Getting up to speed
Sorry for the recent baseball inactivity, but I was assigned to provide instant blog updates from the Ravens-Jets game last night and then write a column today about the Ravens for tomorrow's print edition. Obviously, I'm a versatile fellow, but my intellect -- though vast -- is not vast enough to concentrate on the column and the blog at the same time. Therefore, I'll get cracking on the blog tonight during the second game of the series between the O's and Twins at the Metrodome.
In the meantime, the two-sport fans here can read my Ravens column on the Web site now by going here.
Bonus shameless plug: Tune in to Sportsline at six on WBAL (1090 AM) and join the discussion of last night's Ravens game, which was more interesting than it was conclusive. If you're not in signal range, go to WBAL,com and click on the "Listen Live" icon.
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Comments
fire trembley
Posted by: Anonymous | August 25, 2009 5:03 PM
Pete,
Whats the lineup tonight?
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Pete's reply: Randy, I'm sorry I wasn't at the Metrodome tonight so I wasn't able to get you the lineup early.
Posted by: Randy | August 25, 2009 5:23 PM
Pete, great column. Really enjoyed it. Especially liked the tidbit about how your overly-optomistic self expected the Orioles to win 68 games this year.
No cause for worry from me. It's preseason. Everyone remained healthy, so Objective No. 1 of a preseason game was completed.
The only things that I found noteworthy were that:
a) Sanchez had the prototypical "deer in the headlights" look. That phrase gets thrown around a lot, but Sanchez in the first quarter was the very definition of it.
b) Ray Rice looked really good. Very shifty in between the tackles.
c) Flacco was pressured a lot. The combo of Rex Ryan's pressure and the Ravens' uneven offensive line highly contributes to that. But Flacco started the take advantage of the blitzing and found open receivers in the middle of the field.
d) Bart Scott still cannot shut up.
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Pete's reply: I believe you just went four for four.
Posted by: Luke | August 25, 2009 5:31 PM
and e) Haloti Ngata is a beast.
Posted by: Luke | August 25, 2009 5:33 PM
F-Z Haloti Ngata is a beast.
Posted by: cush | August 25, 2009 5:38 PM
Peter if last nights game had been a regular season game. Ravens at least 34 Jets 3 and the Jet Rookie QB may not have survived. Rex is just like his Daddy runs his mouth to much ... who will ever forget Buddy's famous " body bag " quote when Filthy played the Deadskins ... at the end of day it was Filthy players carried off ... Bill and the Tuna will eat Rex alive ... and the Tuna doesn't even coach ... LOL Every defense coach the Ravens have had over the years that became head coachs should gave Ray Ray a 1,000,000 bucks ... cause he was the reason why ... Cheers!
Posted by: Ski | August 25, 2009 6:25 PM
25AUG2009
Brian Roberts 2B
Felix Pie CF
Nolan Reimold DH
Nick Markakis RF
Luke Scott LF
Matt Wieters C
Melvin Mora 3B
Michael Aubrey 1B
Cesar Izturis SS
If they had a real cleanup hitter this team could be 500!
Posted by: TED | August 25, 2009 7:16 PM
Why don’t the Orioles have a ready 3rd baseman at Norfolk? Most teams carry a guy in AAA ready to take the job in case the normal player gets injured or starts to suck. When A-Rod had to have surgery they put in Cody Ransom. Yeah he wasn’t the greatest but that’s the type of guy (or hungry rookie) at the minimum we should have at Norfolk. Too bad we can’t combine Mora and Wiggy into one player. One can’t hit and one can’t field but together it may just balance out! I just don’t want to see Mora 1 pitch pop out or strikeout miserably again tonight. I know you never want a guy like Mora to go through this but you have to plan ahead just in case. Orioles should have had a guy just in case due to Mora’s age.
Posted by: Ron | August 25, 2009 7:26 PM
Ron, that guy (AAA 3B) was supposed to be Scott Moore, but he ended up getting his hand jacked up and his season ended. After the season, he's a minor league free agent, so there's a possibility he may be gone after this year. In a pinch I believe they would look to Justin Turner (though he is more of a 2B, he plays 3B too), who is playing fairly well at Norfolk (hitting just over .300), but does not have the power that you would project a 3B to have. Though neither does Mora anymore anyway, so there's that...
Posted by: Chris in Hawaii | August 25, 2009 8:15 PM
@Ron: Josh Bell is the player I think management have in mind for next year. You could argue he should be in Norfolk right now. For Bowie, he's had a fairly hot bat since coming over in the trade. In 17 games, batting .317 , 5 hr, 12 rbis
Posted by: Seth K | August 25, 2009 8:17 PM
It is good to have you back Pete. Although, as a die hard Orioles fan (and an Eagles football fan) it was bitter to see you skip an Orioles game (where Tillman pitched pretty well) for a preseason football game - which is second only to watching paint dry for boring activities.
Regardless, I think I speak for most Orioles fans that we look forward to the season where Ravens preseason football is meaningless because August/September and October are all about the O's pennant chase. Here's to hoping Andy M. knows what the hell he's doing!
Let's go O's!!!
Posted by: Kenny from NJ | August 25, 2009 8:36 PM
Pete, was your blogging re the Ravens game done from your couch, or does your achilles actually allow you to move around finally?
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Pete's reply: I did make it to M&T Bank Stadium for last night's game, thanks to Keith Mills, who drove me back and forth.
Posted by: Seth | August 25, 2009 8:43 PM
Seth K, I think we'll see Bell somewhere during the season next year, probably in the 1st half. Unless he has an incredible spring, my guess would be that he starts the year in Norfolk. Until then, enjoy Wigginton's "range" at 3rd.
Also, I know it's only been a week or so, but you gotta like the way Michael Aubrey has stepped up since joining the big boys. Plus, he kinda looks like Danny McBride (aka Kenny Powers)!
Posted by: Chris in Hawaii | August 25, 2009 8:50 PM
Why apologize for covering the Ravens? It's the better gig. Preseason football is pretty much irrelevant except to see who on the depth chart will make the cut. That still beats watching an irrelevant regular season. I haven't watched the O's lose for a couple weeks now. I'm beyond rooting for the individual success stories, which is the last resort for fans of loser teams. It's the time of the year when losers don't warrant any attention.
Go Ravens!
Posted by: dedalus | August 25, 2009 9:18 PM
7 hits and a walk, 67 pitches in 3 innings
Matusz on his way to a long short outing...
I think the game is in slow motion
Posted by: jim66 | August 25, 2009 9:34 PM
Hey Pete, I know you were with the Ravens last night, but did you by any chance see how the Orioles blew it last night?
Watch the bottom of the sixth if you get a chance. Pay close attention to where Pie was playing on the Triple.
I'm no baseball genius, but I'm pretty sure when you are protecting a one run lead in the mid to late innings, giving up a single is a little better than giving up a triple.
Where in the world was that guy playing??? It was like pulling the fourth outfielder in a city league softball game to play somewhere between the left field, center field, and shortstop triangle.
Lost the game for Tillman. Their lack of fundamentals never ceases to amaze.
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Pete's reply: Sorry, didn't see it.
Posted by: paul | August 25, 2009 10:26 PM
Pete's reply: Randy, I'm sorry I wasn't at the Metrodome tonight so I wasn't able to get you the lineup early.
Pete,
Sorry man I confused you for somebody that knows these things being a journalist and all. :)
Posted by: Randy | August 25, 2009 11:07 PM