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Orioles call up minor league player of year Walker

Luke Jones

A day after clinching their first American League East title in 17 years, the Orioles have called up their minor league player of the year. The club announced Wednesday it had selected the contract of first baseman Christian Walker from Triple-A Norfolk. He will take the place of the suspended Chris Davis on the 40-man roster. The 23-year-old Walker hit .288 with 53 extra-base hits, 97 runs batted in, and 73 runs scored in 139 games split between Double-A Bowie and the Tides. He had been working out as part of the Orioles’ “taxi squad” in Sarasota this month and is expected to spell veteran Steve Pearce at first base over the final 11 games of the regular season with the division title wrapped up. Though Walker wasn’t eligible for the Rule 5 draft and did not need to be placed on the 40-man roster this offseason, the Orioles will take this time period as an opportunity to evaluate the 2014 Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year. With Davis scheduled to become a free agent after the 2015 season, many view Walker as the Orioles’ first baseman of the future. The former South Carolina Gamecock was selected in

Ravens cornerback Jackson leaves Thursday's game with concussion

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — Already playing without Lardarius Webb in Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens were dealt another blow in their secondary when cornerback Asa Jackson sustained a concussion in the second quarter of the 26-6 win. The injury left the Ravens with only two active cornerbacks after Webb missed his second straight game while continuing to work his way back to full health from a back injury sustained at the start of training camp. In an unorthodox move, defensive coordinator Dean Pees used strong safety Matt Elam at the nickel position with reserve Jeromy Miles playing safety next to Darian Stewart in the secondary. Jackson made his first NFL start as he received the nod over last week’s starter Chykie Brown in place of Webb. “Asa had a concussion, and I don’t think it’s too major,” head coach John Harbaugh said following the game. “But again, you never know with those things.” The Ravens are hopeful that Webb will be ready to return against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3, but his status remains in question until he finally plays in a game after practicing fully these last two weeks. Webb said Tuesday he expected to play against

Webb questionable, Yanda probable for Thursday night game

Luke Jones

The Ravens listed cornerback Lardarius Webb as questionable for the second straight game as they made final preparations for Thursday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After practicing fully for a second straight week, Webb was given the same designation as he did leading into the season-opening game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The sixth-year defensive back did not play in Week 1 despite looking good in a pre-game workout roughly two hours before kickoff. Webb told reporters earlier this week that he expected to make his 2014 debut on Thursday night. He missed the entire preseason after initially suffering back spasms on July 25 and did not return to the practice field until Aug. 30. “I’m ready to get it going,” Webb said Tuesday. “Who better than Pittsburgh? I’m ready. I’m feeling good. I’m just ready to get out there and get everything going and just play some football.” Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda was listed as probable after missing Monday’s practice while dealing with a blister on his foot. He practiced fully on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Steelers ruled out running back Dri Archer (ankle/knee) and wide receiver Lance Moore (groin) and listed 14 others as

Orioles hoping to have Hardy back in lineup by Friday

Luke Jones

The Orioles hope the favorable results of a magnetic resonance imaging exam will lead to shortstop J.J. Hardy’s return to the lineup as early as Friday when they welcome the New York Yankees to Camden Yards for a day-night doubleheader. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters in Boston that Hardy met with Dr. Michael Jacobs and received a cortisone injection in the sacroiliac joint in his lower back on Tuesday. It’s similar to the treatment Hardy received in April when he experienced spasms that caused his back to lock up, and the MRI results showed no changes or structural concerns, according to the Baltimore skipper. The injection typically requires 48 hours to take effect, which would presumably have Hardy ready to go by Friday in Showalter’s mind. Of course, the Orioles have taken great caution with their Gold Glove shortstop as a 10-game lead in the American League East entering Wednesday allows them to do. Hardy originally experienced a lower back spasm that forced him out of a game on Sept. 1. After returning to the lineup for three contests last week, Hardy hasn’t played since last Friday as he continues to experience soreness. The 32-year-old missed six games in early

Janay Rice breaks silence in response to "horrible nightmare"

Luke Jones

The morning after the Ravens terminated the contract of Ray Rice and the NFL suspended the running back indefinitely, his wife broke her silence in response to the TMZ release of the video depicting what occurred in the Atlantic City casino elevator and reaction from media and the public to the incident. Janay Rice’s statement is presented without editing: I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I’m mourning the death of my closest friend. But to have to accept the fact that it’s reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted options from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret everyday is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass of for all his life just to gain ratings is a horrific. THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don’t you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you’ve succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the

Ravens claim defensive tackle Christo Bulukidi off waivers

Luke Jones

On the same day the Ravens terminated the contract of Pro Bowl running back Ray Rice, they continued to adjust their roster by claiming defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi off waivers and cutting rookie running back Fitz Toussaint on Monday. Bilukidi was waived by the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday and will add depth to the defensive line as the Ravens were carrying only five players in that positional group. A sixth-round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2012, the Georgia State product has appeared in 20 career games split between Oakland and Cincinnati and has collected 13 tackles and one sack. Toussaint was promoted from the practice squad after the Ravens cut veteran cornerback Derek Cox on Saturday, but the rookie free agent was inactive for Sunday’s season-opening loss against the Bengals. Baltimore will likely hope that Toussaint clears waivers, so he can be re-signed to the practice squad. The Ravens currently have three tailbacks on their 53-man roster with Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett, and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro.

Ravens cut cornerback Cox, promote rookie running back Toussaint to active roster

Luke Jones

The Ravens weren’t finished tinkering with their 53-man roster the day before their 2014 season opener in releasing veteran cornerback Derek Cox and promoting undrafted rookie running back Fitz Toussaint on Saturday afternoon. Cox was re-signed earlier this week after initially being cut last weekend when the Ravens trimmed their roster to the league-mandated 53 players. The move can certainly be viewed as a sign that the Ravens are confident in the health of cornerbacks Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith, and Asa Jackson, who all participated fully in practices this week. However, an NFL Network report Saturday afternoon seemed to contradict that notion as Aditi Kinkhabwala reported Webb was unlikely to play barring a surprise. The transaction means the Ravens will not have to guarantee Cox’s contract should they decide to re-sign him after Week 1. The sixth-year defensive back’s departure leaves Baltimore with only four true cornerbacks on the 53-man roster entering the opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, but safety Anthony Levine also saw time at the cornerback spot during the summer. Toussaint was signed to the practice squad after being waived last weekend and provides extra depth at running back while starter Ray Rice serves his two-game suspension to

Keeping eye on Orioles bullpen in September

Luke Jones

There’s little to be concerned about with the Orioles enjoying a 9 1/2 game lead in the American League East entering the weekend, but the late innings of Thursday’s 9-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds suggest there might be something worth monitoring in the short-term future. The Orioles bullpen has been stellar all season, ranking fourth in the AL with a 3.21 ERA, but there have been a few leaks over the last week that likely grabbed the attention of manager Buck Showalter. Baltimore relievers only rank sixth in the AL in innings pitched, which doesn’t indicate overuse being a major concern, but witnessing Brian Matusz and the newly-recalled Evan Meek warm up in the eighth inning of a two-run game Thursday — the night after Miguel Gonzalez had pitched a complete-game shutout to give the entire bullpen a night off — made it clear that Showalter didn’t have his full array of arms. Left-handed reliever Andrew Miller is currently dealing with a tweaked hamstring and hasn’t pitched since Monday when he allowed two hits and an earned run while retiring only two batters. The former Boston reliever has downplayed the significance of his injury, but it’s clear the Orioles

No changes to Ravens' injury report on Thursday

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — While questions remain over how prepared the Ravens secondary will be in the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, uncertainty about its healthy has dissipated as all 53 players on the active roster practiced fully for the second straight day. Cornerback Lardarius Webb (back) and running back Bernard Pierce (concussion) were the only Ravens players listed on Thursday’s injury report, as was the case the previous day. Baltimore is hoping Webb’s experiencing entering his sixth NFL season will offset the five weeks of missed practice time due to back spasms first suffered on July 25. Meanwhile, the Bengals are dealing with many more injury concerns after wide receiver Marvin Jones and running back Rex Burkhead were already ruled out for Sunday’s game earlier this week. The left side of the Cincinnati offensive line was sidelined Thursday, but tackle Andrew Whitworth and left guard Clint Boling were simply given a veteran day off, according to the Bengals’ report. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was limited in Thursday’s practice due to the heat after recently getting over a hamstring issue. Rookie cornerback Darqueze Dennard has been limited two straight days because of a hip injury. Prior to Thursday’s practice, the

Ravens add former Saints offensive lineman Marcel Jones to practice squad

Luke Jones

The Ravens finished setting their 10-man practice squad Monday by signing former New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Marcel Jones. A seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft, Jones has yet to play in an NFL game after spending his rookie season on injured reserve and the 2013 campaign as a member of the Saints’ practice squad. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound lineman was cut over the weekend after playing 25 snaps against the Ravens in the preseason finale last Thursday. The Nebraska product has the ability to play tackle or guard and gives Baltimore more depth in the event of injuries to their current 53-man roster that includes nine offensive linemen. The Ravens signed nine players to their practice squad on Sunday as offensive lineman Ryan Jensen, cornerbacks Tramain Jacobs and Deji Olatoye, defensive tackles A.J. Pataiali’i and Jamie Meder, linebacker John Simon, tight end Phillip Supernaw, running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, and quarterback Keith Wenning rejoined the organization after being waived at the end of the preseason.

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