Our two-way reporter Luke Jones gets Dennis Koulatsos ready for fake football and Eagles vs. Ravens while the Orioles go west looking for more from their starting rotation and better help from the bullpen in Seattle.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
orioles, plays, ricard, ravens, talking, day, year, point, patrick, terms, fullback, dennis, baltimore, bullpen, good, week, little bit, team, inline, expect
SPEAKERS
Dennis Koulatsos, Luke Jones
Dennis Koulatsos 00:02
Welcome back as we say hello my next guest Luke Jones who’s broadcasting from Charlie Parker unknown based on background I’m I’m afraid to ask where Luke is today but Luke, welcome in.
Luke Jones 00:13
Let’s just say Dennis. It’s somewhere where I have internet which has been an issue at my home I had, you know, the storm on Monday night, no power for a couple of days and no internet for most of the week. So we’ve had to adjust I swear I’m not in prison or anything like that, but we’ll just keep it at Parts Unknown though. How’s that?
Dennis Koulatsos 00:30
Oh, never suggest that amount of high caliber looks like the statue you just have will be familiar with the inside of the prison walls, although the background it does remind me of my elementary school back in 1976 or so. Well,
Luke Jones 00:45
I am sitting cross legged as I’m doing this at a hallway so you know, that’s kind of elementary. So how are you Dennis plenty going on this time?
Dennis Koulatsos 00:52
I’m doing well and still trying to overcome the shocking loss from the Orioles. That was what Tuesday night that we’re watching it and having a great time and came up six to three in here and here comes the big Felix and oh my goodness gracious, then everything just went haywire.
Luke Jones 01:13
Yeah, certainly a difficult loss and certainly one that you’re hoping the Orioles can move past this series, you know, as you have a series loss against Houston and look, even though the Orioles had a better record than the Astros coming into this series, Houston is the defending world series champion. Now they they’ve got some guys and even though that roster has had a little bit of turnover over the last couple years, though they did bring back Justin Verlander who the Orioles didn’t have to see over the course of this series. But a lot of guys with postseason experience, they know what it takes to be great. And not that I think the series was some defining downfall of the Orioles or anything like that. I mean, they need to regroup on the west coast so and what’s a really important road trip for them. But it’s a reminder, that experience does matter. And the Astros are really good. And that’s not to say that the outcome can’t be different. If these teams meet again, come October, but it’s a reminder of how difficult it can be. And in the case of Felix Batista, he’s been so good. And I mean, it’s going to happen. It was terrible timing, specially when you give up a Grand Slam when you’re up by three runs. So it was definitely a difficult one to stomach and then Wednesday night, you know, they over seven with runners in scoring position Fujinami and Mike Bauman struggle and relief. So no, it’s it’s tough. But teams lose series and teams lose games over the course of 162. And when you’re going up against a really good team, that’s going to happen sometimes I think what’s important and where I have trust in this ballclub is their ability to turn the page and regroup and anytime they’ve gone through a brief period where they slide a little bit and we all remember them losing six of seven, in late June into early July. And everyone was panic at that panicking at that point. And then they run off a long winning streak after that. So you know, I think that’s where the key is for Brandon heights club. And these young players, they haven’t let those periods where things haven’t gone as well. They haven’t let that snowball. And that’s been the key for them. And that’s going to be the key on this road trip. As they’re facing a red hot Seattle Mariners team as they go to San Diego against the Padres team that has much to play for and as has really been an enigma, you see all the talent that they’ve been so disappointing this year. So you know that this is going to be a critical period for them. Now they’re still in first place. So you know, nothing, no reason to panic, but you want to regroup, you don’t want to let a bad series, then fester and snowball. And then before you know it, you’re talking about having a rough two weeks as opposed to a rough two days.
Dennis Koulatsos 03:56
Well, for me look at what just again, another stark reminder of one of the major differences between the NFL and the Major League Baseball is that you just can’t run out the clock, you’ve got to still put the ball over the plate and anything and everything can and will happen. It also underscore the point of how important defensive because as bad as Felix Batista was there were a couple of plays there standing, you know the drop off center field bomber tail, the foul tip that McCann couldn’t hold on to just one that one pitch here, one out there, and it changes the complexion of the inning and the entire game.
Luke Jones 04:32
No question about it. And it’s something by and large, the Orioles have done really well this year, which is why they’re in the position that they’re in but it is a reminder because this team plays so many close games and you know I best record in the American League in one run games or at least as of a couple days ago. So, but you have to have that Sterling defense. You have to be precise, especially in the late innings when you’re pitching out of the bullpen and that’s where I think you and I know I’ve talked about it Nestor and I have talked about it that if my big disappointment from the trade deadline was not so much acquiring Jack clarity now who was really good as first start and was just okay, on Wednesday night, but it was not adding another bullpen arm because, and we saw it again on Wednesday night Fujinami. It’s kind of a coin flip right now, you know, do you get the good Fuji? Who looks really really impressive and has stuff that allows you or do you hit the guy who can throw strikes, and unfortunately, on Wednesday night, we saw the guy can’t throw strikes. And when you’re in that kind of a position where your manager doesn’t know what to expect from you, it’s really difficult to put him in high leverage situations. So that’s where the Orioles are still going to be figuring this out. And we know that they have some guys coming back from injuries who potentially could help. Whether it’s a reliever like a Michael Gibbons or whether we’re talking about, you know, John means who’s beginning his rehab assignment? Does he factor into the bullpen does Tyler wells factor into the bullpen? Do those guys go back into the rotation and then one of the starters factors into another starter factors into the bullpen down the stretch? Point being feels like they’re going to need to not feels like they’re definitely going to need some some incumbents here some internal options to step up because tread that the trade deadline is in the rearview mirror at this point, you know, you can’t acquire anyone else other than a waiver claim which no one I’d be remiss if not mentioning that I thought Jacob Webb, who made his Orioles debut on Wednesday night struck out the side. That was good to see. Now, can he continue doing that? Or will he be inconsistent and which is part of the reason why he was available to them? So we’ll see how it plays out. But we know all year long that this Club’s margin for error has been small, just with the way that they played so many close games, and that’s okay. Right. I mean, ideally, yeah, you’d love to blow teams out every night. But it’s difficult to do, especially when you’re going up against the best like the Houston Astros. But I think the key for them is, again, turn the page put the series behind them because this is a pretty pivotal West Coast trip for them, not for their playoff chances. But wanting to maintain first place in the Al east with the Tampa Bay Rays still right there. Just a couple games behind. Oh, sure.
Dennis Koulatsos 07:22
Jackson holidays tearing it up and any talk about something fun, any chance at all. We see him later in the season, because by all accounts, he’s a real deal. I know he’s 19 years old. It’s not unheard of, of course for 19 year old to be in the major leagues. But he seems to be a special young man.
Luke Jones 07:40
In a vacuum Dennis, like if I if you were just telling me this was the story for an unidentified club that was in the position that the Orioles are in right now, with a 19 year old who is just raking a double way. I would say there’s a chance with the Orioles and how they have proceeded and how Mike Elias has handled his prospects. And you know not not to get too much into questions about ownership and recent events and things of that nature, which I know I’ve been discussed at length, but questions there. It doesn’t feel like something to me that I would be holding my breath over. That’s not to say the Jackson holiday couldn’t come up and do it. But I think it is also important to recognize even though he’s an extraordinary talent, he is still only 19. And who is not the same thing as the majors. So what I just laid out is more so the argument that the Orioles would probably give you from a big picture viewpoint. And I think even how they proceeded at the trade deadline where you didn’t see them, you know, they didn’t go all in so to speak in terms of trading their top prospects for guys that might only be rental players to help them the rest of the way. Put it this way, I don’t want to say it’s a 0% chance, Dennis. But I would be very, very surprised. However, wait, that would be such a fun scenario, and would certainly conjure memories of the Orioles bringing up Manny Machado who had just turned 20 in August of 2012. But scenario was a little different than the Orioles needed a third baseman, and they weren’t really even expecting Manny to swing the bat even as well as he ended up doing that year, which was respectable for a 20 year old. That was all about defense. I think Wilson betemit was playing a lot at third base for them at that point. And if anyone remembers better me, not a good defensive player, certainly not a gold Glover. So again, it’s fun to just daydream about that. And again, it’s a it’s a question that has merit, you know, I certainly don’t bother you or doesn’t bother me that you brought it up or even suggested it could be a heck of a lot of fun, but I just don’t see it knowing the overall profile of how the organization is preceded the last couple years in terms of how they view their young prospects and you know, in terms of pulling the trigger and calling them up to the majors.
Dennis Koulatsos 09:56
Now I thought it’d be a fun topic to bring up. Yeah, get one the You know, the series thus far against the Astros, the national media piling on the team for other reasons, etc. I thought I would just shift our attention to that and just think about the possibility of having him up. But for him for the immediacy house, Cedric Mullins does clearly the Royals need to get him back on the field. Yeah,
Luke Jones 10:17
he’s wrapping up. Or it’s expected that he’s wrapping up his rehab assignment with double A buoy. And the expectation as of Wednesday, when Brandon Hyde talked about it was asked about how he was doing was that he’s going to be rejoining the Orioles in Seattle. Now he’s going to travel with them in Seattle. And I would expect him to be activated for the start of the road trip or at the very, very early stages of the road trip because it seems like he’s ready. He’s made a couple of sterling defensive plays in the outfield now hasn’t swung the bat, you know, overly impressive in terms of the numbers in his few games that double A buoy. But the good news is, it looks like he’s healthy. He’s made a couple great defensive plays, it appears that he’s moving well. And certainly the Orioles are gonna want to be careful. I would expect Brandon Hyde to be conservative with him. He even alluded to that in some of his comments on Wednesday that, you know, maybe resting Mullins day game after a night game. Maybe early on, maybe he plays centerfield one day d h is the next day, I think you want to be really, really careful with him having two different groin injuries even though still on Wednesday, Hyde was saying that this one was a little bit different than the first one in terms of where he felt it at first, but then it started, you know, kind of, I guess the discomfort was kind of between the quad and the groin. So you know, I’m not a doctor and not trying to play about on Zoom either, but they certainly want to be careful because we know how important he is to this team and how much better he can make their lineup if he’s right in terms of his ability to swing the bat his ability to play defense in centerfield and certainly what he can bring on the basis which you know, I think the Orioles would like to run and enforce the issue a little more but you know, they’re big speed guy is Jorge Mateo and we’ve said it over and over and over. The question is you can’t steal from you know, he can’t steal first base. So how much can you really utilize his speed when he’s not getting on base at a high clip and doesn’t warrant everyday playing time at this point. So certainly good news on the Marlins front but you want to keep your fingers crossed that there’s no setbacks as it appears he’s going to make his return to the Orioles lineup.
Dennis Koulatsos 12:24
Well, he’s not a doctor but he has a deacon gentleman said is that look, I know you gotta go soon. Just give me the cut off sign as well as I’m talking here when it’s your time, but I do want to talk about the Ravens. I really have five big things. I want to touch on the streak, right 23 straight world record 23 streets, preseason victories and now we have no good Philadelphia Eagles coming to the stadium. Saturday night. JK Dobbins hauled in, we’ve got the David Clowney contract offer apparently he’s trying to make up his mind. Then we have the Patrick Gerhard record on the offensive line maybe and also the Rashard Bateman signing I saw your you tweeted that on Wednesday.
Luke Jones 13:08
Yeah. To start out with the preseason winning streak. I mean, does it mean much? No. I think it’s been a reflection. And I’ve said this every year for as long as the streak has existed now. And part of me would maybe like to see it end at some point, because, you know, I just feel like it’s something we talk about every summer and that’s fine. It’s it’s fake football games. They don’t count at the end of the day. But it is a reflection in all seriousness of what I think has been a quality back into the preseason roster that the Orioles have built. We know that they are the ravens, excuse me, have built for years. We know their uncanny ability to find talent among undrafted free agents. And I think that’s shown up in those preseason games. Specifically in the second half where I think you look a lot of those games, they weren’t necessarily decided. And then they were decided in the third and fourth quarter. I would say more so on the defensive side of the football. So So you have that. I’m trying to think what was next JK Dobbins, I believe was your second point. Correct? Nothing new on that front. John hardball continues to kind of I’ve called it almost a I would almost equate it to a killing with kindness kind of approach that the or that sorry, the Ravens have taken with JK Dobbins. We know that this is a hold in no one’s calling it that efficiently because you really can’t including the team because at that point, the NFL would say, Well, why is he on the pee up list? physically unable to perform? It’s not the same thing as a financial dispute. But John Harbaugh alluded to it and reiterated that the balls in JKS Court I think we are rapidly approaching over the next five to seven days where you know, five to 10 days where this maybe the tone shifts if he’s still not out there because then at the think you’re getting to the point if you start getting into the third week of August now you’re still are in the question. So you’re gonna be in the right football shape? Is he going to be acclimated to a new offense? Is he going to be ready to play at his absolute best? And the last thing, the Ravens or JK Dobbins want at this point in time is for him to get out there and legitimately pull a hamstring or something like that. If he’s not, you know, if he’s not allowing himself enough time to amp to really ramp up his football activity. So nothing new on that front beyond what we’ve kind of been saying. And as more time goes on, I think the tension does grow there. I think the frustration does grow there. And perhaps the the Ravens not being quite as nice publicly about it. So So you have that JB on clowny. Yeah, we’ll see how this plays out. Part of me wondered at first if this was a play, to try to see if they could get the asking price for Kyle van Noy, you know, to come down a little bit, you know, from what I understand. I mean, from what I understand there’s an offer, but he wants more money, which is kind of what you expect from veteran edge rushers this time of year. But certainly with Justin Houston now being in Carolina, and that possibility now being out of the question clowny it was an ugly departure from Cleveland, you know, that’s certainly a guy that I think you need to make sure you’re comfortable with from a personality standpoint. You know, he’s never been a big production guy in terms of the sacks relative to being a first overall pick and all the hype, but he’s still good player, and he’s someone that can play the run really well, which I think it’s kind of an understated part of where they are right now with their edge defenders, especially with Tyus, Bowser being still sidelined with with the knee issue where that’s a little bit uncertain. So we’ll see how it plays out. You know, the reports are that there’s an offer out there, and he’s considering it. So you know, whether a deal gets done today, or whether it’s, you know, a little while from now, or if there isn’t a match, we’ve said all along. I mean, they have to add someone I think that’s obvious at this point, especially with the bowser uncertainty, which that’s something that to me is a little bit of an underrated concern at this point in time because they’ve been kind of hush hush about it, you know, it’s a knee you know, it’s a knee not not his Achilles or anything like that. So, you know, there’s been some mystery and we haven’t heard from him yet. So, so the clowny news what we’ll see how that plays out. So trying to think you mentioned Rashad Bateman. Bateman back at practice. Great to see I think you want to take it slow with him. Got to be careful that the foots right. He only did individual his first day I certainly not going to see him in the first preseason game. I don’t know if we’ll see him in any of the preseason games, quite frankly, I think you want to be really careful with him. We’ve talked about it at length. You know, going back to the days of Jimmy Smith, those Liz Frank injuries, they can be tough, they can linger discomfort can linger with those injuries. Jimmy Smith, I remember famously said and this was someone who had an Achilles injury said as rehabbing his Achilles as a piece of cake. The list Frank bothered him for the rest of his career. So that you want to be careful with Bateman and Patrick Ricard, pretty good. I remembered all five of them that is just out of order.
Dennis Koulatsos 18:05
An order I didn’t expect it to an order either. Yeah, yeah.
Luke Jones 18:08
Patrick Ricard. You know, I think this is one of those scenarios where let’s wait and see a little bit. I don’t want to make any assumptions here. First of all, yes, he moved from the defensive tackle spot when he was a rookie free agent to becoming a fullback and a four time Pro Bowl fullback. That doesn’t mean he’s necessarily going to be able to play guard at a high level in the NFL or a high enough level, that’s going to warrant a permanent position change but I think what this does reiterate, Dennis is, this isn’t Greg roamans offense anymore, you know, I while I think Todd Monken has some use for a tight end, I think it’s much more in an H back kind of capacity where I said tight end fullback, sorry, you know, room for a fullback in the same way, but I think it’s much more of an H H back capacity where they line up at fullback but lining up as tight end as an inline tight end, going in motion, doing a lot of blocking, but being more of a factor as a receiver out of the backfield. So that’s where I find this interesting. If you had asked me back in February, when the Ravens hired Todd Monken, and that was before we knew that Ricard underwent hip surgery, but I would have almost said at that point in time, I wonder if his best move is to just drop 20 pounds and try to become Nick Boyle. Yeah, he by all accounts, he hasn’t done that, you know, and that’s not to say he’s out of shape, but he’s just the same big Patrick Ricard that we remember the last few years. So for him to be working out on the offensive line, it’s interesting. I don’t think that means his days as a fullback or as an inline tight end are over. I think this is we’re still only in the second week of August. So you do have a little bit of time to experiment here but I find it interesting because what and this is one guy had that I’m looking forward to watching in these preseason games, you get the sense that they’re a little bit higher on Ben Mason in this offense than they were in the Greg Roman offense. So this team, someone is going to have to be an inline tight end for them. And it’s not mark Andrews. I don’t think it’s Isaiah likely. I don’t think it’s Charlie Kohler. So, who is that going to be? You would have assumed it would be a Patrick Ricard. But, you know, they have looked at Ben Mason. And I’ll even throw out the name, Travis Vocollect, who is a rookie free agent, not necessarily suggesting he’ll make the 53 man roster, but could he be on the practice squad, and he possibly get some elevations as an inline tight end. So there’s going to be a need there that they’re going to have to fill. And I’m not saying that that’s a major role in this offense. But it’s a role in this offense. And there’s not a clear cut person to do that. If it’s not going to be Patrick Ricard. So I just find that to be interesting. At this point in time, I don’t think it’s something to make too much out of. But as it pertains to when he made his return to the field a few days back, it’s definitely a story. And it’s an interesting story, because he’s been hanging with the O line. And, you know, I even took pictures of him. And there’s been video of him hitting the sled, you know, lining up as a guard. So something else just to point out the NFL with their game day rules in terms of players that you can have active on game day, you can have a 48 player active on game day, if it is an eight, offensive lineman, so depending on roster flexibility, depending on injuries that you might have in any given week, if Patrick Ricard, quote, unquote, qualifies as an offensive lineman, and I almost feel like I’m talking about fantasy football, in terms of talking like a Taysom hill or something like that, who qualifies as a quarterback at a tight end or, but if he qualifies, that could allow them a little extra roster flexibility. So just just wanted to throw that point out there as food for thought. Do I think Patrick Ricard is going to be their starting left guard? No, of course not. But it is interesting. And it again, is a reminder to me that we’re not talking about Greg Romans offense anymore, that’s for sure. So we’ll see how that plays out. But, you know, the good thing is Ricard is back on the field. It’s not 100% yet in terms of his practice participation, but the ramping up his activity level now.
Dennis Koulatsos 22:29
Yeah, I mean, Travis Vocalic. was, so I was looking at you, you mentioned about nature prior to quote, collect, of course, Josh Oliver went to the Vikings. And to me, that’s what I was thinking, are they going to carry four tight ends this year? What are they going to do? But I do think it’s interesting how they’re moving. Shoot, record around a given them a shadow of a fence line, because I don’t know if it’s Mason, I don’t know if it’s book look like. And I guess this is why they have preseason games, and to figure out who’s going to be the best fit for their offense.
Luke Jones 23:00
Yeah. And one last interesting point that I’ll throw out there that yeah, I just heard this, you know, and this was, yeah, this was at the beginning of training camp. Yeah, I get the sense that records interested in doing this, you know, this is something that I think he has felt and expressed some interest in. But, you know, as I was talking to someone connected to the organization, you know, there was a little bit of a thought of, you know, be careful not to let Ben Mason continue to get so many reps at fullback. So I just, I thought that was interesting. Again, we could see Patrick Ricard back at fullback and playing in line tight end next week. And then this is, you know, what tends to be a lot of stories this time of year where it’s a story for a couple days, and then it’s forgotten about, or there could be a little more to it. So I do find it interesting. And again, I thought back in February, if anything, we’d see Patrick Ricard tried to make the full switch to an inline tight end. But, you know, it’s kind of gone the other way where he has this interest, and certainly the team is at least taking a look at the idea of him at least providing some depth as an offensive lineman, which, again, Game Day flexibility. If he can handle it, being your third reserve offensive lineman and being a little more equipped to play that position, heaven forbid you kid a couple of injuries on the same day, the same game, you know, it’s something worth exploring, at least at this early stage of August. You know, I don’t think Patrick Ricard is going to forget how to play fullback just because he’s practicing on the O line for a week or two here.
Dennis Koulatsos 24:34
That’s a good point. Look, I know you gotta get going. So please tell our listeners all the good stuff you do Gaby and as T Baltimore positive 1570 am your blog, your Twitter account and everything else that you do?
Luke Jones 24:45
Absolutely encourage everyone to follow us on Twitter at wn st can follow me personally at Baltimore Luke, whether I’m live from Owings Mills or live from Oriole Park at Camden Yards reporting on the Ravens for the Orioles. Check out my blog at Baltimore positive.com sponsored by coons for to Baltimore. My Latest 12 ravens thoughts, plenty of thoughts on the Orioles as they continue being in first place and the at least as they start this big West Coast trip very important for them as they try to maintain their top spot in the American League. You want to be on the WNS. C Baltimore positive tech service sponsored by coons were to Baltimore whether it is the ravens, potentially signing Jadeveon Clowney or Kyle van Noy or some other veteran player, whether it’s the Orioles making a significant roster move or activating Cedric Mullins from the aisle, any significant local sports news sent directly to your mobile device via the wn C Baltimore positive tech service sponsored by coons for to Baltimore, and of course, anything throughout the week on AM 15 Seven eight with Nestor ravens interviews from Owings Mills with players and coaches interviews with Brandon Hyde Orioles players at Camden Yards check out all of that at Baltimore positive.com in the audio ball.
Dennis Koulatsos 25:53
Alright my friend always fun Always a pleasure looking forward to our next segment. Have fun at the game but the baseball game at the football game I know you’ll be covering everything this weekend.
Luke Jones 26:02
Absolutely. I’m sure we’ll we’ll be talking about some of those preseason all stars from the preseason opener next week. I look forward to it Dennis.
Dennis Koulatsos 26:09 Read through there he goes. Look down to your 1570 Am Baltimore positive wn S T. We’ll take a quick break and come back right after this
