Walls Hurt.” * Orioles fans ended their relationship with Rich Hill. * Dave Trembley left the group “Give Your Pitcher the Quick Hook.” * Luke Jones says it’s time to watch old episodes of The Office while keeping an eye on the game. * John Smoltz’s status:  “I really hate rain delays.” * Rich Hill’s status:  “I’m doing a rain

Ohhhhh what a comeback: Oriole Magic percolates at The Yard after the rain…

Nestor Aparicio

It isn’t hype to say that a miracle happened at Camden Yards tonight. It isn’t hyperbole to say that this was truly the greatest comeback in Orioles history. It really was. I’m sure this morning many of you will awake to read this and say what most of the city (or the few who were watching to begin with will say): “They were losing 9-1 when the rain came. How the hell did they win that game?” Well, the box score will tell you all about the comeback — an amazing display of perserverance that saw them get five runs in the 7th inning and five more in the 8th to overcome the Red Sox in an 11-10 win before a stunned contingent of mostly Red Sox fans, who stayed to celebrate what looked to be a rout at 10:45 p.m. after a lengthy and wet rain delay that came in the fifth inning. In the 7th, Aubrey Huff, Nolan Reimold and Luke Scott heroics were all upstaged by Oscar Salazar’s big home run off of Hideki Okajima. In the 8th, it was Nick Markakis’ big two-out shot off the left field wall that highlighted a firestorm offensive display against

5 W’s and 1 H

Luke Jones

31-62. No, it is not the Washington Nationals’ current record (22-51), but it’s the Orioles’ record against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards since 1998. And despite what many would have you believe, the fans donning pink and green Boston hats and representing The Bandwagon Red Sox Nation haven’t hurled a single pitch or hit a single home run in those 62 losses. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as frustrated as anyone to see Camden Yards invaded by Red Sox or Yankees fans 18 times every season, but pleas to Orioles fans to buy those tickets are a waste of words.  Nothing will change until this becomes a winning organization again. Because of their strong national following, the Yankees and Red Sox have a strong representation wherever they go, whether it’s in Baltimore, Kansas City, or Los Angeles.  The only way to contain—not eliminate—the number of Red Sox or Yankees fans is to field a winning team that fans want to pay to watch. Just look at the Ravens’ annual war with the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium.  In the years in which the Ravens are competitive and in the playoff hunt, the number of Steelers fans is considerably

5 W's and 1 H

Luke Jones

31-62. No, it is not the Washington Nationals’ current record (22-51), but it’s the Orioles’ record against the Boston Red Sox at Camden Yards since 1998. And despite what many would have you believe, the fans donning pink and green Boston hats and representing The Bandwagon Red Sox Nation haven’t hurled a single pitch or hit a single home run in those 62 losses. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as frustrated as anyone to see Camden Yards invaded by Red Sox or Yankees fans 18 times every season, but pleas to Orioles fans to buy those tickets are a waste of words.  Nothing will change until this becomes a winning organization again. Because of their strong national following, the Yankees and Red Sox have a strong representation wherever they go, whether it’s in Baltimore, Kansas City, or Los Angeles.  The only way to contain—not eliminate—the number of Red Sox or Yankees fans is to field a winning team that fans want to pay to watch. Just look at the Ravens’ annual war with the Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium.  In the years in which the Ravens are competitive and in the playoff hunt, the number of Steelers fans is considerably

Where does Ray Lewis rank among the greatest players of the decade?

Luke Jones

Leave it to “The Worldwide Leader in Sports” to jump the gun on an otherwise interesting promotion for the network this week. We’re still over two months away from the start of the 2009 season—the last season of the decade—but ESPN.com has decided it’s time to hand out its NFL all-decade honors.  I guess we don’t need to bother playing this season. The Ravens were well represented with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed being named to the all-decade defense while the first draft pick in franchise history, Jonathan Ogden, was the lone Raven on the all-decade offense.  Fullback Lorenzo Neal was also named to the team, but his one season in Baltimore hardly constitutes him as an all-decade representative for the Ravens. The Ravens were also ranked the fifth-best team of the decade. ESPN closed out the week by revealing their top 25 players of the decade on Friday, and this is the list with which Ravens fans are sure to take issue.  Lewis, the only player to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice this decade, ranks only ninth, behind defensive ends Jason Taylor (fifth) and Michael Strahan (eighth). With all due respect to Taylor and Strahan,

Four down, two to go for the Ravens

Luke Jones

The Baltimore Ravens have signed third-round pick Lardarius Webb to a three-year contract with a reported $530,000 signing bonus. The Nicholls St. defensive back is the Ravens’ fourth draft pick to sign a contract, joining linebacker Jason Phillips, tight end Davon Drew, and running back Cedric Peerman. The remaining unsigned picks are offensive tackle Michael Oher (first round) and linebacker/defensive end Paul Kruger (second round). Considering the Ravens typically have not negotiated with their draft picks until July, the chance of both Oher and Kruger reporting to training camp on time appears likely. If Oher would sign prior to July 27, it would mark the third year in a row in which the Ravens have signed their first-round pick before the start of training camp.  The Ravens’ last two first-rounders were quarterback Joe Flacco (2008) and guard Ben Grubbs (2007).

Despite improved talent, O’s still making same old mistakes

Luke Jones

When looking from afar, it seems nothing has changed this year from the last 11 seasons of baseball.  Stuck in last place with a 32-39 record, the Orioles appear destined to complete their 12th-straight losing season of baseball. But despite the lack of improvement in the win-loss department, anyone paying close attention this season can see the improved talent level at several key positions. The outfield of Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Nolan Reimold appears set for the future, and Matt Wieters—you may have heard of him by now—may be the new face of the franchise if numerous scouting reports from all around baseball are legitimate. And, of course, there’s the pitching.  We’ve already seen promise from Brad Bergesen and David Hernandez, and a plethora of arms waits at Triple-A Norfolk. While the talent level is vastly improved from the teams of the past decade composed entirely of over-the-hill veterans and undeserving young players, a major problem still plagues the Orioles despite the promises made by manager Dave Trembley two seasons ago. Stressing the importance of playing the game the right way, we heard reports of the team taking infield practice before games and focusing on fundamentals in spring training.

5 W’s and 1 H

Luke Jones

The Orioles certainly didn’t show the Phillies any “Brotherly Love” by completing a three-game sweep this weekend. I attended the first two games of the series on Friday and Saturday night and had a great time.  Citizens Bank Park may lack the charm of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, but the wide-open concourse is an excellent feature for those wanting to grab a snack or cold beverage without missing a pitch. It was a pleasure meeting many of the rabid Orioles fans on the WNST/Miller Lite Bus Trip, and it was even better high-fiving and celebrating the closing moments of Saturday night’s comeback win with them! Here are the 5 W’s and 1 H for the week: 1.  Who will be the best player not named Blake Griffin to come out of this year’s NBA Draft? The 2009 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday night, and the Los Angeles Clippers have already committed to taking power forward Blake Griffin (Oklahoma), the surest thing in this year’s draft class, with the No. 1 pick. After Griffin, there is plenty of talent but many question marks.  From Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet to international point guard Ricky Rubio to Davidson’s Stephen Curry, there is

5 W's and 1 H

Luke Jones

The Orioles certainly didn’t show the Phillies any “Brotherly Love” by completing a three-game sweep this weekend. I attended the first two games of the series on Friday and Saturday night and had a great time.  Citizens Bank Park may lack the charm of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, but the wide-open concourse is an excellent feature for those wanting to grab a snack or cold beverage without missing a pitch. It was a pleasure meeting many of the rabid Orioles fans on the WNST/Miller Lite Bus Trip, and it was even better high-fiving and celebrating the closing moments of Saturday night’s comeback win with them! Here are the 5 W’s and 1 H for the week: 1.  Who will be the best player not named Blake Griffin to come out of this year’s NBA Draft? The 2009 NBA Draft takes place on Thursday night, and the Los Angeles Clippers have already committed to taking power forward Blake Griffin (Oklahoma), the surest thing in this year’s draft class, with the No. 1 pick. After Griffin, there is plenty of talent but many question marks.  From Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet to international point guard Ricky Rubio to Davidson’s Stephen Curry, there is

Orioles get Philthy in Philly, complete sweep with 2-1 win

Nestor Aparicio

The Orioles are still in last place but completed an inspired weekend of road baseball, finishing a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies in the City of Brotherly Love. Today, it was Jeremy Guthrie’s turn to step up with a big outing and Adam Jones and Brian Roberts driving in the key late-inning runs to beat the Phils 2-1 after a huge comeback on Saturday night on the heels of a great start by Brad Bergesen. Roberts has been the difference maker the past two days, stepping up as a veteran leader for a team trying to dig out of the AL East basement. The Orioles have now won five in a row and take their final Interleague turn of the season south to South Beach and a three-game set meeting with the Marlins on Tuesday night. Complete coverage at WNST.net here…

A funny, memorable night in Philadelphia…

Nestor Aparicio

I’m just getting my sea legs under me on a Sunday afternoon from a long night of rain, baseball, cheese steaks, hideous Philadelphia sports fans and Miller Lite drinking with the Orioles and 50 awesome orange Kool Aid drinkers at Citizen’s Bank Park. We had a blast! (And that was before the fireworks from Gregg Zaun and Brian Roberts…) The video is just about done and I’ll get it up onto wnsTV so you can check out all of the mayhem. It was a funny, funny evening with lots of laughs, twists and turns and an a memorable outcome for the Birds. I had at least 500 Philadelphians “remind” me that they’re the World Champions, many on video. It was as much fun as I’ve had at a ballgame in a long time. The video will tell some of the story… Is that an orange broom in a red ballpark or are you just happy to see me?

Ravens rookies a big hit at The Barn

Nestor Aparicio

Seven of the Ravens rookies for 2009 joined the WNST crew at The Barn last night for a Miller Lite event packed with purple fans and laughs. We’ll be running the audio on AM 1570 over the next few days and the audio vault here at WNST.net and video platform of wnsTV will also have the evidence. We did brief conversations with different sets of guys, most of whom drove together from Owings Mills not knowing what to expect when I accosted them an invited them to Carney for what has become an annual event. Paul Kruger and Jason Phillips did the first segment and admitted to being “lost” from time to time in the early going back in April. Next up with was kicker Graham Gano (who admitted to being nervous because of the “public speaking” angle of live radio) and running back Cedric Peerman, who talked about Al Groh’s pro set offense at Virginia. And finally, the trio of Lardarius Webb, Jason Cook (an undrafted free agent fullback who has been very impressive in OTAs) and Davon Drew joined me to close out the evening with some laughs. Webb provided the best comedy of the evening with some

Notes from Ravens Rookie Camp

Luke Jones

The Ravens’ newcomers have a final opportunity this week to get acclimated to the NFL before reporting to McDaniel College for training camp on July 27. The offseason OTA schedule concludes this week with a rookie camp, allowing coaches to work more closely with the team’s six draft picks and numerous rookie free agents vying for a regular season roster spot.  “It’s obviously a different atmosphere and tempo because the vets aren’t here,” coach John Harbaugh said.  “It’s a little slow.  We take a little more time between reps.  I don’t want to say it was more teaching, because there is a lot of teaching when the [veterans] are here, too.  But it was a little more fundamentally-oriented, a little simpler with the calls, but they did a good job.” The rumors circulating about Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall were a hot topic at the training facility in Owings Mills.  The disgruntled receiver wants to be traded, and the receiver position is an area of concern with Derrick Mason (shoulder), Mark Clayton (foot), and Demetrius Williams (ankle) all slowed by injuries this offseason. Earlier in the offseason, the Ravens explored a trade for Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin, but the Cardinals’

Bergesen goes distance, emerging as a true ‘Ace’ for Orioles

Nestor Aparicio

It’s still a bit too early to put Brad Bergesen on the Mike Mussina track as the franchise’s first potential “ace” in a decade but yesterday’s effort at Camden Yards has started some buzz about the lanky righthander’s recent work. The complete game, five-hit, 11-2 victory over the Braves yesterday should come as no surprise. The word on Bergesen’s command began in Florida at spring training and has become evident with his work since his call-up from Norfolk. He pitches quickly. He throws strikes. He mixes speeds. And, with much more consistency than most young pitchers of this generation, he finishes games. He’s what the throwbacks would call a “bulldog” or a “gamer.” In an era of starting pitchers who generally feel “victorious” about six decent innings of work and turning the keys over to the bullpen, Bergesen is indeed a Jim Palmer-esque throwback with his psyche and longevity. He won’t be throwing double-digit complete games every year in the bigs like ‘Cakes, but yesterday was an impressive afternoon of pitching. Bergesen, who threw 112 pitches and appeared to be laboring a bit in the 9th inning, has taken a few of his own lumps during his first six weeks

5 W’s and 1 H

Luke Jones

The Orioles’ team-wide offensive drought has mercifully come to an end, as Orioles’ hitters accumulated 21 runs and 41 hits over the weekend in their series win over the Atlanta Braves. As is often the case, the Orioles’ offense starts with Brian Roberts at the top of the order.  The second baseman went 6-for-10 over the weekend, driving in four runs, walking three times, and stealing two bases. The offense will try to keep it going against the New York Mets who were trampled by the cross-town rival Yankees on Sunday, 15-0.  Luckily, the Orioles will not face Johan Santana, though the southpaw gave up nine earned runs in the series finale in the Bronx. The series begins Tuesday with Jeremy Guthrie (4-6, 5.52 ERA) taking the ball against the Mets’ Mike Pelfrey (4-2, 4.68 ERA). Here are the 5 W’s and 1 H for the week: 1. Who would have thought rookie Brad Bergesen would be the Orioles’ best starting pitcher when pitchers and catchers reported to Ft. Lauderdale in February? In his last four starts, Bergesen is 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA and averaging eight innings per start.  The right-hander continues to throw a heavy sinker, keeping the

How to write your own Orioles blog

Luke Jones

As much as we all love the Orioles here in Baltimore, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to write about them, particularly during this recent team-wide offensive slump. After all, there are only so many adjectives for describing the same disappointing play we’ve seen over the last two weeks—not to mention the last 12 years. In an effort to have some fun,—something lacking in Orioles games lately—I’ve created an Orioles blog template for you to write your own game recaps.  It works just like the old Mad Libs you used to play with your friends.  I’ll give you some key word choices to make before putting them in the rest of the article. And remember, no cheating! Here it goes: 1. A ranking (i.e. second, third) ______________ 2. Day of the week ______________ 3. MLB team other than the Orioles, or make up another like “Sister Catherine’s School for the Blind” ______________ 4. A random baseball score (i.e. 7-1) ______________ 5. Adjective for bad ______________ 6. Another score smaller than your first choice ______________ 7. Choose Luke Scott or Nolan Reimold ______________ 8. A current Orioles starting pitcher ______________ 9. Adjective for bad ______________ 10. A current Orioles non-pitcher ______________ 11. A

Another listless effort at the Yard, O’s fall 6-3

Luke Jones

Another missed opportunity and another series loss. Despite jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, the Orioles fell to the Seattle Mariners, 6-3, losing two out of three in their return to Camden Yards. The wait for the Orioles’ offense to snap out of its two-week long funk is nearly as long as the seventh inning bomb Russell Branyan hit off Brian Bass that still hasn’t landed yet. The pitching has performed—or not performed—just as we expected entering the season.  Despite ranking 13th out of 14 American League teams in ERA (5.17 entering Thursday night), young pitchers such as Brad Bergesen and the recently-demoted David Hernandez have shown glimpses of hope.  The bullpen has been solid—and at times, exceptional—when starters have been knocked out early over the last few weeks. What we didn’t foresee was the mediocre performance from the Orioles’ bats, expected to be a strength in 2009.  The offense ranks ninth in the American League, hitting .264 entering Thursday.  Orioles’ hitters are batting just .222 in the month of June, leading to the recent collapse into the lonely, deep cellar of the AL East. So, how did the Orioles respond tonight with a chance to gain a much-needed

Rain drops Koji: Birds lose to Mariners 6-3

Nestor Aparicio

My new favorite Oriole, Matt Wieters, was the featured Bird tonight but didn’t play. Koji Uehara looked pretty good until the rain came. The Orioles lost again. Mired in an offensive slump, tonight’s Birds lineup was another head-scratcher with Ty Wiggington, Gregg Zaun and Robert Andino at the bottom of the order. To their credit (and perhaps Dave Trembley, who filled out the card) they combined for 3 of the Orioles’ 7 hits tonight in a 6-3 loss. Uehara gave up three runs in the sixth inning and another in the fifth, while Brian Bass pitched 1 2/3 of rocky relief. Uehara looked like he was affected by the rain and Trembley’s postgame indicated that as well. He said the hamstring wasn’t an issue. The Mariners got a big night from Russell Branyan, who hit a home run off Bass further than any ball I can remember, landing the last row of the bleachers below the scoreboard in deep, deep right centerfield. They called it 450-feet. They said it’s the sixth furthest shot in the history of Camden Yards. I don’t believe it. It looked like it was at least 475 and was just amazing. The Orioles had a semi-rally

The O’s are “Wacco for Flacco”

Luke Jones

If you’re heading down to Camden Yards tonight, you just might see the Orioles’ director of scouting Joe Jordan donning a purple Joe Flacco jersey. No, the Ravens quarterback isn’t switching sports—though baseball was his second best game—but you might see his brother at the hot corner in a few years. Earlier today, the Orioles used their 31st round selection to take third baseman Mike Flacco.  The younger Flacco (22) had a great year at CCBC-Catonsville this season, hitting .399 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs in 46 games.  At 6-4 and 220 pounds, it’s clear that Joe is not the only athlete in the family blessed with size. Realistically, this is little more than a good public relations move on the Orioles’ part, but why not take a shot on him in the 31st round?  If he somehow makes it to the major leagues in a few years, it would be a marketing goldmine for both of Baltimore’s professional teams. I briefly spoke to Joe after practice concluded in Owings Mills on Tuesday, and the Flacco family was very excited about Mike’s draft chances and mentioned the Orioles were interested. If the Orioles are really on top of

The O's are "Wacco for Flacco"

Luke Jones

If you’re heading down to Camden Yards tonight, you just might see the Orioles’ director of scouting Joe Jordan donning a purple Joe Flacco jersey. No, the Ravens quarterback isn’t switching sports—though baseball was his second best game—but you might see his brother at the hot corner in a few years. Earlier today, the Orioles used their 31st round selection to take third baseman Mike Flacco.  The younger Flacco (22) had a great year at CCBC-Catonsville this season, hitting .399 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs in 46 games.  At 6-4 and 220 pounds, it’s clear that Joe is not the only athlete in the family blessed with size. Realistically, this is little more than a good public relations move on the Orioles’ part, but why not take a shot on him in the 31st round?  If he somehow makes it to the major leagues in a few years, it would be a marketing goldmine for both of Baltimore’s professional teams. I briefly spoke to Joe after practice concluded in Owings Mills on Tuesday, and the Flacco family was very excited about Mike’s draft chances and mentioned the Orioles were interested. If the Orioles are really on top of

Ravens release Training Camp Schedule

Luke Jones

For those of you looking to plan your day trips to McDaniel College in Westminster to watch Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, and the men in purple, the Ravens released their training camp schedule this afternoon. Quarterbacks, rookies, and select players will report on Monday, July 27—with the first practices taking place the next day—while the remaining veterans report on Wednesday, July 29.  The first full-squad practices open to the public take place on Friday, July 31. The last summer camp practices open to the public will take place on Saturday, August 22. Don’t forget, WNST.net and AM 1570 WNST are your best sources for updates, news, and analysis as the Ravens begin their 14th training camp at McDaniel College. The full schedule can be found here.

Bird watching & no hoisting of goblet in Pittsburgh

Nestor Aparicio

10:42 p.m. — Bring on Game 7! The Pittsburgh Penguins have been plenty feisty daing back to Game 7 in Washington, D.C. in what feels like a lifetime ago. It wasn’t the most exciting first period in Stanley Cup history, but the third period tonight at The Igloo was spectacular. Action, back and forth and up and down the ice. The game almost was tied with just 13 seconds remaining on a close one. It was Stanley Cup magic. The Penguins and the city of Pittsburgh are 60 minutes away from a second civic championship in five months. Disgusting! Meanwhile, Brad Bergesen did a nice job tonight against Seattle. The Birds won 3-1. Nolan Reimold hit a big fly. Melvin Mora had one interfered with in the first inning. It was a good, necessary win for the Birds. 8:40 p.m. — I’m in the midst of a typical spring night of wearing out the “previous” on my Comcast remote as I go back and forth between the Orioles-Mariners and Red Wings-Penguins. The sky is a beautiful blood orange over downtown tonight and the Orioles game has been strange and the Red Wings look poised to hoist Lord Stanley’s chalice on

Orioles take Matt Hobgood with No. 5 overall in MLB Draft

Nestor Aparicio

The pick is in for the Orioles (and wow, is the MLB Draft weird on TV, seeing Bud Selig playing the role of commissioner!) and they’ve selected RHP Matt Hobgood, a high schooler from Norco High School in California. Hobgood’s a beast, at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds and was a helluva hitter as well. He’s been compared to a young Goose Gossage by Baseball America. He’re an excerpt from the L.A. Times: “I’m ecstatic,” Hobgood said. “I don’t know what to say. This is about all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears. I’m so happy they pulled the trigger.” Despite hitting 21 home runs, Hobgood said the Orioles have told him he was selected to become a pitcher. He has a 95-mph fastball and, all season, people didn’t know whether he’d be a pitcher or a hitter at the professional level. “Somebody has figured it out,” he said. “I’ll sneak in some batting practice.” As for how long it will take him to sign, Hobgood said, “It shouldn’t take long. I’m ready to sign.” He also won the Gatorade High School Player of The Year. This is a picture from yesterday’s ceremony. Via the power of youtube, we no longer

WNST notes from Ravens passing camp

Luke Jones

The Ravens are holding their last full-squad voluntary passing camp this week before wrapping up the OTA schedule with rookie camp next week. This week’s workouts are focused on game planning for their three AFC North opponents.  Coaches and players have discussed opposing personnel and simulated game-week preparation for the rookies and newcomers.  The team focused on Cincinnati Monday, Cleveland today, and will examine the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Coach John Harbaugh borrowed this approach from his days with Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid. –  Todd Heap continues to make his way back from a back injury suffered at the end of last season.  Harbaugh is encouraged with the veteran tight end’s work this week, particularly on Monday. “Todd seems like he’s really come along,” Harbaugh said.  “He did more yesterday probably than he did today.  I think he was a little bit sore from the workload yesterday, but that’s a good sign.  Once you get to the point where the injury’s not causing the soreness and the workload’s causing the soreness, now you can start working your way to where you need to be.  Significant progress, and hopefully, he can do a little bit more tomorrow.” Despite the

Looking ahead to training camp

Luke Jones

With the Orioles in last place and owning the second-worst record in baseball, Baltimoreans are obviously looking ahead to the Ravens reporting for training camp on July 27—only seven weeks away. The team holds another passing camp this week, as we continue to focus on several key positions. As we look ahead to 2009, key departures include linebacker Bart Scott (New York Jets), center Jason Brown (St. Louis), safety Jim Leonhard (Jets), cornerback Chris McAlister (unsigned), offensive tackle Willie Anderson (retired), Lorenzo Neal (Raiders), tight end Dan Wilcox (unsigned) and defensive end Marques Douglas (Jets). In addition to selecting six players in this year’s draft, the Ravens have added cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth (Atlanta) and Chris Carr (Tennessee), center Matt Birk (Minnesota), tight end L.J. Smith (Philadelphia), quarterback John Beck (Miami) and receiver Kelley Washington (New England). With so many new veterans and rookies in the fold, training camp in Westminster, Md. figures to host several key positional battles as the Ravens prepare for their opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 13. The following is a look at five key positional battles—in no particular order—to watch during training camp at McDaniel College. 1.  Inside Linebacker The departure of Scott

Top 10 Reasons Why the Orioles Can’t Win on Sundays

Luke Jones

Any Orioles fan paying attention to Sunday baseball—and if you haven’t, I envy you—knows how putrid the team’s fortunes have been dating back to last season. The Orioles were an astonishing 3-21 in Sunday games last season and are trying to top that mark with a 1-8 record so far in 2009. While most will point to Dave Trembley’s tendency to use Sunday as a day to rest several starters, I decided to dig much deeper into the issue to determine why the Orioles cannot win on Sundays. From the home office in Glen Rock, Pa., I bring you the Top 10 Reasons Why the Orioles Can’t Win on Sundays: 10.  The good Lord said to rest on Sundays, and darn it, we’re going to do it! 9.  Felix Pie keeps forgetting to pick up the Sunday doughnuts.  Can’t that guy do anything right? 8.  The Orioles have some very serious U2 fans in the clubhouse: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbNuIqiVPbU[/youtube] 7.  As a nod to Dugout Club sponsor Chick-fil-A, the club has decided it is also closed on Sundays.  The pesky issue of the other team continuing to show up still needs to be resolved.  Not to worry, the same individuals handling the

Orioles: Shut out, swept & headed home on 5-game losing streak

Nestor Aparicio

Bad pitching has become a hallmark of the 2009 Orioles but this weekend’s bizarre meltdown in Oakland has solidified the basement in the AL East for the Orioles who have a lot of problems coming back to face the Mariners here at Camden Yards on Tuesday. Today, Rich Hill didn’t make it out of the first inning, walking four and hitting another Athletic en route to a three-run first inning that held up for the duration in a 3-0 loss to complete the sweep at the hands of the A’s. Strangely enough, the A’s only had two hits yet still manhandled the Orioles despite amazing relief pitching from Brian Bass, Matt Albers and Jim Johnson who were nearly perfect. The Orioles are now 24-33 and deeper in the basement than they’ve been in a while at 9.5 games back. Some lowlights: The Orioles offense managed just five hits off of Vin Mazzaro today. They scored just five runs in Oakland and surrendered 18 runs on the weekend. Matt Wieters (0-for-4 today), who created mass hysteria and a one-weekend run on the orange box office last weekend, is now officially “slumping” in his big-league debut. He’s 4-for-28 and hitting .143. Adam

O’s Offense, Hill take the usual Sunday beating

Luke Jones

The Orioles completed a 1-5 road trip with a 3-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday afternoon. Oakland rookie Vin Mazzaro was outstanding, stifling Orioles hitters for 7 1/3 innings and scattering five hits.  He is now 2-0 and has yet to allow a run in 13 2/3 innings of major league work. Here are a few thoughts, as the Orioles will make their way home to start a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday: – The good vibes of Matt Wieters’ major league debut last Friday have quickly faded away.  The rookie catcher is hitting .143 (4-for-28) and has yet to drive in a run.  The Orioles are 2-7 since Wieters was promoted. – To say the Orioles are slumping offensively would be an understatement.  The offense has managed just 13 runs in their last eight games.  I don’t care if you have the 1971 starting rotation; you’re not going to win many ballgames with that output. The hitters’ approach at the plate varies from listless to trying to hit a five-run homer with the bases empty.  It’s painful to watch, quite frankly. – Who would have thought Brad Bergesen would be the team’s most reliable

Birds and turds and Sunday musing…

Nestor Aparicio

Where are my U.S. Soccer fans? Who was watching the game last night? If you’re among the many who would say, “What, there was a soccer game last night?” it’s time to awaken to World Cup season. Yep, Uncle Sam’s boys played last night in apparent silence across America for the sports team that represents us to the World on the grandest stage every four years. And last night’s was a qualifier, no less. On American soil, in Chicago at Soldier Field. And, in embarrassing fashion, the stadium looked more like Red Sox fans at Camden Yards as most of Honduras found its way to the Windy City. They announced the crowd at 55,000-plus and it easily topped 35,000 Hondurans in the house on a gorgeous night there. The U.S. got behind early (again) but found a way to escape with a 2-1 victory all but guaranteeing their safe passage to South Africa next June for the World Cup. Drew Forrester (who has forgotten more about soccer than I’ll ever know) has a full account of the game here… As many of you know, I’m a bit of a dweeb for World Cup soccer and I attended the Germany “Copa

Willis McGahee leaves murky picture for Ravens' running game

Luke Jones

As Willis McGahee laid on the field following a violent hit from Steelers cornerback Ryan Clark late in the AFC Championship game, it was the culmination of a bitterly disappointing season for the Ravens running back.  McGahee would prove to be okay, but his future with the Ravens beyond this season is up in the air. After rushing for 1,207 yards and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2007—his first season with the Ravens—McGahee reported to training camp out of shape and was slow to learn Cam Cameron’s offensive system last season.  It was quite apparent that McGahee was in John Harbaugh’s doghouse and remained there for much of the season, as Le’Ron McClain became the primary option in the running game with Ray Rice getting a large number of carries as well. It didn’t help that McGahee dealt with several nagging injuries throughout the season, including knee, eye, and ankle problems, as he finished with a career-low 671 yards.  In fact, McGahee had virtually disappeared from the offensive game plan before rushing for a 77-yard touchdown against Dallas in Week 16 and later scoring two touchdowns in the conference championship game before the violent collision. Conventional wisdom

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy: Birds give finale away in 3-2 loss to Seattle

Nestor Aparicio

While we’re all drinking the orange Kool Aid these days in hopes of “better days ahead,” it’s losses like last night’s in Seattle that keep anyone who appreciates good baseball scratching our heads in disgust. After a series of boneheaded baserunning blunders and mental mistakes, the Orioles finally succumbed to the Mariners in a 3-2 loss at Safeco Field when Adrian Beltre hit a seeing-eye single past Cesar Izturis off Jim Johnson in the 9th inning to win the game. Aubrey Huff – allegedly a veteran – not only got picked off of third base by Mariners catcher Rob Johnson in the sixth inning to kill a rally but was also caught stealing in the ninth to thwart any chance of a go-ahead run. To his credit, Huff faced the music afterward, telling The Sun: “There’s no reason to get picked off right there. That’s just a stupid rookie mistake by a veteran guy. It can’t happen. There’s no reason for me to be off the base that much. If Wieters gets a hit, I’m scoring anyway. It was really, really stupid.” At least he’s showing some accountability for his losing behavior. Perhaps sometime soon someone will ask Dave Trembley

Orioles fall 3-2, lose series to Seattle

Luke Jones

UPDATE:  The Orioles missed a golden opportunity to take a road series on Wednesday night, losing 3-2 on a walk-off single by Adrian Beltre in the bottom of the ninth inning .  The Seattle third baseman drove in all three runs for the home team. An outstanding effort from Brad Bergesen (see below) was wasted as the Orioles could only score two runs on 10 hits.  Having two runners picked off and another caught stealing certainly won’t help you win many ballgames either.  Baserunning continues to be an Achilles heel for this team. Luke Scott continues to be the only hitter doing much of anything lately, driving in both Baltimore runs. The Orioles (24-30) are off Thursday before starting a three-game set in Oakland on Friday. ***** 12:20 – The Orioles’ offensive struggles continue tonight as they’re tied 2-2 in the eighth inning. Brad Bergesen has pitched a heck of a ballgame.  Manager Dave Trembley left himself wide open for criticism by leaving the rookie starter in the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Bergesen got Adrian Beltre—who hit a two-run homer in the third—to ground out to end the rally.

Daydreaming of Purple Sundays and Festivus

Nestor Aparicio

As I count down the minutes to tonight’s Orioles-Mariners game and David Hernandez’s second major league start, my mind is drifting to Purple Sundays and thoughts of Festivus. Maybe it was watching the numerous minicamp and Ravens Roost Ocean City videos on WNST.net, but I cannot resist the urge to daydream about football season.  After all, the Ravens have owned this city for well over a decade.  Make no mistake, I’m certainly enjoying the recent events surrounding Matt Wieters and the Orioles, but this optimism pales in comparison to the Ravens kicking off training camp on July 27 at McDaniel College in Westminster. As I shared with Nestor Aparicio on Limited Access last week, before entering the Coors Light King of Baltimore Sportstalk Competition, my biggest success as a blogger was writing two Festivus poems to celebrate the Ravens’ 2008 playoff run that painfully ended only minutes shy of the Super Bowl. After several requests, I’ve decided to post these poems to share with the WNST.net universe.  Hopefully, it allows you to reminisce about the magic of the 2008 season while looking forward to Joe Flacco’s second season under center.  I’m certainly not wishing the summer away, but we’re only

Remembering Steve McNair

Luke Jones

With the tragic news of the passing of Steve McNair on the Fourth of July, it’s difficult to contemplate his

Any memories of Steve McNair?

Nestor Aparicio

Obviously a very sad day here for anyone who cheered for Steve McNair or knew him. Obviously, he made quite

5 W’s and 1 H

Luke Jones

31-62. No, it is not the Washington Nationals’ current record (22-51), but it’s the Orioles’ record against the Boston Red

5 W's and 1 H

Luke Jones

31-62. No, it is not the Washington Nationals’ current record (22-51), but it’s the Orioles’ record against the Boston Red

5 W’s and 1 H

Luke Jones

The Orioles certainly didn’t show the Phillies any “Brotherly Love” by completing a three-game sweep this weekend. I attended the

5 W's and 1 H

Luke Jones

The Orioles certainly didn’t show the Phillies any “Brotherly Love” by completing a three-game sweep this weekend. I attended the

Notes from Ravens Rookie Camp

Luke Jones

The Ravens’ newcomers have a final opportunity this week to get acclimated to the NFL before reporting to McDaniel College

5 W’s and 1 H

Luke Jones

The Orioles’ team-wide offensive drought has mercifully come to an end, as Orioles’ hitters accumulated 21 runs and 41 hits

The O's are "Wacco for Flacco"

Luke Jones

If you’re heading down to Camden Yards tonight, you just might see the Orioles’ director of scouting Joe Jordan donning

Looking ahead to training camp

Luke Jones

With the Orioles in last place and owning the second-worst record in baseball, Baltimoreans are obviously looking ahead to the

8

Paid Advertisement

Podcast Audio Vault

Spotify Apple Youtube
8
8
8

Paid Advertisement

Scroll to Top
Verified by MonsterInsights