If you're stopping by here and wondering why there is nothing new up on the blog anymore, it's because this isn't the blog anymore. The Schmuck Stops Here has moved to a diffferent web address, so you have to go to your favorites menu -- if that's where you clicked on this site -- and delete the link. Then go here:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck-blog/

Then click on Add to Favorites. It'll be nice to have you back.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Just baseball, Just football, News of the day, Schmuck being Schmuck, Shameless plug
        

If you haven't already, take a look at my third consecutive column on the Maryland basketball situation. For this installment, I went over to College Park and talked with fans about their perceptions of new coach Mark Turgeon. Of course, you could wait until tomorrow and read it in the print edition, but who wants to get up that early. Check it out right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

If you haven't already, check out my "Week in Review" column in today's print edition or on the Web site right here.

I'm basically going to be on vacation for the next week or two before returning to Sarasota, but I'll have another column up later today on Orioles right-wing statesman Luke Scott. Check that out when it pops up.

By the way, you can also follow me on Twitter. My handle is SchmuckStop, but I'm largely using it to deliver cheap shots to various sports and media figures. If you want O's updates on Twitter, follow JeffZrebiecSun or DanConnollySun. If you want Charlie Sheen updates, you're probably already one of the 2 1/2 million people who are following him. Don't you feel special?

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 1:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

Don't know how many of you are going to get down to Sarasota, Fla., for spring training, but I hope a lot of you do -- even you, Wayne -- and look me up. I can be found around the ballpark most days and around the beach most nights. If you want to run into me out on the town -- or make sure that you don't -- take a look at my crude attempt at being a travel writer in Sunday's print edition or right here right now.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Schmuck being Schmuck, Shameless plug
        

I'll be doing double duty on Saturday, starting with an early morning trip to Sandy Point State Park for the MSP Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Maryland. Everybody ought to jump into 34-degree water once every year, just as a test of character, so I'll be doing that with the WBAL Sportsline team, which also includes Brett Hollander, Jerod Ruderman and Chris Imms. If we stand on tradition, we will hold hands and skip into the bay while singing "Off to See the Wizard."

Later in the morning, I will rush north to the Baltimore Convention Center for FanFest, where you can see me circulating around the facility trying to look important. I have no official function other than to write a column about it, so be sure and say "Hi" so I can look busy.

Don't worry, I do plan to swing by home on the way and shower. I'm sure I'll be a little marked up after having to rescue Hollander from the icy surf, but nothing will keep me away from FanFest.

While we're on the subject, I've included my column for tomorrow's print edition on this very subject right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

...take a look at my latest column analyzing the sports question that was part of the recent Sun Poll. You can read it in today's print edition or find it on the Baltimore Sun Web site right here.

The question at hand is what percentage of Marylanders would root for the Ravens or Redskins if they met in the Super Bowl. I'll admit to a little bias here, but Redskins fans will want to read to the end.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

Now that you all have gotten to see why I decided against a career as a stand-up comic, we can all re-focus on the more important matters at hand -- another big day of football and Game 2 of the NLCS tonight.

If you're trying to think of some way to pass the last excruciating hour before the Ravens kick off to the New England Patriots (and I guarantee the Ravens will kick off), you can take a look at my column about today's game right here.

Instant update: So much for my first prediction. The Ravens did get the ball first and have mounted a pretty nice drive after starting out deep in their own territory.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

If you haven't already, you can take a look at my latest "News Item" column right here and let me know what you think of my various opinions on the news of the week. And, if you're one of the brave ones, you can call and talk to me about it on the radio show at noon. Just tune in to WBAL (1090 AM) or WBAL.com.

We'll talk about the Orioles offseason and ramp up to tomorrow's game between the Ravens and Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium. Check it out.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

I'll be at M&T Bank Stadium today to watch the Ravens beat up on the hapless Cleveland Browns, so I'll be popping in with periodic games updates and analysis throughout the afternoon.

I know you can't wait, but you can kill a few minutes by checking out my column today on the Orioles offseason search for a big-time run producer. It's in the print edition, of course, but since you're already booted up, check it out right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

I'll be up on the Web site with my latest Orioles column later today, but it's time for you to get involved in the conversation. Join me on Sportsline at noon on WBAL (!090 AM) and WBAL.com.

It's another big weekend in Baltimore sports. The Orioles face CC Sabathia tonight at Camden Yards and the Ravens head to Cincinnati this afternoon for tomorrow's showdown with the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. We'll talk both baseball and football as well as the issues of the day.

Derek Jeter thinks the controversy over his fake hit-by-pitch is much ado about nothing. What do you think.

The Jets have been reprimanded by the NFL for acting unprofessionally toward TV Azteca reporter Inez Sainz. Talk about a hot topic.

Three hours of non-stop sports talk. Should be fun.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

My latest "My take" column is up on the Web site, if you don't want to wait for tomorrow's print edition. I weigh in on the Derek Jeter "cheating" controversy, Chad Ochocinco on his best behavior, Reggie Bush's grand gesture and a number of other subjects. Check it out right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 7:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

If you haven't already checked out my column about Ed Dickson's interesting Monday night, you can do it right now, right here. When you're through with that, tune in tonight at six for Sportsline on WBAL (1090 AM) and WBAL.com, when I join Brett Hollander and Qadry Ismael for a radio roundtable on the sports issues of the day.

We'll kick off the show with a discussion of the controversy surrounding Derek Jeter, whose fake hit-by-pitch nearly helped the Yankees win a big game against the Tampa Bay Rays, and also preview the upcoming game between the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals and the weekend series between the Orioles and Yankees at Oriole Park. Check us out.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 5:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

If you haven't already, take a look at my column in today's print edition on New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, or check it out on the Web site right here. I'd like to know what you think about his antics on Hard Knocks and the war of words he has been carrying on with the Ravens for the past week.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

My Saturday "News item" column is now up on the Web site. Of course, you could wait until tomorrow and read it in the print edition, but it you need something to cheer you up during the middle innings of tonight's game, you can read it right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

Join me at 5:15 when I join Keith Mills for the Ravens pregame show on WBAL (1090 AM) and WBAL.com. We'll be breaking down the roster heading toward the final cut and warming you up for tonight's final preseason game against the Rams in St. Louis.

The fourth preseason game doesn't usually feature a tremendous amount of intrigue, but there are some interesting subplots. The fight for the extra receiver spots will be front and center, and No. 3 quarterback Troy Smith is expected to play most or all of the game.

Maybe most important of the final roster battles is between placekickers Billy Cundiff and Shayne Graham, who are making it very difficult for the coaching staff to separate them. Cundiff is the incumbent, but the fact that the Ravens brought the experienced Graham in to challenge him for the job may be an indication that the team will lean toward him if the competition remains close after tonight.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Just football, Shameless plug
        

Woke up this morning and realized that I forgot to promo the column I wrote about Buck Showalter during last night's game. Buck was pretty low-key in his debut, but you can't argue with the outcome.

If you want to read my take on his first day in the manager's office, you can pick up a copy of today's print edition or check it out on the Web site right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

It's going to be nasty hot out there today, with the heat index estimated to rise to about 110 degrees, so I have a little piece of advice for you:

STAY INSIDE!

And, while you're staying inside, take a look at my "News item" column in today's print edition or right here on the Web site.

While I'm shamelessly plugging myself, here's another way to stay cool this afternoon. Crack open a cold one and tune your radio to WBAL (1090AM) or WBAL.com for Sportsline. I'll be talking about the opening of Ravens training camp on Monday and looking back at last night's Orioles victory. Ravens beat reporter Jamison Hensley will join me to examine the Ed Reed situation and preview the early rookie workouts.

Of course, it's Saturday, which means the lines will be open and you can join in a lively three-hour conversation that could end up going in just about any direction. Can't wait to hear from you.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

My column for tomorrow's print edition is up on the Sun Web site, where you can take a look at it between innings.

I'm pretty impressed with the job that Juan Samuel has done over the past six weeks, but still believe the Orioles will eventually offer the permanent managerial position to Buck Showalter. The longer it goes, however, the more you have to wonder just whether that's anything close to a done deal.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (60)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

Everyone knows that I never miss a chance to jump into the Chesapeake Bay, but I'm going to have to stay on the shore for the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim tomorrow at Sandy Point State Park.

The 4.4 mile open swim, which benefits the March of Dimes campaign for healthier babies, starts from the beach at Sandy Point and ends at Hemingway's Marina in Stevensonville. The first wave of swimmers leaves the mainland at 8 a.m.

Here's the link for more information if you want to go and watch some unsung athletes raise money for a great cause.

Sounds a little like the annual Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge, except that you can't just jump right back out of the water and act like you accomplished something more than risking a case of hypothermia.

I'd be out there if I could swim worth a tinker's dam, but I'll stick to the January event where I can just run down the beach and fall in. If you want to see me do that, go to YouTube.com and type in "Schmuck Takes the Plunge." There is also a one-mile swim at Hemingway's Marina. Personally, I'm waiting for them to institute an event where you swim about 100 yards and then see how much water you can swallow before a lifeguard boat picks you up.

If you want to see a great race and enjoy the beautiful weekend weather, you can head over to the Eastern Shore and see the swimmers come out of the water. There will be viewing areas where you can picnic and also vendors selling food and merchandise. Check it out.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (70)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

If you want to talk about the Orioles managerial search or the impressive debuts of Stephen Strasburg and Jake Arrieta, tune in at noon for Sportsline on WBAL (1090 AM) and WBAL.com. We'll bat those subjects around and many more over the course of the afternoon.

Also, keep an eye out for my Sunday column on the travails of Kevin Millwood. It should be up on the Web site sometime this afternoon and, of course, in the print edition tomorrow.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (24)
Categories: Shameless plug
        

Just a reminder that you don't have to wait until tomorrow to read my headline column in the print edition, though that's just fine if you do. If you can't wait, however, you can find it on the Web site right here.

Posted by Peter Schmuck at 9:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Shameless plug