The football season is officially over.

I know, for many of you, it ended in mid-January.

Here’s a toast for all of you that couldn’t stand the idea of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, the New York Yankees and the Indianapolis Colts all celebrating championships in a 12-month period.

At least something turned up OK for Baltimore-area fans.

Seven of you had the New Orleans Saints winning the Super Bowl over that blue and white team from Indianapolis. Free drink chips to Dwayne, Justin, Jeff O and Jeff F, E Low and Steve 119. Kevin in Iraq gets two drink chips for his backdoor jinx that stung the Colts.

And the free tab for the week goes to … wait for it … good old Rich, who had a 38-19 Saints win (just edging E Low’s 38-20 call). Congrats to Rich for a win in our last Prediction Friday of the NFL season. I’ll let you light up a cigar, Rich, if you promise it’s just a cigar.

Anyway, it was a good game and a fine evening. The post-game shot of Drew Brees lifting his son up with the confetti floating down was classic, though it wasn’t my favorite moment of Sunday involving a toddler.

I am still laughing about the E-Trade commercial with Lindsey the Milkaholic (milk-a-what?) You know a commercial is genius when it is more entertaining than Betty White and Abe Vigoda being tackled in a Snickers’ ad – which was almost impossible to top.

But E-Trade’s Lindsey the Milkaholic did, in my opinion. Yes, I am a simpleton. I admit it.

Anyway, we’ll take one more swipe at the NFL before we move on to baseball this week. The biggest play of Super Bowl Sunday was the Tracy Porter interception and return that sealed the New Orleans Saints’ victory.

Yes, the onsides kick was huge, but if Porter doesn’t make that play, the Colts are still in position to at least tie the game.

The funny thing is, it’s been debated as to whether Peyton Manning somehow diminished his legacy by throwing that pick.

I say he just proved he was human, showed that he was not invincible. I think he was one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history before that and will remain that way.

Quarterbacks throw interceptions, it happens. That’s my thought, anyway.

But I guess I understand why some would suggest that by doing it on the biggest stage at a crucial moment hurts Manning’s legacy and his status at one of the best ever. I don’t buy it. But maybe you do.

Daily Think Special: Did Peyton Manning’s crucial interception in the fourth quarter Sunday damage his legacy?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 5:46 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

We’ve talked about Baltimore’s great announcers -- which was one of the best discussions we’ve had in this place in a while.

And we’ve talked about that horseshoed team in the Midwest, and how most of you -- besides Jack and his island barstool -- want them to lose violently on Sunday.

But now it is time to usher in the final Prediction Friday of the NFL season.

If you are just stopping by for a quick cocktail, this is how it works: Predict the score, the winner/loser and the hero of the game (in this instance, the Super Bowl MVP).

Whoever is closest will receive a free fake cyberdrink tab for the week, and let me tell you, those are coveted.

Here’s my call: I agree with most of you. I can’t bring myself to root for the Colts. It’s just in my Baltimoron DNA (yeah, I said Baltimoron again). So go Saints, I suppose.

That said, I think the Colts are going to win. I think it will be a great game, and likely somewhat of a shootout. But I think the Colts’ defense is just that much better than the Saints. So I say 35-31 Colts.

And my MVP?

Reggie Wayne with three touchdown receptions and 100-plus yards.

Now, take your best shot. We’ll leave this up through the big game.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Colts-Saints

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:07 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

At the end of an interview I had earlier this week with Cal Ripken Jr., for a story that will appear on Sunday, I asked the Hall of Famer about his thoughts on the Super Bowl.

Ripken will be in attendance, and as a Baltimore-area native and young professional athlete when the Colts moved away in 1984, I wanted to know who he would be rooting for: After all, Peyton Manning is Ripken’s kind of athlete and he’s been to a Ripken charity event in the past.

But it is the Colts.

Ripken, in perfect Ripken form, laughed and dodged giving a straight answer. Mr. Aberdeen, Mr. Oriole is too smart to bite on that one.

He said he really isn’t sure what he’ll do. He said he had the same thought when he watched the New York Giants and the undefeated New England Patriots play a couple years ago. He was there and was asked all week which team he was rooting for. He said he didn’t know until the Giants got a first down in the fourth quarter and Ripken heard himself say, “Yeah.” That’s when he realized he was rooting for the Giants.

So he figures that moment of realization will come Sunday. Boy, is that guy good.

And I get his point. In a way.

I am a bit torn about Sunday. It’s impossible not to have respect for Peyton Manning; he really is among the best ever. And he’s so gracious when talking about Johnny Unitas, that even the bitterest Baltimore Colts fan has to begrudgingly like the guy. And he had absolutely nothing to do with the Mayflower vans – neither did any of his teammates.

That said, he’s a Colt and we all know that history and that ownership. I realize it has been 25-plus years, but it is tough to completely let go. Listen, I’m no longer 14, I don’t hate Indianapolis anymore. But hatred versus not wanting them to win another Super Bowl are separate things, right?

The good news for the Bitter Baltimorons is that the New Orleans Saints provide a worthy team to cheer for. They have never won it. And that city sure could use the positive vibes. So you can mask your hatred with a soft heart for the Saints.

Several Baltimore-native friends of mine this week have debated what to do on Sunday: Do you root against the best quarterback of a generation simply because of the uniform on his back?

My answer is probably. I can’t wait for yours.

Daily Think Special: Does Peyton Manning’s presence alter your feelings about the Colts?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:06 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (17)
        

The announcement of Jon Miller as the 2010 Ford C. Frick winner for outstanding contributions to baseball broadcasting got me thinking.

Who is my favorite Orioles’ announcer of all time?

This is a tough one for me. First, I have to exclude the guys who were TV-only. Many did great jobs, but it just isn’t the same as radio. That’s a special deal, in my opinion.

Ever since I can remember, my father listened to games on the radio. He’d be grilling in the backyard or fixing something in the basement, and the O’s game would always accompany him.

That became ingrained in me. Nowadays, I must admit, I rarely listen to the Orioles’ radio broadcasts. I am at most home games and a chunk on the road. When I am away from the team, I am usually at my house, and the game is on TV.

But that’s not to say I don’t listen to baseball on the radio anymore. I have a 50-minute ride home from the stadium after every game at Camden Yards, so I invariably listen to a West Coast game or two on my satellite radio.

It’s fantastic to hear other teams’ announcers, especially when I get the treat of Vin Scully with the Los Angeles Dodgers and, of course, Miller with the San Francisco Giants.

Because Baltimore has been blessed with such amazing baseball announcers over the years, the fan base might be a bit spoiled. I have heard a contingent of fans complain about Joe Angel and Fred Manfra, from time to time.

As I said above, I don’t get the opportunity to listen that much to Joe and Fred because of my job. And since I consider both men my friends, I am not fully objective. But I listen to a lot of other teams’ guys, and I really think the tandem here in Baltimore is excellent. I challenge you to listen to New York Yankees radio broadcasts, for instance, and not come away with an appreciation for Joe and Fred. Just my opinion.

Anyway, back to my original thought. Who is my favorite? I am stuck right in the middle of a generational argument. (Sort of like: Cal or Brooks?) To me, the voice of Orioles baseball -- and, really, the voice of summer -- is Chuck Thompson. He taught me the game when I was eager to learn it. And so I’ll forever think of Chuck when I think of summer barbecues and transistor radios hidden under pillows. (Bill O’Donnell should be mentioned here, too, but my memory of him is shaky since he died when I was 12.)

Then there’s Jon Miller. He was the perfect baseball companion for the teen and 20-something, especially when the Orioles stunk. He could make a terrible Orioles game fun – and that’s not easy to do. (Joe Angel is a master of doing that now.)

So, really, I am torn by my own question. It’s like choosing between your kindly grandfather and your crazy uncle. Both were tremendous in their own ways.

I guess I will say my favorite was Thompson, because that’s when I was in awe of baseball. And baseball on the radio was something more than just entertainment.

But it’s close.

I want to know where you stand. Don’t tell me who you think was the best Orioles announcer. I want to know your favorite. And, yes, there is a difference.

You can use TV announcers, too. But I won’t.

Daily Think Special: Who is your all-time favorite Orioles announcer?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:57 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (133)
        

We’re going to recycle a little bit today.

Never say this place isn’t good for the environment.

A few months ago we talked about Melvin Mora and his place in history with the Orioles, because we knew he wouldn’t be back.

But now it is official. Mora agreed to terms – a one-year deal worth $1.3 million with the Colorado Rockies – on Sunday.

Mora finishes top 10 in most of the franchise’s offensive categories, including hits, homers, doubles, RBIs, runs scored and at-bats.

He also led the club in speaking his mind; usually good for one or two critical outbursts a season. He’d rip teammates and club personnel if he felt it were necessary. At times, that endeared him to fans while rankling teammates and/or club officials.

Mora was an enigma. He could pout and lose focus and act like the typical privileged athlete of this generation. And he could also show support and compassion for his community that is so rare these days. He chose to live in the Baltimore area year-round, which got him a whole lot of points around here.

I’ll tell you this much: No professional athlete I have covered supplied me with more humorous, head-shaking moments (most of which I couldn’t print) than Melvin, who said some genuinely hilarious things, some of which weren’t even meant to be funny.

Here’s a quick one. Melvin was once up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth of a tied game when an errant pitch headed right for his back. Instinctively, Melvin shot to the ground – even though if the pitch had hit him, it would have won the game.

A few pitches later, Melvin walked and the Orioles won anyway. Afterward, we interviewed Jerry Hairston, one of the more loquacious players I have covered. Hairston joked that the next day the team was going to send Melvin out for early hit-by-pitch practice.

When the quip was relayed to Mora, he half-smiled and simply said, “Jerry Hairston talk too much.”

For the next year, every time Hairston was being interviewed, one of the guys in the press box would say, “Jerry Hairston talk too much.” And then we’d all laugh.

There is so much to remember about Mora’s days here, but I think I will remember most the crazy things he said when we were just shooting the bull.

What will you remember? Will it be good, bad or a little of both?

Daily Think Special: What will you remember most about Melvin Mora’s Orioles’ career?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:08 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (71)
        

I have been slacking off, people. I admit it.

I haven’t filed as many entries this week and I haven’t filled as many glasses.

And I certainly haven’t done much entertaining or thought-provoking, which is just as essential to cyber-bartending as changing the fake kegs.

So here are some random thoughts and a question you can chew on all weekend (kind of like the beef jerky in the glass jar at the west end of the bar).

I saw that Barbi Benton, 1970s sex symbol, actress and former Playboy centerfold, turned 60 this week. Not only does that make me feel ridiculously old, but it also makes me wonder how difficult it must be to be a 60-year-old woman named Barbi. I’d suggest changing her name to Betty or Sylvia and quietly ride out the next two decades.

The season-long suspension of the Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas cements a point that my 10-year-old son Alex made a few years ago. I took him to a Wizards’ game for his 8th birthday and on the train to the arena, I explained to him that Arenas was a superstar and one of the best players in the NBA.

Well, that game Arenas had like 10 points and Caron Butler had a career-high 20-something. Afterward, walking back to the train I asked Alex what he thought of the game. And he said, “Well, you were wrong. No. 3 is so much better than No. 0, daddy.” I think that was his indoctrination into an unassailable truth: sportswriters know nothing.

To my music lovers out there, I am seeing the Felice Brothers on Saturday night, and I am psyched. I can’t tell you the last time I was this excited about seeing a band for the first time. It’s a sold out show in an old, 450-seat movie theater. I can’t wait, even though they are Yankees’ fans.

Oh, and to the baseball fans in the bar, I really do think the Orioles are done setting their 40-man roster before spring training. Yes, that could change if Erik Bedard wants to return to Baltimore. But I’ll call that reunion unlikely right now. And I see no other 40-man roster additions before pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota.

So that makes me think it’s time to evaluate Andy MacPhail’s offseason. He said he is pleased with it – he traded for Kevin Millwood and signed Garrett Atkins, Miguel Tejada and Mike Gonzalez – but are you?

Daily Think Special: Finish the sentence: The Orioles’ offseason has been …

Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:36 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (58)
        

We are back on baseball, where we are going to stay for a while.

I could ask what you think about the Miguel Tejada signing, but we already did that before it became official. We are so darn efficient at Connolly’s, it can be a real killjoy for future topics.

But the well – or the kegs -- never runs empty around here.

During Tejada’s introductory press conference on Tuesday, Orioles’ club president Andy MacPhail made a point to say that Tejada was signed to be the team’s third baseman for the 162 games of 2010 – or as close to 162 as possible.

Basically, his point was that Tejada wasn’t signed just to hold a place for the organization’s top third base prospect Josh Bell. So even if Bell is tearing up Triple-A in July, MacPhail still expects to have Tejada on the hot corner at season’s end.

This is where the cynic in me rises up. I am not buying it. If Bell shows he can hit – and switch hit – at Norfolk, I think the Orioles will give him a shot to do it full-time in the big leagues.

That may mean Tejada gets pushed to designated hitter or perhaps out the door at the July trade deadline.

If I were a betting man, I’d say Tejada doesn’t last to August 1 in an Orioles’ uniform. The man can still hit, and there will be a contender that will want to add him as a sparkplug in a pennant race.

Then again, MacPhail doesn’t like to rush his prospects, and maybe he will keep Bell in the minors until rosters expand in September. Maybe Bell struggles to the point that he needs the full season at Norfolk. Maybe he struggles and they trade Tejada anyway for another future piece. They could move Ty Wigginton or Garrett Atkins to third in that scenario.

So we know Tejada, barring injury (and the guy is extremely durable) will play third for the Orioles on Opening Day. But I want to know who will be on the hot corner in August. I want your predictions. I won’t hold you to it.

Daily Think Special: Who will play third base for the Orioles in August?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:24 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (34)
        

Well, it’s official: The Colts and Saints in the Super Bowl.

I think those are probably the best teams in the NFL, so I am OK that they both survived for the big standoff.

We didn’t exactly have rousing participation in Prediction Friday -- when the Ravens go away, so does the enthusiasm in this place -- but of those who saddled up to the bar and tossed your prognostications into the tip jar -- Rich, Rob and Jack -- had the right winners, along with yours truly.

You all get free drink chips, and, in an executive decision, I’ll give the free tab to Jack for predicting a four-point Saints victory in the NFC title game. That was the hardest to pick.

I am sure many of you watched the Vikings-Saints game, and it was definitely a good one. Although it was surprising to think a bad Brett Favre decision may have cost them a chance at advancing.

Part of me loves the fact that a guy older than me is still a major factor in pro sports. But most of me thinks it is time for Favre to walk away. For him, sure, but really for the rest of us.

I don’t see it happening, though. I don’t see him wanting his last play to be a key interception. And he showed he can still play this game at a high level.

You know there will be plenty of talk over the next few months on Favre’s potential retirement (No. 3). We’ll do it once here and I promise we’ll move on. But let’s put our cynical Connolly’s take on it.

Daily Think Special: Do you care if Brett Favre ever plays another NFL down?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (37)
        

We’re offering up a bonus entry today.

But we are doing it with the 1970 World Championship flag behind the bar at half-mast.

Curt Motton, a member of that Orioles team (and six others) passed away at age 69 after dealing with stomach cancer.

I didn’t know Motton, and don’t remember seeing him play. I was about five when he played his last big-league game.

But I knew about him, and his role as a key pinch-hitter on those amazing Orioles’ teams.

So I figured I’d give you the opportunity to talk about Motton, especially the old-timers at the bar who can remember 1966 through 1971 like it was yesterday.

Rich and Jack, this one is definitely for you guys. Have at it.

The rest of you, raise a glass to old No. 21.

Daily Think Special: What do you remember about Curt Motton?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 3:06 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (31)
        

We’ll make this one short and sweet.

No reason to belabor a Prediction Friday that doesn’t involve the Ravens.

At least you can pick Rex Ryan or Matt Stover to get to the Super Bowl. Or you can pick against the Colts because, hey, this is Baltimore and we don’t need a reason.

As for me, I have yet to pick the Jets in the postseason and I am sticking with that.

I say the Colts win 24-10 and head to the Super Bowl. Predictably, Peyton Manning is the hero with three TDs thrown.

As for the NFC Championship, I am going with a blowout. New Orleans 31-13 over the Minnesota Vikings. And I’ll stay with predictability: Drew Brees is the hero with three TDs and 400 yards passing.

Now I want your predictions for both the AFC and NFC championships. Include a hero for each game.

To get the free drink chips you need to pick both winners, unless you get one score completely right.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday – AFC and NFC championship games

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:34 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

We are switching gears and concentrating on baseball today.

No real reason, but why not?

We’ll keep the postseason NFL Prediction Friday going tomorrow. But we’re back to being seamheads today.

Andy MacPhail, the Orioles’ president of baseball operations, has shown a willingness the past few years to be environmentally friendly.

He has Reduced -- as in the club’s payroll.

And he has Recycled -- giving jobs to some of his old Chicago Cubs, such as Rich Hill, Lou Montanez and Felix Pie.

Now, there is a possibility he could Reuse.

As my Sun baseball partner Jeff Zrebiec wrote earlier this week, a lack of options at third base has put Miguel Tejada on the club’s short list at the hot corner.

Now that’s not to say there will be a reunion with Miggy, whom MacPhail traded to the Houston Astros in Dec. 2007, the day before the famed Mitchell Report on performance enhancing drugs came out.

But he’s definitely on MacPhail’s list, likely behind Joe Crede.

Tejada was a star and fan favorite here. He also was a dog and a fan target here. The guy can still hit and would be more willing to play third this go around. And, no matter the myriad problems he had here, he is a kind-hearted soul who is hard to dislike.

I, for one, liked Miggy the Person, but thought it was time for Miggy the Player to move on. And I don’t think two years have changed my mind.

Daily Think Special: Do you want Miguel Tejada back in an Orioles uniform?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

We had our first “Finish the sentence” day at the bar on Tuesday, our literary version of a sobriety test.

By my account it was a success, and we’ll be doing it again at another time. We may even do it with an Orioles theme (remember them?).

It’s nice when it is someone besides my wife finishing my sentences (that’s what happens when you are married for nearly 15 years).

Seems like most of you think the Ravens were both exciting and frustrating in 2009-10. Some excellent moments and some arrgh-inspiring ones.

Well, now I want you to fix your favorite football team. Obviously, the Ravens could upgrade in several phases in 2010: pass rush, pass defense, receiving corps and kicking game come to mind.

But if you were in charge and you could guarantee one spot that you absolutely, positively would transform next season, which would it be?

It’s down to two spots for me: Wide receivers and secondary. And the most glaring need could come down to whether Derrick Mason, Ed Reed or both retire.

I have absolutely no inside information here (as I’ve said before, I never do with the Ravens. I leave that to our experts on the football beat), but my guess is Reed returns. In my experience, guys as competitive as Reed don’t walk away when they can still play at a high level.

Mason, however, has sung this tune before and is 36, so he’s a better bet to leave. Even if he doesn’t, the Ravens need a consistent deep threat, one that can keep opposing defenses honest when they stack the box to contain the run.

But I am still going with the secondary – even assuming Reed stays. I want a shutdown corner or someone with that potential anyway. And I hope to get someone close to that in the draft. But I wouldn’t argue with a solid wide receiver addition or more beef on either side of the line.

And then there is a consistent kicker, so, yeah, plenty of options. What’s your first choice?

Daily Think Special: What should be the Ravens’ top priority this offseason?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (30)
        

It was all quiet and dark at the bar Monday. Sorry, but I had to fix the plate glass window in the front.

Someone threw a mug through it about the same time Ray Lewis’s helmet connected with a horseshoe and a yellow flag floated in the air.

The investigation continues – into the broken window not the penalty flag.

Anyway, it was a tough weekend in Charm City. A dismal 20-3 loss to that team in Indianapolis to end the Ravens’ season.

I guess it is fitting that the patrons at Connolly’s laid an egg on Prediction Friday as well. I probably was the closest with a 24-20 Colts’ win, and I’m taking no credit for it.

So, yeah, it’s a somber mood in here. We’ll try to at least make it more upbeat.

I just picked up the new (well, relatively new) Jimmy Buffett CD to see if it is more like the old ones (great chillin’, drinkin’ music) or like the newer ones (a few good tunes sandwiched around schlock). I’ll give it a listen and report back later. Meanwhile, we’ll stick it on the jukebox.

Today is as appropriate as any to review the Ravens’ season. It started with such promise, three straight wins and the hopes of another AFC Championship game at the least. Then the momentum was flushed away by midseason, only for a solid finish that took them into the second round of the playoffs.

I asked earlier this month whether the Ravens’ season could be considered a success if they made it to the playoffs. Many of you answered yes, and I think that is the case, especially considering they got to the second round.

But it was a step behind last year’s AFC title game run, and the expectations were higher.

I want to know what word you’d use to describe the Ravens’ 2009-10. I’ll say frustrating, with a nod toward exhausting as well. Just so many ups and downs, so much talent wasted by poor execution at the most inopportune times.

So give me one word (or phrase) to sum this one. Make it clean. What do you say?

Daily Think Special: Finish this sentence: The Ravens season was …

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (55)
        

Not really sure what to post today.

Is there some big game going on this weekend involving a local team?

And a former local team?

With the winner getting one step away from the Super Bowl?

Yeah, I heard something about that.

Bring in your big, frosty mugs today, people. Natty Boh is flowing, and so are your predictions. I am stoked enough about this game that I’m not charging anyone today – not even Rich or Barry or Waspman or Scooter.

I’ll even give Putin free vodka shots if he materializes here.

So, will your Ravens continue their improbable run playoff run and knock off the AFC’s No. 1 seed, that blue-and-white team in Indianapolis?

Or will Peyton Manning and company be too much for the Ravens’ secondary?

I am going to stay consistent – which is a good thing for Ravens’ fans. Because I have been fairly consistently wrong on Prediction Fridays this year.

I am going with the Colts. I think the Ravens’ running game will make this one a contest, but unless the Ravens can jump out early again, I don’t like the idea of a rested Manning with the game on the line in the fourth quarter.

So I say Colts 24-20. Manning the hero.

Drinks on me if I am right. Drinks on me if I am wrong.

Your turn to predict the score and the hero of the game.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Colts

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (22)
        

Part of my job here behind this big slab of cherry wood is to dish out arguments.

Not just things that make you go, ‘Huh.’ But that also separate the bar a bit – that have several answers that could be, maybe even are, correct.

So, in that responsibility, I failed Wednesday. The question was whether Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis – two key components in Saturday’s playoff game in Indianapolis – are the best of their generation.

And pretty much everyone who stopped by to answer said yes.

\ So much for a potential barfight. I couldn’t even get WV Mike or Jim Traber to throw an elbow.

OK, so now I am going to add a twist on this particular drink, tossing in an apple and an orange.

Which player, Manning or Lewis, would you most want on your team of the late-90s/2000s if you could have only one?

Yes, comparing a defensive star to an offensive star is unfair. But that is what we are doing, so humor me.

They are both Hall of Famers, both have won a Super Bowl title and, as we established, the best of their generations at their respective positions.

But knowing what you know now about their pro careers, if you could go back to the late 1990s (Lewis was drafted in 1996 and Manning in 1998, so split the difference and say 1997) and take just one of them for your team, which one would it be?

On first blush, this seems like an easy call. Take the franchise quarterback, right? But, during Manning’s career, there have been some other pretty great quarterbacks, such as Tom Brady, Brett Favre and now Drew Brees.

As Rob K pointed out, the next best in line behind Lewis at middle linebacker in this era (the last 15 years or so) is Brian Urlacher, who is a very good player. But I think he is further behind Lewis than some of the other QBs are behind Manning.

And middle linebacker is the QB of the defense, or so the footballspeak goes.

So which one would you take to lead you through the 2000s? I still think I’d lean toward Manning, because he may be the best ever at the most important position. But I don’t think it is a slam dunk (yeah, I know, that’s from another sport).

Daily Think Special: Peyton or Ray? Choose only one.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

With Saturday’s clash between the Ravens and Colts in Indy looming, an interesting question by my Sun colleague Kevin Van Valkenburg was tossed to Ravens head coach John Harbaugh on Tuesday.

Are Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis the best offensive and defensive NFL players of this generation?

Harbaugh danced around it, saying he’d have to study all the great players of the past decade or so to make a comparison.

Me? Not so much. Not in this fine establishment, anyway.

I say yes and yes.

Manning gets serious competition from Brett Favre, who won three consecutive MVP trophies. But Manning has four, and my vote.

And, honestly, I think Lewis stands alone on the defensive side.

I assume you guys will have the same bias. But who knows?

There’s an occasional objective person in this place (at least before I summon the bouncer). Maybe some supporters of other teams will sneak in here – we still haven’t sprayed for Steelers fans this month.

Plus, I guess there could be a decent argument about what this “generation” or era is. For argument’s sake, I’ll say the past 15 years or so.

Daily Think Special: Are Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis the best of this generation?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:51 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (19)
        

Football is a team game. I understand that.

You are only good as the unit as a whole – or something like that.

But one player’s performance can make a major difference, especially if that player is in a key “skill” position.

Ray Rice set the tone on Sunday with his spirit-crushing touchdown in the game’s first minute. Terrell Suggs and Chris Carr also stepped up at the right times and certainly were big reasons why the Ravens embarrassed the Patriots.

Now, Saturday evening it will be a new game, a new stage, a new opportunity.

And I am wondering whom will have the biggest influence on whether the Ravens’ win or lose – on the Ravens’ side that is.

If Peyton Manning is at the top of his game, the Ravens are likely packing up and going home next week. We all understand that.

But what about on Baltimore’s end?

Is there a Ravens’ player whose performance will best dictate how the team does against the Colts?

The easy answer is quarterback Joe Flacco, but he was non-existent against the Patriots and it didn’t matter. And I don’t see the game plan changing dramatically in Indianapolis (although I am sure there will be an attempt at better offensive balance).

So here’s my call: safety Ed Reed. A healthy Reed makes the cornerbacks and the entire secondary better. And Reed swarming around might just make the unflappable Manning hold the ball an extra nanosecond. And that could – just saying could, mind you -- give the Ravens’ pass rush the opening they need to be disruptive.

Again, I realize one man may not change the entire fate of Saturday’s football game. But one player could go a long way into determining it.

Daily Think Special: Whose play will be key for the Ravens to beat the Colts on Saturday?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (27)
        

Not only do I admit when I am wrong, but there are times when I like it.

Sunday was one of those times. I just didn’t think the Ravens could handle the Patriots and Tom Brady in New England.

I was wrong. Incredibly wrong. Nineteen points wrong.

The Ravens throttled the Patriots 33-14 and are now headed to Indianapolis to play Peyton Manning and the … well, that team’s nickname escapes me right now.

There was a whole lot of optimism about this game on the other side of the bar this weekend. And I give you loyal fans credit. I especially give credit to Mike, who said he had a dream that the Ravens beat the Pats 31-17.

And that was his prognostication on Prediction Friday. He came closest to nailing it head on, and so he’ll get the free open drink tab this week.

Congrats Mike, live the dream.

Many of you Ravens fans are in dreamland, too. This club that made you shake your heads and fists much of the season are now in Round 2 of the playoffs.

And you have to be impressed with how they did it – absolutely punching the Patriots in the mouth in the first quarter to go up 24-0. The defense stepped up and the rushing attack was phenomenal.

I’ll leave the analysis for you guys today, since I proved this weekend I don’t exactly have my fingers on the pulse of this Ravens team.

We’ll get to Saturday’s clash in Indy later this week. Today, I’ll let you focus on the good that was Sunday in Massachusetts.

Do you think it was the start of something big? Or do you think the Patriots were just highly overrated? Was it a little bit of both?

Were you exhilarated by the rush-heavy game plan or did it make you concerned about how Joe Flacco and the receivers will respond after a veritable week off?

This is your turn. Use it.

Daily Think Special: What’s your take on Sunday’s Ravens’ win in New England?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:07 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (26)
        

We have made it to the postseason version of Prediction Friday.

This one is for keeps (cue the ominous piano strains).

I have thought a lot about how the Ravens are going to fare against the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium.

For the most part, I like the match-up from a Ravens’ perspective. They can run the ball and the Patriots’ rush defense is spotty. Plus, potentially bad weather in New England could be conducive to a strong rushing attack.

Having Wes Welker out of the game certainly is a plus. Although Tom Brady is always difficult to contain, it helps when the defense can pressure him. The last time these two teams played, Brady was sacked three times.

In the end, though, I just don’t think I can pick the Ravens to win this. And it’s not because the Patriots have dominated these clashes before or because the Ravens are 1-6 this season against playoff-caliber clubs.

What sticks with me is that I have yet to see the Ravens dominate a really good quarterback. And in these situations, even without Welker, Brady is among the best.

So I apologize, my dear purple patrons. I’d love to side with the hometown team.

But I see the Pats winning this one 24-17. I see Brady as the hero of the game with three TDs, including a game-sealer in the fourth quarter.

Raise your glass and toast to the idiocy of your barkeep. And then give me your score and hero of the game for Sunday afternoon.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Patriots.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

I know we’re in a countdown toward the Ravens’ first-round playoff game against the New England Patriots.

But we have to flip back to Major League Baseball for a day.

Wednesday’s Hall of Fame vote was just too interesting to avoid. Plus, as the local chairman of the Baseball Writers Association of America, I guess I might have to defend some of my brethren. At least a little bit.

I don’t have a Hall of Fame vote yet, so I can’t be held responsible for how the vote ended up this year. But let me say this: There isn’t a voter I have spoken to – and I know a bunch – who doesn’t take the responsibility seriously.

(Remember, to become a voter you have to have 10 years in the association, which means, in most cases, you have had to spend at least 10 years traveling around this country covering baseball for as much as nine months at a time. It may sound like fun, and it certainly can be, but it is also a heck of a grind. Trust me.)

For the most part, A LOT of thought goes into the voting process. No one I know takes it lightly. That said, some don’t make good decisions – in my opinion anyway.

For instance, I find it incomprehensible that five voters sent in an empty ballot this year. I don’t see how you can look at that group, headlined by Andre Dawson, Bert Blyleven, Roberto Alomar and Barry Larkin, and not see at least one deserving candidate.

I also think those that penalized Roberto Alomar for his spitting incident in 1996 are being shortsighted. Terrible moment in a great career.

If I had a ballot, Alomar would have been on it. And from what you people told me last month, he would have been on most of yours as well. So his failure to get 75 percent (he garnered 73.7 percent) is unfortunate.

To me, though, his was not the biggest snub this year. (Most surprising, but not biggest.) I cannot understand why Bert Blyleven fell short (only by five votes) again this year, his 13th on the ballot. He only has two more shots – and I really hope voters wise up by next year. You’d hate to have that class guy and great pitcher sweat out his final year of eligibility in 2012.

Of the guys currently eligible, I think Blyleven is the biggest snub, followed closely by Alomar. But, potentially anyway, there are others: Jack Morris, Larkin, Lee Smith, Edgar Martinez, Alan Trammell, Fred McGriff, Don Mattingly, Harold Baines, Tim Raines, Dale Murphy and, of course, Mark McGwire, who has been passed over for obvious reasons.

Former Chicago Cub Ron Santo is considered the all-time Hall snub (if you don’t count Pete Rose, who was never placed on the ballot, so don’t blame the writers on that one), but Santo is no longer eligible. So let’s keep this discussion to those who were on the ballot in 2009.

Daily Think Special: Who was this year’s biggest Hall of Fame snub and why?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:54 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (24)
        

We are out of Iron City again. Rob K poured most of it on the heads of some of our visitors from the west on Tuesday.

I am a sucker for the Ravens-Steelers debate. It’s like Seinfeld episodes and Rocky movies. I know how they end, but I still enjoy them. Can’t help myself.

Let’s head north but stay with the NFL.

(I’d like to switch up and do baseball, but the three big baseball subjects of the day, Matt Holliday, Robbie Alomar and Randy Johnson, have all been dissected here at the bar in the past few months. We are so ahead of the curve.)

Let’s talk about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. He apparently is playing with a few broken ribs. And, on Sunday against the Ravens in the first round of the playoffs, he’ll be without his most trusted weapon, injured receiver Wes Welker.

No question, Welker and his Pats’ record-setting number of receptions and yards will be sorely missed. Brady’s completion percentage is 11 points higher with Welker in the lineup.

Still, I believe Brady, even at 32 and one year removed from a lost season, can single-handedly beat a team, especially one with a secondary as suspect as the Ravens’. So Ravens’ fans should be sufficiently concerned.

In their earlier matchup this season, Brady was 21 of 32 for 258 yards and one touchdown against the Ravens. Nothing special.

Perhaps most important, he was sacked three times. And the Ravens know they need to keep pressuring Brady if they have a chance of winning in New England.

The thing about Brady is that he was pretty much under the radar this season while guys such as Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and others excelled. But Brady was pretty darn good, too.

He threw for 28 TDs (just 13 interceptions) and 4,398 yards. Take away his phenomenal 2007 (50 TDs, 8 INTs, 4,806 yards) and this season was his best, statistically speaking. So he may be older, and he may be hurt, but he is still Tom Brady. He is still extremely dangerous.

That’s my thought anyway. What say you?

Daily Think Special: How good is Tom Brady right now?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

I tried to think of a good baseball question for Tuesday. I really did.

I spent most of the day making phone calls attempting to drum up Orioles news and there just isn’t a whole lot going on. Or at least nothing more interesting than the first round of the NFL playoffs.

So I am dropping back into prevent defense (hey, it gives you your best chance to score in a bar).

Before we get going, I wanted to point out that Monday was Michael Stipe’s 50th birthday, so we have old-school R.E.M. jammed on the jukebox all day – though I did put the kibosh on “Shiny, Happy People.”

If you are both shiny and happy, there is probably another dive that suits you better.

Dull, gloomy and sarcastic fits us a whole lot better.

But I am here to brighten your Tuesday (because I know Everybody Hurts). In case you missed it, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t make the playoffs. In fact, the Ravens’ win quashed the Steelers’ chances.

I know that makes a lot of you feeling shiny and happy. But not all of you apparently.

In Monday’s discussion, patron Joe said he was bummed that the Steelers are already out. Here’s his line of thinking: “I wanted the Steelers in too. Not that I'm a Steelers fan, but they could have mowed down their half of the playoff field and met us again for the AFC championship, but in Baltimore this time. Would have been nice.”

Ravens fans hoping the Steelers get to the playoffs? To me, that’s The End Of The World as We Know it (And I Feel Fine).

That kind of thinking runs contrary to the beliefs of my son 10-year-old son, Alex, who goes to school with a host of Steelers’ fans. He actually was happier about the Steelers exit than he was the Ravens’ playoff inclusion.

He just couldn’t handle the Steelers winning it all again. Anything else involving the Ravens is gravy, he figures.

I would assume most people in here were relieved when the Steelers got punted (the majority of us have never moved beyond the fifth-grade mentality). But maybe not. Maybe you wanted the Steelers in so the Ravens could get sweet revenge.

At least that’s what Joe wanted. Is he out Nightswimming on an island?

Daily Think Special: What was your reaction when the Steelers’ season officially ended?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:34 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

Sighs of relief and shots of Purple Jesus all around.

Your Ravens are in the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Boy, that John Harbaugh is one heck of a coach (if you were here last week, you’ve gotta be chuckling about that).

Anyway, it wasn’t pretty. But the Ravens beat the Raiders in Oakland, 21-13. And now the Ravens are back in the postseason.

Kevin is our winner of the free bar tab for the week with a 24-13 prediction. This might be No. 2 for Kevin this year, though it might have been Kevin in Iraq who won in the past. The mind is slipping now that I am 40 (and the work ethic really has slipped, because I am not looking it up. We‘ll use the honor system).

Cali Chris (20-16) and Bob M (20-17) get a chip tossed their way. And I just had a field goal going the wrong way in my 24-10 prediction. So the barkeep is backed up one on the barkeep.

No one, by the way, had Willis McGahee running for 167 yards and three scores or Dannell Ellerbee with a pick and a fumble recovery. And you guys call yourselves educated fans?

OK, we’ll get into the playoff match-up later this week. Right now, I just want to know if what you saw Sunday in Oakland encouraged or discouraged you about the Ravens’ playoff chances.

On one hand, the resurgence of McGahee sure was refreshing. But there’s also concern that Raiders QB Charlie Frye, who had to leave due to injury, looked pretty good against the Ravens’ secondary (18 for 25 for 180 yards and a TD).

And my guess is the next few QBs the Ravens might have to face are a tad better than Frye, starting with some cagey vet up in the Boston area. But they did win on the road when they had to -- and that says something.

So making the playoffs was the goal, but the Ravens’ performance against the Raiders didn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence for the second season in my opinion. But I could be wrong here.

Daily Think Special: Did the Ravens' performance in Oakland encourage or discourage you for the postseason?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:41 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

It almost seems like a shame to shut the doors on Friday.

It has been one heck of a busy week at Connolly’s, thanks, in part, to the Ravens and their rabid/disgruntled fans.

The bottom line is if you like drama, Sunday should provide you with plenty. If the Ravens beat the Oakland Raiders – and they should – then we can unabashedly talk playoffs (Playoffs????) next week.

If not, then I’m sure I’ll be talking some of you off the second-floor bathroom ledge. That’s part of a good barkeep’s responsibilities along with tapping kegs and doling out charm to the more attractive female customers (the last one is not applicable in this joint).

Anyway, we will be dark on New Year’s Day and the weekend, and hopefully we’ll resume with the same fervor on Monday.

Please have a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Now, to the last Prediction Friday (which is, again, Prediction Thursday) of the NFL’s regular season: I don’t see the Ravens losing this one.

The pattern has been set. The Ravens beat bad teams and lose to good teams – or at least ones with proficient quarterbacks.

That means the Raiders shouldn’t be a huge problem. Although it’s never easy to play there – I covered the AFC Championship in the Coliseum in 2001, and it really is a madhouse.

My thought: Ravens 24, Raiders 10.

Ray Rice is the hero as he runs for 150 yards and two TDs.

Your turn. Make it a good one (predict the score and the game’s hero). It could be, gulp, the last one of the season.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Thursday/Friday: Ravens-Raiders.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (30)
        

The Orioles are in a deep winter slumber and the Ravens are basically in crunch time.

So I apologize that a so-called baseball guy is riding the Ravens’ writers’ coattails right now. But it is what interests you guys the most. And I am here to please.

So I am serving up more purple-tinged cocktails today.

During Tuesday’s spirited conversation about whether the season would be considered a success if the Ravens make the playoffs, several of you voiced displeasure with head coach John Harbaugh.

This time last year Harbaugh was the toast of Charm City, a first year head coach who had motivated and instructed a merry band of underachievers to the playoffs and, eventually, a spot in the AFC Championship.

The Ravens are likely headed to the postseason again – depending on what happens Sunday in Oakland – and yet not everything is kosher on the USS Harbaugh.

He’s been criticized for questionable personnel decisions, head-scratching clock management and an overall lack of discipline by his players on the field (which we’ve argued in the past about who is to blame with that one).

And then there’s that goofy “mighty, mighty men” stuff, too.

Anyway, I don’t think it is time to buy Harbaugh a one-way ticket out of town on the Billick Express. But I have been surprised by how many of you have changed your tune on Harbaugh in the past year.

I understand the honeymoon is over, but is this relationship now on the rocks?

Daily Think Special: John Harbaugh: What do you think of him now?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (74)
        

Baltimore sports fans are angry.

They are sick of their team losing to its rivals.

They are enraged that their players are caught on camera looking like they aren’t 100 percent focused.

They are sick of mental errors and lack of fundamentals.

And, hey, we aren’t even talking about the Orioles for once.

It’s been tough to watch the Ravens this year, and many of you used the bar Monday (and Sunday night) to vent. Wonderful. That’s the essence of why this joint was created.

Here’s the bottom line: The Ravens are a win in Oakland away from getting back to the playoffs. And, though the Ravens do not exactly look like a playoff-ready team (unless, say, the Bears and Lions are there), anything can happen in the postseason.

So your team wins and they have made it to the second season – which really is all a football fan can ask for.

And yet there is no joy in Charm City. Because this team has so many warts and because only the most loyal fan could envision John Harbaugh’s undisciplined squad making noise in January.

It brings up an interesting question: If the Ravens get to the playoffs, and eventually lose without making it to the Super Bowl, was this season a success?

I know, the Ravens made it to the AFC Championship last season and expectations were high for 2009. But the primary goal for a NFL team is to make the playoffs – only 12 of 32 do it. And the Ravens are on the precipice of doing it.

Of course, if they lose in Oakland, they end up 8-8 and no one can be happy with that picture of mediocrity. But 9-7 and a trip to the playoffs – where a little luck can propel a team – can’t be considered a disaster, right?

I know you can’t truly evaluate a season until it is officially over and the Super Bowl winner has been determined. But I want your thoughts now. I am impatient like that. I want you to evaluate whether the Ravens’ 2009 season can be considered a success if they make the playoffs.

Take your time. I’ll pour your draft slowly.

Daily Think Special: If the Ravens make the playoffs, will you consider the 2009 season a success?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (60)
        

I’ve heard head coaches and managers talk about team wins before.

Sunday’s Ravens’ deflating defeat to the Steelers was a team loss. Just how many Ravens’ made individual mistakes that contributed to the downfall? Once I got to 10, I think I lost count (it was too cold to pull off my shoes and keep counting).

If you are a true Ravens’ fan, you should have at least three welts on your head Monday morning -- from banging your head against the wall (bar, coffee table, etc.) with each Ravens’ potential turning point that wasn’t. Some of you probably look like you ran into a bee hive with a honey-flavored ski cap.

For the record, I am giving the free bar tab to Sizemo, who predicted a 30-27 Steelers win. Most who predicted Steelers had them in a blowout.

Frank gets a free drink chip for having the right score, 23-20; he just flipped the outcome.

Here’s my question: Which part of Sunday’s frustrating contest frustrated you the most?

My answer: Derrick Mason’s dropped catch in the end zone. Yes, that stuff happens. But it normally doesn’t happen to Mason. And it shouldn’t happen for a team’s go-to veteran -- a guy who makes that catch 99 times out of 100.

That 100th time was a killer, though.

You have plenty to choose from in a such a head-shaking loss: Terrell Suggs’ boneheaded block, Frank Walker’s mugging at the end of the game. You name it. Literally. I want you to name it.

Daily Think Special: What was the most frustrating moment of Sunday’s Ravens’ choke job?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 5:16 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (50)
        

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it. And happy holidays to everyone else.

We are shutting the bar down for a few days, since I doubt many of you are going to stop by here when you have presents to open and homemade eggnog to swig.

But we can’t go dark without first discussing Sunday’s game. My buddy Peter Schmuck made a point this week to say that Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh is not a must-win situation for the Ravens.

Technically, he is right. They can still get into the playoffs without winning Sunday – they’d need help, but it is possible.

But we all know football is so much about momentum and confidence. The Ravens appear to have both right now. But, as we chatted earlier in the week, their modest two-game win streak has come against Detroit and Chicago – games they should have won.

Sunday’s no such gimme, even though these Steelers aren’t the Steelers of 2008-09. Pittsburgh’s defense has struggled and its offensive line is not playing well.

These are still the Steelers, however and they still have a remote chance to make the playoffs. And even if they can’t, this is their Super Bowl now: Beating the Ravens and severely hampering their rival’s postseason chances.

So this is a difficult one to predict. Since the Ravens have been so enigmatic this year, because they have had trouble against good quarterbacks and because the Steelers have all but abandoned the run and put the full responsibility of winning on Ben Roethlisberger’s capable shoulders, it’s not a good matchup for the Ravens.

That said, this is the Ravens’ season. Even if they back into the playoffs, their confidence and the momentum will be severely altered.

I say the Ravens pull it out, 24-21, on a Joe Flacco to Todd Heap touchdown inside two minutes. They then pick off Roethlisberger on a desperation heave. Flacco is the hero with three touchdowns.

Although, let me add, I can easily see it go the other way.

As always, predict the score and player of the game in Sunday’s Ravens-Steelers clash.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday/Thursday: Ravens-Steelers.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:11 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (33)
        

We’re so close to Christmas I can almost smell it. Or maybe that’s the mall Santa at the end of the bar drinking his paycheck. Bad Santa (loved that flick), but we accept all kinds here at Connolly’s.

I’ve done my best to try and remain in the Christmas spirit. We have Dylan’s “Christmas In The Heart.” on the jukebox right now (it‘s definitely cool if you haven‘t picked it up), and I’ve listened to the Bowie-Bing “Little Drummer Boy” roughly 1,000 times so far.

I did feel a little Scrooge-y earlier this week when my tremendous neighbor Denny allowed me to borrow his snowblower and I paid him back by running over a patch of Christmas lights and pulling the blower’s blade right out of the casing. Seriously.

I am hoping it isn‘t broken -- another friend got the blade back in thankfully -- meanwhile Denny received an early Christmas present of a case of Blue Moon Belgian Wheat courtesy of his idiot neighbor.

Anyway, we’ll be closing the doors for Christmas, but we’ll move Prediction Friday to Prediction Thursday this week, and leave it up until Sunday’s clash in Pittsburgh.

We’ll talk football then. We’ll talk Orioles now.

Garrett Atkins was introduced Tuesday and will likely be the Orioles’ 2010 Opening Day third baseman unless they sign someone else -- such as Joe Crede -- later in the offseason and move Atkins to first base.

Atkins just turned 30, and had three seasons, from 2006 to 2008, in which he batted .286 or better, hit 21 homers or more and drove in 99 or more runs. In 2006, he batted .329 with a .409 on-base percentage, hit 29 homers, 48 doubles and had 120 RBIs.

He placed 15th in the MVP voting that year and was part of a Colorado Rockies team that made the World Series in 2007. But then there was 2009, when he batted .226 with nine homers and 48 RBIs, lost his starting job and eventually his spot on the Rockies‘ roster.

To me, his one-year $4.5 million contract (that includes a $500,000, 2011 option buyout) is a low-risk, high-reward move for a talented player looking to rebound. But, after hearing about the Atkins signing, a friend of mine shook his head and said, “The Orioles should have just re-signed Melvin Mora for another year.”

Truth is the Orioles and Mora are probably both better off with a divorce after 10 seasons together, especially after Mora and manager Dave Trembley publicly clashed toward the end of the season. Mora turns 38 in February and had a rough 2009. He batted .260 with eight homers and 48 RBIs -- numbers similar to Atkins in about 100 more plate appearances.

But Mora was pretty good defensively last year and Atkins isn’t known for his defense, though I have heard mixed reviews on that part of his game.

So, if you look at the numbers and throw in defense, I guess I can see my friend’s point. Although I still contend it was time for the Orioles and Mora to part ways and Atkins, based on age alone, has a much higher upside.

Daily Think Special: Is Garrett Atkins an upgrade at third over Melvin Mora?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:10 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (37)
        

I was hoping for the holiday spirit from you people. Or at least some understanding that it is a down economy.

But you guys are too good.

The Ravens beat the Bears 31-7 on Sunday in impressive fashion.

And we had one guy (Dave) predict a 31-6 victory and another (Jeff O.) predict 30-7. Since neither predicted Joe Flacco would be the star of the game with four TDs, this one sits at a tie.

So both of you get the free bar tab this week -- and I take out a second mortgage (you should see the receipts from the last time Jeff O. won).

OK, the Ravens did what they had to do the past two weeks, pummeling teams they absolutely had to beat. Now, if they win their next two, they are in the playoffs, guaranteed.

The big one comes up this weekend, of course. In Pittsburgh against the Steelers, and the Steelers still have something to play for besides pure hatred of the Ravens. We’ll talk about that one as the week progresses.

Still. if the Ravens win, they’ll have to earn it.

I listened to several national TV types after the Bears game and they were praising the Ravens, saying, in full TV cliché, that they are “clicking on all cylinders.” That the defense, running game and Flacco are “peaking at the right time.”

I am sure some of you believe that. By nature, I am skeptical. And the Ravens’ so-called peak came against the Lions and Bears. That previous loss to the Packers was anything but a “peak” show. So I am more inclined to believe that the competition is what has led the Ravens to look like they are playing their best football, and not reality.

To me, the test comes in Pittsburgh. I’ll change my mind if they win by 20 there. I could be wrong here. I’ve never claimed to be Mr. Football. So are the TV talking heads right?

Daily Think Special: Are the Ravens peaking right now?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:17 AM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

I’ve got to admit I had a whole lot of fun talking baseball the past two days.

As someone who has covered this Orioles’ team for a better part of the decade, anything that can get you guys fired up – even when it happens in the offseason -- is worth it for me.

But, alas, we’re going back to football today (incidentally, that was the first time in blogosphere history that alas and football were used in the same sentence).

It is Prediction Friday. And Sunday’s game is a key one for the Ravens, as all of the remaining ones are. It’s the Ravens last game at home this season, and I see no way the Chicago Bears win this one.

I say 23-7 Ravens, and I’ll go with Connolly’s favorite, Ray Rice, as the hero of the game. I also predict one TD for the Ravens’ defense.

Now it is your turn. I want your predictions for the score and player of the game. You only have three more chances, including this one, to get the famed (and fake) Connolly’s free bar tab. That’s resume-worthy stuff.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Bears

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:58 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

We are going to give you a 2-for-1 special today here at Connolly’s.

You can certainly go to my last entry – which was intended to be the one for Thursday – and tell me which remaining free agent you want the Orioles to sign.

But it looks like two of the popular names have to be scratched out. You know that quick-acting and unpredictable Andy MacPhail keeps us on our toes.

The Orioles have agreed in principle to deals with closer Mike Gonzalez and third baseman Garrett Atkins, pending physicals, the Sun has learned.

So here’s another topic for your thinking pleasure. It’s pretty simple. But I’m sure you’ll have your opinions. I want to know if you like the additions of Gonzalez and Atkins.

I’ve already written about Atkins. As for Gonzalez, I am a big proponent in having a set closer, no matter how bad a team may be. Having established roles – especially in a young bullpen – can be crucial. But I am also not a huge proponent in giving big money to a closer, since it is such an unpredictable position.

And $12 million over two years to Gonzalez isn’t without risk. But the Orioles targeted someone and went after him. And, when healthy, Gonzalez can be pretty darn effective. So I am fine with that one, too.

Daily Think Special: Adding Mike Gonzalez and Garrett Atkins, good moves?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:29 AM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (43)
        

We are sticking with baseball again today.

Some of you want the Orioles to spend money. Others don’t, simply because you don’t see a lot out there worth buying.

I am on record as saying it’s not a good free-agent class.

John Lackey and Chone Figgins are quality players, but they are now off the board. Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are excellent, too. And they aren’t coming here.

There’s always the trade-for-Adrian Gonzalez pipe dream, but you’d have to give up a whole lot of talent for what likely would be a short-term rental. Not real smart for a rebuilding club.

But that’s not to say there aren’t players out there that could help the Orioles in 2010 and beyond. They need a closer and several are available such as: Jose Valverde, Fernando Rodney, Mike Gonzalez, Kevin Gregg and Matt Capps.

They also need at least one, if not two, corner infielders. The available list includes: Garrett Atkins, Hank Blalock, Joe Crede, Ryan Garko, Carlos Delgado, Nick Johnson Mark DeRosa, Adam LaRoche, Adrian Beltre, Troy Glaus and Mike Jacobs.

The team could also use another starting pitcher, and there are plenty including former Oriole Erik Bedard.

I don’t see the Orioles spending what it takes to get Beltre or DeRosa., although I guess you never know. Given that, though, if I had to pick one player that I think best fits what they need, my selection is Atkins.

He just turned 30, bats right-handed – a real need in this lineup – and has experience playing first or third base, so he also gives them flexibility. And I’d rather see then pay for an everyday infielder than a closer on a losing team.

Atkins had a down year last season, and it’s easy to be skeptical of anyone who plays half his games at Coors Field. But from 2006-2008 he had more than 20 homers and 99 or more RBIs each season. And there are no lingering health questions with him as there are with so many other guys on this list.

So if the Orioles bring home one free agent present for Christmas, I say make it Atkins. What’s your call? And make it realistic. Bay and Holliday don’t count.

Daily Think Special: If the Orioles sign just one current free agent, who should it be?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:07 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

We’re switching back to baseball today. Write what you know.

Or at least what I think I know.

As this offseason has progressed, the New York Yankees have traded for Curtis Granderson and the Boston Red Sox reportedly have added John Lackey as well as Mike Cameron and Marco Scutaro.

The Tampa Bay Rays solidified their bullpen with closer Rafael Soriano and the Toronto Blue Jays, God bless them, apparently are dealing away ace Roy Halladay.

The Orioles, meanwhile, added innings-eater Kevin Millwood to the top of the rotation. That’s not a bad move, but it certainly isn’t the same as grabbing Lackey.

Now this is where you, as fans, can help me out. Intellectually, I understand that the Orioles cannot compete with the Yankees and Red Sox this offseason. Partially it’s a money thing, but primarily it’s a reality thing. The Orioles haven’t competed with that duo for more than a decade on the field, so they aren’t going to be able to do it off the field. Certainly not now, and perhaps not ever.

So it doesn’t bother me that the Orioles haven’t answered the Granderson or Lackey moves. It’s a chicken or the egg concept. The Orioles can’t improve unless they get better players. And they can’t buy better players until they show they can be more competitive on the field. And in the 2009 standings, the Orioles actually went backward.

What needs to happen is the Orioles’ young nucleus must take another step forward, and serve notice it can be counted on. Then it will be easier – and more justified – to add big names for big money (or expendable prospects).

This is what President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail said recently when I brought up the subject of the player movement within the AL East.

“We watch it, of course, like everyone does,” MacPhail said. “But it really doesn’t dictate what we do. We make decisions that we think make sense for us. We have been pretty upfront about what it is we are trying to do. And those things stay the same despite what swirls around us.”

Again, I understand that intellectually, especially since this free-agent market is utterly underwhelming. But as a fan, are you buying this? Because I know it’s what has been sold here for 10-plus years.

Daily Think Special: Should the Orioles try to keep spending pace with their AL East rivals this offseason?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:01 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (40)
        

I am back, just in time to see the Ravens play well in an exhibition game against the Detroit Lions.

I think they may be ready for the regular season soon.

Seriously, it’s hard to make too many observations after Sunday’s throttling of the Lions. The defense played well and Ray Rice was phenomenal, but it wasn’t exactly a litmus test for the final quarter of the season.

Still, a win is a win, and the Ravens need each one they can get right now.

At this point, they trail the Bengals by two games with three to play, so you have to assume the Ravens are really playing for the Wild Card. They are currently one game behind the Denver Broncos (whom they have beaten) and tied with the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars for the final wild card spot.

The Ravens’ final three games are against teams that are under .500, so that’s a plus. But they have to go to Pittsburgh and to Oakland to end the season, and neither place is friendly to visitors despite how much the home teams may be struggling.

If the Ravens win out, I think they make the playoffs. There is at least one real tough game facing each of the other wild card contenders. And there is no reason the Ravens can’t win out. Then again, I don’t see the Steelers rolling over for their arch-rival, no matter how bad they have looked recently.

Just for your edification, this is the remaining schedule for the five contenders (assuming the current division leaders stay that way): Ravens (vs. Chicago, @ Pittsburgh, @ Oakland); Broncos (vs. Oakland, @ Philadelphia, vs. Kansas City); Jaguars (vs. Indy, @ New England, @ Cleveland); Dolphins (@ Tennessee, vs. Houston, vs. Pittsburgh); Jets (vs. Atlanta, @ Indianapolis, vs. Cincinnati).

Here’s the way I see it: The Ravens and Broncos make the playoffs with identical 10-6 records. In that scenario, the Ravens would actually get the fifth seed.

If the Ravens slip up once, however, it gets dicey. Still, I don’t see any of the other contenders running the table.

Now you have seen the schedule. What do you think?

Daily Think Special: Which two teams get the AFC Wild Card berths?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:06 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

This is the last day in the bar for a week. But I refuse to disappoint our loyal customers.

I simply can’t shut down the bar on Prediction Friday. And this is a particularly interesting one.

Before I get into my Ravens-Packers thoughts, I want to thank those who have wished me a happy birthday and welcomed me to the “40 and over” club. As one friend emailed me, it certainly is better than the alternative.

One final programming note: The bar will be dark until Monday, Dec. 14 or Tuesday, Dec. 15. I’ll review this week’s predictions then.

Now to my thoughts on Monday night in Wisconsin.

I would like to pick the Ravens; that certainly makes it easier around here. I know they are playing with their backs against wall, and that certainly helps. But I just don’t like the Ravens in a game in which the opposition has a quality quarterback.

And I think Aaron Rodgers is one of the best QBs in the NFL. If he’s not yet, he is certainly on his way. I am not saying Green Bay blows out the Ravens. I think the Packers will have trouble running the ball and will be forced to be one-dimensional. I also think the Ravens will score some points against Green Bay’s defense.

Ultimately, I say it is a close game, 28-24 Packers. And Rodgers is the player of the game with three TDs thrown.

I know, how dare I?

Give me your thoughts, a final score and a hero of the game.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Packers

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (34)
        

OK, people, I have kept this from you long enough.

But I can’t hold out any longer. I’ve got to be honest with my peeps, as the kids say.

So all drinks are 40 cents today. All beer bottles are 40 ounces today.

It just seems appropriate.

Yes, today I am confronting what the therapists call, “a milestone birthday.” We don’t need to go any further than that. Even with all of the brain cells you’ve killed in here in 20 months, my guess is most of you can figure it out (even Rich, just kidding big guy).

Anyway, I will be shutting down the bar for a week after Prediction Friday. My wife also is celebrating that certain birthday this month, and so we are taking off for a few days together. A low-key, cool celebration without our kids. Should be good.

I’ll do an entry for Friday and then check back Monday, Dec. 14 or Tuesday, Dec. 15 and we’ll be back with some Christmas cheer and hot-stove talk. I promise.

One other quick aside to Jack and a few others that complained: I know we might be making you jump through a few more hoops before you post now. But we were having some serious spam issues on the site which have been corrected thanks to the additional security measures. So thanks for putting up with that.

OK, enough personal junk. Let’s talk sports. Baseball’s annual Hall of Fame ballot came out this week and there is a new name on there that is of serious interest to old Orioles fans: Roberto Alomar.

Alomar spent three seasons at Camden Yards, and will be remembered first and foremost for spitting in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck in September 1996. That may taint his Hall worthiness for some, but I think he definitely has the credentials: In a 17-season career, he compiled 2,724 hits, 474 stolen bases, 210 homers, 1,134 RBIs, 1,508 runs scored, a .300 lifetime average and a career .371 on-base percentage.

He was a 12-time all-star and 10-time Gold Glover, finished in the Top 6 of the MVP voting five times and won two World Series rings with the Toronto Blue Jays, who have inducted him into their “Level of Excellence” ring of honor. He’ll almost surely enter Cooperstown, if he goes, as a Blue Jay.

One other nugget of consideration: Former Sun columnist and now Fox Sports baseball guru Ken Rosenthal once told me that Alomar was the greatest all-around player he ever covered in his lengthy career, and that includes Alomar’s double-play partner in Baltimore (and I’m not talking Mike Bordick).

I don’t have an official vote yet, so I can share my opinion without reservations. I think Alomar is a Hall-of-Famer. And although I am not sure he will make it on his first attempt, he is enough of a slam-dunk for me that I’d put him in there this year.

He was absolutely one of the best all-around players of his time. He may not have gotten 3,000 hits, but he came close and the other areas in which he excelled – the basepaths, in the field – push him over for me.

But how about you?

Daily Think Special: Should Roberto Alomar be a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 10:57 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (31)
        

When we opened this dive almost two years ago, I billed it as a place where we could argue sports -- all types of sports -- while I mixed pithy banter with watered-down drinks.

For the most part, I’ve kept my word. The banter has been extraordinary and you can’t get a whiskey sour that tastes more like tainted ocean spray in any other place on the Eastern Seaboard. I am strangely proud of that.

We certainly have done our share of arguing (here’s hoping Putin is back for good to keep that going), and almost always in a civil manner.

But if I have pulled a Steve Slaton and dropped the ball in the past two years, it’s in that “all sports,” category. We do baseball and football with aplomb, and we get to horse racing and college basketball when necessary.

Unfortunately, we rarely discuss college football except at BCS time. That’s a shame, because I love college football. For years, I wrote columns for another newspaper about Penn State football. I still keep an eye on the Nittany Lions, partially because my in-laws are obsessed and I like to stay in good standing with them (the in-laws, not the Nits).

And although I do my best as a sports journalist to keep my rooting interests quiet, I have also admitted in the past (this is where Rob K. spits on the bar) that I am tied both by heritage and family tradition to a certain unnamed and overrated football program that recently fired its overweight head coach. Yeah, them.

That brings us to another portly football coach, Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen, who will continue as the top football Terp next year, his 10th season.

Here’s my question: How does that happen?

Fridge seems like a good coach and a solid guy. His team was riddled by injuries this year, so maybe he deserves a little break. But the Terps went 2-10 in 2009. They have had losing seasons in four of the past six years. In the ho-hum ACC.

That’s not good enough. Sorry. But it’s not. At Maryland, or at any pseudo-big-time Division I program.

Yes, I am the same guy that defended Dave Trembley after another disastrous Orioles season. But the difference is that Trembley doesn’t go out and get the players. He gets stuck with them. And he was stuck with an inferior group in nearly every aspect.

The Terps squad that went 2-10 this year was recruited and assembled by Friedgen. If it stumbled due to injuries, than that is his fault for not mining better depth. Put it this way: Friedgen gets $2 million a year to win football games – more than quadrupling what Trembley receives for managing the Orioles. And Friedgen hasn’t done it with a flourish since that amazing run in 2001.

Again, I don’t want to ever see someone lose their job. But I just don’t see how Friedgen, after the first 10-loss season in Maryland’s history, kept his.

Illuminate me, oh football fans of Maryland. I know you are out there.

Daily Think Special: Explain to me why Ralph Friedgen deserves a shot in 2010?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:50 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

OK, raise your hand if you had Paul Kruger as the hero of Sunday night’s Ravens-Steelers game. Yeah, that’s what I thought.

In the abbreviated version of Prediction Friday, our free drink tab for the week goes to Sean Quinn, who nailed the final score, a 20-17 Ravens win. Sean didn’t have it going into overtime, but when you get the exact score, you also get some slack.

One of our regulars, Kevin In Iraq, had the Ravens winning with an OT field goal, 23-20, so a handful of drink chips his way. And our old buddy Jack was just one point off, predicting a 19-17 Ravens win. So a drink chip his way as well (seems like I could send my kid to college for all the drink tabs I give Jack).

I’ll be honest, I am not sure what to think about Sunday’s win.

On the one hand, the Ravens have beaten Pittsburgh once, are now 6-5 and are in a three-way tie for the final AFC playoff spot. And they are just one game behind the Broncos, who have lost a head-to-head against the Ravens.

So your purple-and-black squad basically controls its own destiny – and that’s all you can ask in the last five weeks of the season.

Now, let’s look at that other, not-so-pretty hand. The Ravens were pushed into overtime at home by a team that didn’t have its best defensive playmaker (Troy Polamalu) or its best offensive playmaker (Ben Roethlisberger).

I don’t want to take anything away from Dennis Dixon, but the kid was making his first NFL start and he threw for a TD, ran for one and wasn’t sacked once. There was a day when the Ravens’ D would have feasted on such a neophyte, and this year it took until overtime to take advantage of Dixon’s inexperience.

Of course, if you are a believer in positive thinking (and no one has ever accused me of that), you can be excited that Kruger and Mark Clayton made significant contributions and Chris Carr and Lardarius Webb both played well. And Ray Rice is becoming a force (maybe already is one) before our eyes. So maybe things are starting to click.

Honestly, I am not sure what to think about this team and its immediate future. Is it a playoff team? Will it play to a record (9-7, 8-8) that is indicative of the mediocrity it has shown much of the season? Are the Ravens good enough to beat bad or struggling teams but not good enough to win against the elite ones?

The latter is probably my take.

Now, it’s time for you to jump onto the lawn of optimism or pessimism. I want no fence riders in this place, unless, of course you are a big tipper.

Daily Think Special: Is the Ravens’ 2009 cup half-full or half-empty?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:58 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (32)
        

We have made it to Prediction Friday.

We’re five pounds heavier and still have cranberry sauce on our collective collars, but we are back and the doors are open.

We’re actually making another turkey tonight at the Connolly household, because we just can’t get enough (and we still have out-of-town guests for two more days).

I was going to call this dive “Connolly’s Corner Sports Bar and Bed and Breakfast,” but that is just too long to put on a sign and business cards.

But, yeah, in case you were wondering, my family and I hammered the Thanksgiving spread like we were Calvert Hall devouring Loyola (Sorry Dons fans, but just had to shed impartiality for a moment. It’s the first time since this joint has been open that I’ve been able to puff out my chest about my alma mater the day after the Turkey Bowl. So congrats to coach Donald Davis and his boys for making the world right again. And a quick aside: 90 years of playing a high school football game. That’s impressive.)

We’re sticking with football, and the one we are discussing likely won’t be a blowout.

Big Ben is expected to play Sunday night for the Steelers, who have dropped two straight and are seemingly desperate. But I can’t imagine they are as desperate as the Ravens, who need this win or can relinquish any faint hope of the playoffs.

And for that reason – and because it is in Baltimore – I am going with the Ravens to beat their ultimate rival, 17-14. Don’t get me wrong, the Ravens are flawed in several areas, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they lost to the Steelers. And it would be surprising if the defending Super Bowl champs lost three in a row.

But I’m going with the totally desperate team at home versus the pretty desperate team on the road.

As for the star of the game, I am predicting a two TD performance from Derrick Mason. I like Mason’s ability to step it up when the Ravens needed it most.

I want your predictions, both the final score and the hero of the game. As always, Steelers fans are welcome to come in, grab a seat, make a prediction and buy the $6 Iron City cans we have in the back fridge (I’m a hospitable barkeep, but I can’t make it too comfortable for yins. There has to be some gouging). Just keep it clean, people.

Closest to the prediction gets a free (and fake) bar tab for the week.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Steelers

Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:46 AM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (22)
        

We’ll go a little lighter this Wednesday. Or maybe we’ll get deep and thoughtful. I guess it all depends on where you people want to take it.

The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the busiest bar days in the country. I am not exactly sure why, but it’s an excuse to drink on a Wednesday evening, I guess.

I am thinking this bar won’t be jammed, though, since many stop by here to get away from work for a few minutes. But, let’s face it, half of America doesn’t show up for work on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Still, Connolly’s doors are open now (though they’ll close Thursday and re-open Friday morning for Prediction Friday.)

And I want to know what (or who) in the sporting world you are thankful for this year.

Maybe you are thankful that the baseball season is over, so you don’t have to watch the Orioles lose again.

Maybe you are thankful that college basketball has started up, giving you a little bit of hope for a cold winter and spring.

Maybe you are thankful that the Ravens are in the Cleveland Browns division.

I’m going to get sappy for a second here. I am thankful that sports – no matter the heartbreak it continually delivers – will occasionally offer that moment of redemption or triumph that is nearly impossible to receive anywhere else.

Case in point: With three minutes left in his final game of the season, my 10-year-old son scored the first goal of his five-year soccer career on Saturday. The goal tied the game and two minutes later his teammate scored to seal the win. And my son finally felt what it was like to score a goal in a game after all those years of practices and drills.

He may never score one again. But it doesn’t matter. That was his moment. And I was there to share it (actually, I had to fill in as the referee and couldn’t show any emotion initially when the ball hit the net. Later, Alex was asked about my reaction and he said, “He smiled a little with his mouth, but his eyes were smiling really big.”)

So I guess I am thankful that I could witness such a cool sporting moment for my son.

And now I am hopeful you guys have much funnier, less sappy responses to share.

Daily Think Special: What in the sporting world are you thankful for?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (24)
        

I perused a lot of the readers’ comments Monday that were connected to various Sun stories and blogs detailing Ravens’ fans’ frustrations with their team’s play.

There are some who are all over quarterback Joe Flacco, for whom they were universally ‘wacco’ earlier this season. There are a whole lot of fans crushing defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron as well.

And now John Harbaugh is getting lit up by a certain disgruntled segment of the Ravens’ fan base. Guess the honeymoon is over.

One of the criticisms of Harbaugh is that his squad commits too many penalties -- often of the reckless, undisciplined nature -- and that halts any momentum this team can muster.

No question, that the Ravens’ myriad penalties are killers. But here’s what I have trouble following: I don’t see why that is Harbaugh’s fault. Listen, if it’s clock management penalties or too many men on the field or simple preparation things that go wrong, by all means, blame the coach.

But personal fouls and execution penalties? Those should fall on the shoulders of the players. Professional players. This isn’t Little League or high school ball.

To me, it’s the same faulty logic that some Orioles fans had this summer when so many baserunning mistakes were made, and manager Dave Trembley was blamed.

Say all you want about having a team that is disciplined and prepared. You have the personnel that you have. And if those players go onto the field and do boneheaded things, if they can’t execute fundamentals, that’s on them. Bad game plans, terrible play calling, incorrect pitching matchups, blame the manager/head coach.

But not knowing how many outs there are or plowing into a scrum after the whistle blows is the responsibility of the people who get paid to play these games.

Ultimately, I know the head coach/manager is responsible for how his team fares. The buck stops there. I get that. But I am little befuddled why the players – football, baseball, croquet – aren’t hammered more by fans when they are the ones making the mental errors. Besides, of course, it’s just easier to trash the coach/manager than the guy whose jersey you bought.

It’s a soapbox I carried around during the baseball season and I am planting it at the foot of Ravens’ headquarters now. Am I way off here?

Daily Think Special: Who is most responsible for a team’s mental errors?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:49 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (24)
        

Remind my not to invite Las Vegas oddsmakers to the bar anytime soon. It’s amazing how accurate some of those spreads can be.

Indianapolis was favored by 1 point in Baltimore on Sunday. I saw it at 1.5 in some places. And the Colts won by 2. That’s scary good.

It really wasn’t a surprise that Sunday’s game was close, and that the Ravens dropped it to the only undefeated team in the NFL.

No one in the bar this weekend, however, expected such a low-scoring affair. Only Christian (28-27) had the Colts winning by two or fewer. He gets a drink chip. Woody wins the free bar tab for the week with his 20-17 Colts victory, which he said would be won on a Matt Stover field goal.

Basically, he was right, so drink up Woody.

Incidentally, no one had Billy Cundiff making five field goals – or missing a sixth. And no one had Flacco and Co. failing to get into the end zone.

If you want a bright side – and I am not exactly Mr. Silver Lining – here is one: The rest of the AFC isn’t exactly tearing it up. If the Titans can beat the Texans Monday night, there will be only seven teams over .500 in the conference.

Six make the playoffs, and the Ravens are really just a game out of the wild card. Another shot of optimism (it’s rum, tequila and orange Shasta) for you: At least the Ravens didn’t lose to the Chiefs.

Somehow the Steelers are 6-4 after losing in Kansas City. That sets up an intriguing matchup next Sunday night in Charm City between the Steelers and Ravens. The two teams that were in the AFC title game last season are now fighting for their playoff lives.

Yeah, I am talking playoffs.

Daily Think Special: Who makes the playoffs: Ravens, Steelers, none or both?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 4:47 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (22)
        

Back to football for a weekend.

It’s Prediction Friday, so dust off your crystal balls.

Or just go with the opposite of what I say. Although, like just about everyone else, I did correctly predict Monday’s Ravens’ win in Cleveland.

This one, though, is going to be a little tougher for the Ravens (Who says I am not a football expert? How about that for inside analysis?).

Honestly, I don’t see the Colts blowing out the Ravens as some prognosticators have hinted. I think the Ravens will be down early, make a solid comeback, maybe make it 20-17, and then, ultimately, lose on a fourth-quarter drive by Peyton Manning.

I just don’t see the Ravens’ D hanging with Manning for four quarters.

My call: Colts 27, Ravens 17. Manning is the game’s hero, throwing three TDs, two to Reggie Wayne.

Sorry, doesn’t make me feel good either. I’m a native Baltimoron, remember. Predicting the Indianapolis team, whatever they are called, to win in Charm City will always be painful.

But it’s happened before, and I assume it will happen again.

Daily Think Special: Predict the score and hero of Sunday’s Ravens-Colts game.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (30)
        

Friday is the start of free agency in Major League Baseball.

It’s also NFL Prediction Friday at the bar, and I can’t break tradition, unless, of course, I am off and am too lazy to file a blog entry.

And that’s not the case this week. So we’ll do our Ravens predictions – as usual – on Friday. Today, we are talking baseball.

The Orioles need more talent, we all understand that. And they have some money to spend; besides a couple option buyouts, they are not on the hook in 2010 to pay anyone who has already been cut or traded. That, in itself, is refreshing.

But just because they have money to spend, that doesn’t mean the most coveted free agents – guys such as Matt Holliday and John Lackey – are coming here. In fact, they are not. Those guys will get beaucoup bucks from current contenders. And the Orioles won’t – and probably can’t – outspend the biggest boys on the block.

They will, however, be in the mix for a lot of second-tier (and third-tier) free agents. And, given the economy, they may be able to have their pick of that litter. My guess is this winter they end up with a first baseman and third baseman through free agency as well as at least one starting pitcher and possibly a late-inning reliever. And here’s betting none gets more than a two-year deal with an option.

I don’t know exactly whom the Orioles will land, but I have my guesses. And I am sure you do, too.

Beat writer Jeff Zrebiec and I have played an offseason game for years in which we go three to five rounds deep and draft the most likely players to become Orioles for the upcoming season. Last year Jeff’s first pick was Cesar Izturis. I had Mark Hendrickson and Ty Wigginton in my stable. So we are pretty good at this.

I want you in this year. If you had to bet the house on one Major League player – a free agent or a trade chip -- that will end up on the Orioles for 2010, who would it be?

This isn’t who you want – we’ll have plenty of time for that – but who you expect to be running down that orange carpet in April. The free agent or trade target you look at and say, “Yep, he’s an Oriole in 2010.”

Here’s my first-round draft pick: Third baseman Pedro Feliz.

Now it is your turn.

Daily Think Special: Which free agent/trade chip is most likely to become an Oriole in 2010?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:56 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (77)
        

I was a little late getting going this week, sort of like the Ravens in Cleveland on Monday night.

As we know, a win is a win. But that one was not particularly inspiring. At least the Ravens don’t have to face an undefeated team on a short week this Sunday.

As for our free tab of the week based on the prediction for Sunday’s game, you’re all paying. Because the house won. Or at least I came the closest on both sides to predicting the 16-0 win. I had 24-6, and so did Frederick McMurray (a drink chip your way).

We all assumed a Ravens’ beating for the Browns, but most of us overestimated the Raven’s offense. There were three customers who predicted shutouts; the closest was 27-0.

So, yeah, the Ravens won, but there were plenty of red flags from that game. Most alarming was the continuing number of yellow flags. There’s a fine line between aggressive and stupid.

Monday also marked the end of Steve Hauschka’s Ravens career. Missing a 36-yarder and having an extra point blocked was not the way he needed to rebound.

Now the Ravens are kicker shopping with a more than a week to go before Black Friday. Not a good sign for a team that still has playoff hopes.

Forget Monday-morning quarterbacking, the Hauschka decision should create some Wednesday-morning placekicking. It’s pretty obvious the Ravens should have stuck with fan favorite Matt Stover this season. His accuracy is definitely missed.

But how much? What I mean is how much different would this Ravens’ team be with Stover, who is now with Sunday’s opponent, the Indianapolis Colts? Would it still be in “long playoff run, Super Bowl talk” discussion?

One school of thought is that Stover would have given them a win against Minnesota and possibly one against Cincinnati. The other way of thinking: Stover is a kicker. If your team is lamenting the loss of its kicker, it’s got bigger problems than missed field goals.

My opinion: Stover would help, for sure. But unless he can cover 6-foot-4 receivers, provide a pass rush and get to the line of scrimmage without a false start, I am not convinced Matt Stover is the difference between a playoff Ravens’ team and an also-ran.

Then again, I am a baseball guy by trade. School me, people. Learn me, football gurus.

Daily Think Special: How much has Matt Stover’s absence hurt the Ravens?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 5:47 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (33)
        

We’re going from the outfield to the open field today.

It’s Prediction Friday, which in recent weeks could be called, “Dan’s Wrong Friday.”

I can’t seem to figure out these Ravens, at least not as well as opposing offenses.

The gut says the Ravens roll on Monday Night Football. That the maligned defense feasts on a weak Cleveland Browns’ offense.

And that the Ravens’ offensive line beats down the Browns’ defensive front, allowing Ray Rice and company to run wild while Joe Flacco gets time to pick apart the secondary.

But the gut has been so wrong so often this season when it comes to the Ravens that I am not sure whether to trust it.

My best guess is that the Ravens’ win 24-6. Rice has two TDs and over 100 yards rushing to be the hero of the game.

Now, it’s your turn. Predict the score and the hero on Monday Night Football. Are you betting on Jekyll or Hyde to show up?

We’ll give you an extra day to contemplate this one. We’ll leave this up until Monday’s game.

Daily Think Special: Prediction Friday: Ravens-Browns.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:31 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

It was an interesting day at the bar on Wednesday.

Lots of good discussion about the Orioles’ current defensive outfield situation.

And a few silly comments thrown in there, too. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion, but I am going to have to call a cab for some of you.

For the record, and in case it didn’t get spelled out Wednesday, I am happy for Adam Jones that he won a Gold Glove. I never questioned whether he is deserving; I simply said I was a bit surprised because I think he had a better defensive year in 2008.

And I do believe, at this point in their careers, Nick Markakis is a slightly better defensive outfielder, though Jones has the potential to be better as his career unfolds. Plus Jones plays center field, and that does mean something.

The important thing for beleaguered Orioles fans is that you have both of them for a long time. Enjoy that.

The overall discussion – and some of the rants about the Gold Glove going mostly to center fielders – got me thinking.

If you were to use the current Gold Glove rules – that is, choose three overall outfielders, not necessarily one each from left, right and center – to represent the Orioles’ all-time best defensive outfield, who would be in it?

As much as I don’t like the “three center fielders approach” that the Gold Glove committee uses, it’s true that when I think of the best defensive outfielders in O’s history, I immediately think of center fielders, before I shift to the left and right.

So here’s the task at hand today: If you were to give out Gold Gloves to three Orioles outfielders throughout the years, who would win?

There’s no question Paul Blair is one answer. Even if you never saw him play – and I don’t have clear memories of him in Baltimore – he probably should be on your list. Everything I have ever heard from players and fans is that Blair was the best defensive outfielder to ever wear an Orioles uniform. And he has eight Gold Gloves to prove it.

So he gets my first award. I think I have to give the second to Al Bumbry, who was the guy I watched growing up, and that little guy had serious hops before we ever referred to jumping ability as serious hops. Plus, he had his share of outfield assists.

The third is tricky. Mike Devereaux is probably my ultimate answer, but that leaves Jones (the only other Orioles outfielder with a Gold Glove) off the list. That also would deny Nick Markakis, Brady Anderson, Steve Finley, Frank Robinson and Jackie Brandt, among others, the award.

There is no wrong answer here. Pick three outfielders (yes, it can be all center fielders) to receive the Orioles’ all-time Gold Glove. I’d love to hear the reasoning behind your choices.

Daily Think Special: Who are the three best defensive outfielders in Orioles history?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:23 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (72)
        

OK, I think we can all admit this now.

The Bengals are a lot better than we thought. Even better than they looked last time around. There were only five bar patrons this weekend that predicted a Bengals win.

CB, Mike B., Steven and Rich all get a free drink chip for picking the right winner. And T.J. gets a free drink tab all week for his guess: 24-13 Bengals. It was the closest to the 17-7 outcome.

Here comes the tough part. I’m not really sure what to say here about Sunday’s loss. They simply looked like an overmatched team.

The Ravens have dropped to 4-4 and don’t have an easy road ahead. They have to play the Pittsburgh Steelers twice, as well as the Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.

They do face a trifecta of bad teams – and must wins – against Cleveland, Detroit and Oakland.

So they need to win those, at least split with the Steelers and then win two of three against the Colts, Bears and Packers to get to 10-6.

It can be done. But the Bengals are in the driver’s seat and the Steelers are riding shotgun. So the Ravens have to excel in the second half to make it to the playoffs.

There’s definitely a lot of season left. But even the most optimistic Ravens fans have to be disappointed in the first half. The question is can they do enough to make the playoffs?

Or maybe the real question is what must they do on the field to make the playoffs?

Daily Think Special: What must the Ravens do to have a successful second half?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 5:07 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (59)
        

Before we get to the Ravens today, I have some Orioles info to pass on.

Bodog.com, an online gambling site, set its odds for winning next year’s World Series, and the Orioles are 75-1 longshots. The only clubs worse off are the Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. They are all at 100-1 to win the 2010 title.

So, yeah, aren’t you glad it’s Prediction Friday and we have the Ravens to discuss?

(By the way, here’s a drink chip to CSB Jack, who predicted the exact score of the Ravens’ 30-7 victory over the Broncos. Of course, he cheated and submitted it after the fact while the bar was closed. But I am offering a chip anyway for his creativity.)

Now, for your predictions (you must submit before the Bengals’ game, Jack).

For the record, I will not be overlooking the Bengals the way I did in Week 5, when Cincinnati won in Baltimore, 17-14. But I am still going with the Ravens to win.

I am sticking with the same theory I had for the Broncos game (though I didn’t write it). The Ravens need this win more than the Bengals. If they lose, they drop two games behind Cincinnati and also will lose the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Ravens aren’t talking about desperation, which admittedly is a bit of a stretch at Game 8. But this one is pretty darn important.

So I say the Ravens win 17-10 on a Kelley Washington 23-yard TD reception from Joe Flacco in the fourth quarter.

We’ll make Washington the game’s hero. Why? No clue.

Daily Think Special: Predict the winner, score and hero of Sunday’s Ravens-Bengals game.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (36)
        

Yeah, it’s true I have been away too long.

But you have to give me credit for coming back with a flourish, getting half the bar stirred up about Mark Teixeira in November.

I may not be bright, but like they said about me during my entire educational career, I can stir it up.

Now, to answer the question posed from Rob K. and the other regulars, my time off was not Steve Phillips-esque. There was no forced vacation, no revealing text messages and no rabbits in pots during the entire week the bar was dark.

I simply took some time off after the long baseball season, but it had to be delayed a little bit.

So everything’s cool and there is no need to Google my name with “arrest” or “fired.” Certainly not yet, anyway.

Today’s topic is something we have hit on before. But it has been 18 months or so.

Wednesday evening I attended a screening of “The Blind Side,” the movie based on the book that was based on the life of Ravens’ offensive lineman Michael Oher.

I’ll give you my thoughts about the film at a later time.

I really enjoyed the book and was eager to see how it translates to the big screen. I also was also looking forward to seeing Sandra Bullock for 90 minutes. That’s one of life’s small pleasures.

Plus, this one movie is going to open up a whole lot of cool topics here for the next couple of weeks. Let’s get one out of the way quickly.

Oher’s story – a disadvantaged teen living from home to home was befriended by a rich family that helped him realize his potential – is an inspiring one and deserves to be told.

My question is this: Which athlete’s story – local, national or international -- would you like to see made into a movie? One that already hasn’t been told by Hollywood.

This is a serious inquiry, but I am sure we’ll get some jokers to chip in, and that’s cool too. Just keep it clean.

Daily Think Special: Which athlete’s life story would you like to see become a movie?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:30 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

I am back. The bar is open. Hope you are thirsty.

Not sure where to start. We could talk about the Ravens and that big win against the Denver Broncos. But that’s old news now.

We could talk about the upcoming game against the Bengals, but we still have some time for that.

We could discuss the Orioles’ recent moves, but they are so minor they are not worth your hard-earned two cents. Instead, we are going to rehash one of our favorite subjects – at least since this dive has been open.

While I’ve been off, I have been keeping one bleary eye on the World Series. And one thing is apparent to me: Baltimore’s curse on previously favorite son Mark Teixeira seems to working.

At least partially.

Teixeira, a career .290 hitter, is batting .172 this postseason. He has just four extra-base hits in 67 plate appearances in the New York Yankees’ three playoff series.

Still, heading into Wednesday night’s Game 6, Teixeira is one win away from a World Series championship ring, the ultimate prize that Baltimore’s voodoo doctors kept away from Mike Mussina for all those years in pinstripes.

If Teixeira wins one – and I’m pretty sure he is going to – we’ll have to line up shots on the bar for many of you.

When Teixeira signed with the Yankees last December and said at his news conference that he dreamed of being a Yankee and wore a Yankees hat to Camden Yards, many of you immediately cursed him.

Deep down, though, you know how good he is. And you also know what the Orioles most need right now to compete is a power-hitting first baseman in his prime who is either a switch-hitter or a right-handed hitter. Teixeira, who grew up in Severna Park, really was the perfect fit.

I am not asking you to cry over spilled beer. But here is my fictitious scenario for the day. Assume for a minute that Tex could opt out of his Yankees contract after one year and that shiny ring on his finger if he said he wanted to come home.

Would you let bygones be bygones and welcome the prodigal son into the Orioles’ nest? Or did he lose you forever at that press conference, no matter how much he would help your team?

Here are the ground rules: If he came back, he wouldn’t have to apologize for his previous comments. He wouldn’t have to give back his ring. He’d still cost the Orioles $180 million or so. But he’d be with the Orioles at a time when they could really use him.

Well, what do you do?

Daily Think Special: Would you be willing to give Mark Teixeira a mulligan and an olive branch?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:28 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (54)
        

Interesting talk about Philadelphia and its fans on Wednesday.

Like I said before, I think most of you are going to need a sidecar for the Phillies bandwagon as it gears up for the World Series against the New York Yankees.

Stranger things can happen, but Phillies-Yankees looks inevitable.

So, assuming that is the case, break it down for me. Call it Thursday’s Pre-Prediction Friday.

(We are shutting the bar down today and will be back in early November to talk Ravens and the hot-stove league. Make sure you check back shortly after Halloween.)

I want your predictions for the World Series: The winner, the number of games and the MVP.

Here is my thought: Your hated Yankees win in six games. Robinson Cano gets the MVP. There’s no insider information here. Just a hunch.

Have a great week or so and, to quote Rob K. quoting an ad campaign, stay thirsty.

Daily Think Special: Predict the World Series winner and MVP.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (23)
        

Back to baseball for a day.

(But a quick programming note first. With the Ravens’ bye week coming up and the Orioles rather silent, I am going to be shutting the bar down, likely for the rest of October. That means probably no Prediction Friday this week or next, but we’ll get back to sports talk in early November. Thursday will probably be the last day for a while, but I’ll leave the key under the door in case you guys need an emergency drink.)

Anyway, I was in Philly on Monday and watched the Phillies come back to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers and go up 3-1 in the National League Championship Series.

In the preseason I predicted the Dodgers would win the World Series. Technically, they are still alive, but I don’t see it happening now. The Phillies are a very good team with a great offense and a dependable – if not formidable -- rotation.

So I am pretty sure they’ll represent the NL again in the World Series.

Now I know if they play the Yankees in the October Classic, this place will suddenly become South Street South. But otherwise I am curious as to hear what Baltimore fans think about the success in Philadelphia.

There was a time when the two cities had a little geographical rivalry, especially between the Orioles and Phillies, who met in the 1983 World Series.

I went to a Pennsylvania college and the number of Philadelphia sports fans there grossly outnumbered Baltimore/Washington or New York area fans.

And so I had a lot of Philly sports shoved down my throat in four years.

It has been a long time since I have been a fan or hater of any particular sports team, though. So I want your opinion on the Phillies and Philadelphia sports in general.

To be honest, I think this Phillies team is pretty likeable. Also, two men with Orioles ties that I respect, third base coach Sam Perlozzo and assistant GM Scott Proefrock, are in line for a ring, and I’d like to see that happen for their sakes.

Plus, after the initial celebration wore off, Philly Phanatics were pretty darn civil and respectable this year as the fans of the defending World Champions. They didn’t seem to flaunt it the way a certain crew up north has recently. I think part of it is that Philly fans are so used to falling short that they were waiting for someone to wake them up this year.

So I don’t have a problem if they repeat. But do you?

Daily Think Special: What’s your feeling on Philadelphia sports fans and their teams?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (38)
        

Now that Ravens fans are a bit on the disgruntled side, there has been a whole lot of remorse getting tossed around the bar.

Usually we save that kind of second-guessing for old flames at 1 a.m. But I’ll indulge you all today.

The Ravens broke up their long-term relationships with several players/personnel last offseason.

The list of those hitting the road included linebacker Bart Scott, kicker Matt Stover, defensive back Jim Leonhard and defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, among others.

Each name has been brought up in the last few days, with that “I never should have dumped him” tone.

You could argue the Ravens could use all of them back here. But which one do they miss the most? Is there someone else from the 2008 team that they need right now?

Sure, some left on their own accord, others the Ravens chose not to re-up. Point is, they aren’t here anymore.

It’s time to cry in your beer over spilled milk.

Daily Think Special: Which 2008 Raven does this year's team miss the most?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 10:44 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (48)
        

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first.

That was one heck of a game at the Metrodome Sunday. I know it didn’t end the way most of you wanted, but it couldn’t have been much more entertaining.

And Joe Flacco couldn’t have looked more like vintage Brett Favre if he had worn Wranglers and retired in the fourth quarter.

Still, the Ravens lost and have dropped three straight. What was a season of immense possibilities (3-0) is now one of confounding mediocrity (3-3).

Several of you picked the Vikings to win this one, but no one was real close to the 33-31 score. So I am giving the free bar tab this week to Space, who predicted a 24-23 Ravens’ loss. He wins because he knew this would be a nail-biter that would end poorly.

Steve Hauschka missed the game-winner, but he didn’t lose this game. The secondary did. It was a concern before the season started and it’s absolutely alarming now.

Sure, there are plenty of positives with this team. It has heart, and Joe Flacco, despite his inexperience and inconsistency, is often a pleasure to watch. That said, it may not matter if other teams can slice apart the Ravens’ pass defense.

That’s what I take from Sunday’s Ravens’ loss. Great game, but if the secondary doesn’t improve, the Ravens won’t get far in the postseason, if they make it at all.

Daily Think Special: What do you take away from Sunday’s Ravens loss?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:42 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (58)
        

You’ve made it to another Prediction Friday.

We are serving double shots of Purple Moose (or Purple Jesus in some parts) in honor of the Ravens-Vikings game in Minnesota. So line up.

I am no longer predicting blowouts. I have learned my lesson.

I think the Ravens win, because I don’t think they’ll lose three in a row heading into the bye week. Pretty scientific, huh? And some of you thought I was just a baseball guy.

I look at it like this: If the Vikings defensive front can keep up its impressive season, get past the young offensive line and pressure Joe Flacco, there could be some serious trouble for the Ravens. It Flacco can get some time, though, the Ravens should put up points, especially if they can add a balanced running attack as well.

Adrian Peterson is going to get his, as will old man Favre. But I still like the Ravens in this one, 27-24, on a late touchdown pass to Derrick Mason (remember him?)

I’ll give Flacco the hero of the game tiebreaker for three TDs, including a Favre-esque, game-winning drive.

Daily Think Special: Predict the score and hero of Sunday’s Ravens-Vikings match-up.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

Well, the good news from Wednesday’s discussion is that there still are plenty of passionate opinions about the Orioles, despite their continual losing.

You may not care as much as you once did, but you still care. And that’s important.

I understand some of you believe it is ridiculous that most of the coaching staff (and Dave Trembley) can be back after the team lost 98 games and stumbled through consecutive losing season No. 12.

I say to that what I said to the picking up of Trembley’s option: There isn’t enough talent to make a true judgment on the coaching staff.

But, trust me, it is expected that if this team is disastrous again next year, there will be a housecleaning -- even if, again, it’s not the coaches’/manager’s fault. It won’t matter.

One quick point about Wednesday’s discussion: Juan Samuel has re-upped as third base coach, so he will not be bench coach. He probably would have been good at that position, but look for the new hire to have catching experience.

OK, moving on. We haven’t talked much about the baseball postseason. So we let the premature ending of the Red Sox season pass without any comment. Shame on all of us.

The Yankees are still alive, though, and they are worth discussing. I have talked to several Orioles’ fans as well as some friends who are just baseball fans. And the thoughts are all over the board when it comes to these Yankees.

Some traditional Yankee haters are unhappy that the Bronx Bombers are back in the ALCS. Yet at least one Yankee hater I know wants to see the Yankees get to the World Series, so they can lose to Joe Torre. He figures they can suffer that indignity while the whole world watches them suffer.

I ran that theory by another Yankee hater, who admitted that is a sweet scenario but said he didn’t want to leave it to chance. He’ll root for the Angels, and if they falter, then he’ll root for whomever plays the Yankees in the World Series.

Another O’s fan told me that he views this Mark Teixeira-led team much like he did Mike Mussina’s Yankees. He has cursed them and hopes Tex never wins a ring.

Then there’s another interesting theory. A writer I know said he’d like to see the Yankees win it all, just to show that you can go from a non-playoff team in one year to a champion if you can buy the three best players in a free-agent market. He says it will further expose baseball’s economic disparity for the sham it is. I get that, but I also told him it’s not a news flash and it’s not going to change a thing.

One last side of the Yankees coin. A diehard Orioles fan told me he wants to see the Yankees win, because he now hates the Red Sox more, and if the Yankees win, it’ll most pain Red Sox Nation. And that will give him tremendous pleasure, since he doesn’t harbor the illusion that the Orioles can top either in his lifetime.

So which camp are you in?

Daily Think Special: What’s your dream scenario involving the Yankees and this postseason?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:19 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (47)
        

I know it is football season, but we’re going to talk baseball today.

We are going to talk baseball lots of days, no matter what the temperature is outside. We won’t abandon the Ravens, but I have to stick with my so-called expertise on occasion.

And that’s baseball, and those battered and beaten birds of Baltimore.

Before I get to them, though, a quick scouting report on the Jason Isbell concert for those that care (and based on the e-mails I’ve gotten about my lack of music discussion recently, some of you, a vocal/typing portion anyway, do).

Isbell put on a heck of a show, one that would make all Drive-By Truckers fans proud. He played for about two hours, did several of his most recent solo tunes as well as covers of The Talking Heads and Tom Petty and mixed in some of his Truckers stuff (“Outfit,” “The Day John Henry Died,” “Decoration Day.”) There were some technical difficulties at the venue, but Isbell and his band, the 400 Unit, fought through it and sounded great.

The only disappointment was the size of the crowd. I wasn’t expecting a Truckers’ audience, but thought there’d be more people out. Of course, as an old guy, I’m much more comfortable with gatherings versus crowds these days.

Two Baltimore notes from that night: The opener was Charm City’s own J Roddy Walston and the Business, a fun band that’s energy is only matched by its volume of hair. The drummer is Steve Colmus, who is one of the Warning Track Power guys that created “How Bout Dem O’s?” which we have featured here before. Steve came up and re-introduced himself to me before his gig, which was cool.

Also, I discovered after Isbell’s show that one of the guys in his band, keyboardist Derry deBorja, is from Towson. He’s a McDonogh grad, and this old Calvert Hall guy didn’t hold it against him. I swear.

So, yeah, Baltimore’s music scene was well represented in Pa. last week. Good to see.

OK, back to something you care more about: the Orioles.

As I wrote today, Dave Trembley has brought back all of his coaches except bench coach Dave Jauss. I guess that’s somewhat of a surprise from a team that lost 98 games in 2009. But if you believe that Trembley deserved to return despite the record, the same can probably be said about his staff.

The fact that the only one to get the ax was the bench coach isn’t surprising. The manager and the bench coach have to have a special relationship and if that doesn’t develop – or if it slips some over time -- it’s an easy spot to make a change. Don’t worry about Jauss, who has been in the game forever. He’ll surely find a job somewhere else.

I know some were disappointed that Juan Samuel stayed. A bad team’s third base coach is always a target for fans. It’s by far the easiest coaching position to criticize and, in the time I have covered this club, fans wanted the heads of Sam Perlozzo and Tom Trebelhorn, too. Yes, Samuel made some mistakes in 2009. But a third base coach is only noticed when he makes a questionable decision. The other 700-plus times when the team scores, no one gives him any credit for waving his arm.

Here’s what you need to know about Samuel: He is arguably the most respected person in the Orioles' clubhouse – players and coaches alike. A former all-star, he’s unafraid to tell a player when he did something wrong or isn’t acting professionally. And, at 48, he’s still has the muscle (and resume) to back it up. I would have kept him, too.

In fact, I’m OK with the returning of these coaches; there is something to be said for continuity, But are you?

Daily Think Special: Should the Orioles have brought back most of their coaching staff?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:26 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (30)
        

My guess is you are stunned.

I definitely was stunned by the Cincinnati Bengals’ last-minute upset of the Ravens Sunday. Part of that was because I wholly underestimated the Bengals, especially their defense.

I also didn’t see the Ravens’ defense folding during crunch time. OK, I’ll be honest. I didn’t even expect a crunch time on Sunday.

That folding, of course, had plenty to do with the Ravens committing penalties. You can blame the officiating all you want, but the bottom line is the Ravens have lost two straight, and the Bengals now have an advantage in the AFC North.

And I guess the Bengals are for real.

Four patrons – Sentient, Space, Christian and Larry – each had the Bengals, and all deserve an open tab today. Larry, with a 21-17 Bengals’ prediction, gets the tab for the week. Enjoy.

For the rest of you, I am sure the first part of the week won’t be enjoyable. Rest assured, it won’t be a bowl of cherries for the Ravens, either.

My question is a little different today. Let’s forget about the two consecutive losses, and be forward thinking and try to build on Sunday's loss.

Daily Think Special: What must the Ravens do to improve from here forward?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:09 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (56)
        

OK, all.

The place is open for business and I’m swapping filled shot glasses for predictions.

But before we go there, a few personal notes (it is a blog, after all. So I am allowed to get personal. The gambling part is for recreational purposes only).

First, I apologize for the closed door this week. I was taking a breather after the long Orioles season and the breather turned into a veritable slumber after I had to tend overnight to a couple incredibly flu-bitten daughters. But I am back now.

Secondly, I must apologize to the music fans out there -- and I’ll eventually get to those of you who e-mailed me -- for my lack of music banter the past few busy weeks. I have some time to download new CDs now and I’ve updated my iPod (took me a while to figure out how to exclude my son’s “Harry and the Potters” tunes from my sync).

So we’ll throw some names and CD ideas around in the next few weeks, but I do have one programming note: I’m heading out Friday to see Jason Isbell play in Harrisburg, Pa. Isbell, as many of my hip patrons know, is the former “Drive-By Truckers” guitarist and songwriter who has ventured out on his own. The recent studio album is good, but rather bluesy and mellow. Curious as to how that translates into a live show.

Last, and most important, you may have read that The Baltimore Sun lost a valued employee this week when business editor Tim Wheatley was killed in a car accident while taking his 9-year-old daughter to school.

Tim was my sports editor for a few years, and he was the one who listened intently and then approved a silly idea to create a blog based around a fictitious sports bar. I’m sure he had his doubts, but he encouraged me to do this two years ago, and, honestly, if it weren’t for him, Connolly’s would never have seen the light of the Internet. For that, and the opportunity to interact with you people, I will forever be grateful to Tim.

Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this tragic, difficult time

Thanks for that. Now, to the matter at hand: The Ravens will crush the Cincinnati Bengals and Chad Ochocinco this week. I’m going with 34-14.

My hero of the game is the Ravens young running back Ray Veintisiete, who will run for two touchdowns, including one in excess of cincuenta yards.

I want your predicted score and game hero. Fake bar tabs are at stake, people.

Daily Think Special: Predict the Ravens-Bengals score and the game’s hero.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:07 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (22)
        

The Ravens weren’t the only ones who had a rough Sunday.

Of the 40 or so prognosticators at the bar this week, only four had the Patriots winning. Plenty of confidence in the old Balmer team, and you have to respect that, I guess.

Didn’t work out though.

No one correctly predicted a 27-21 Pats win (Never More gets one drink chip for the right score, but the wrong winner).

The closest -- and therefore the winner of the free bar tab this week -- was JTK, who had New England to win, 27-17. Congrats, I suppose.

Since I have never lied to you before (at least that you know of), I have to come clean today. I didn’t watch much of the Ravens game, not enough to be analytical anyway. You see, I have this pesky day job watching another professional sports team in Baltimore.

Yes, there is one.

So I basically know what happened on Sunday in New England -- I know about Jared Gaither and Mark Clayton‘s drop and the referees' spots. But I don’t know the big picture stuff. Like, specifically, what ultimately cost them the game.

That’s where you come in. It’s time for you to be the analyst (you guys do it in here every week anyway). What did you think went wrong on Sunday?

Was it the game plan? Was it the execution of a particular facet? Or did they just run into a good team that was more desperate to win?

Daily Think Special: What went wrong for the Ravens on Sunday?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:27 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (43)
        

We made it to Friday.

Grab a spot at the bar, snag a cold glass and while I pour give me your prediction for the Ravens-Patriots game this Sunday.

I have a special on the spiked purple Kool-Aid. Because I think the Ravens go into Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and take this one.

I know, I am the guy that predicted a loss to the San Diego Chargers in Week 2. But I am more of a believer now.

That’s not to say I think it will be easy. I’m by no means dismissing the Patriots.

I think Tom Brady will get his share of yards passing and a couple touchdowns. But their running game will be non-existent, and the Ravens’ secondary will come up big at the end.

My call: Ravens 24, Patriots 17.

Ed Reed gets his first touchdown of the season – late in the game – and serves as the hero of the day.

That’s how I see it. I want your thoughts on the fourth Prediction Friday of the season.

Daily Think Special: Predict the score and hero of Sunday’s Ravens-Patriots game.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:50 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (40)
        

This is not an official poll. The results are haphazard and arguably meaningless.

What did you expect? I mean, it’s not even a real bar. But if you are truly disappointed, then I will return your cover charge.

Anyway, I tallied Wednesday’s comments for and against keeping Orioles manager Dave Trembley for 2010.

It was 32 against him, 25 for him and a bunch that commented around the specific question without giving a definite answer (I’m cool with that, too. We don’t judge at Connolly’s).

The point is it was close. An argument can be made each way.

I guess my contention is that those who criticize Trembley’s in-game moves are missing the big picture. Oftentimes, he is replacing one reliever who shouldn’t be in the majors with another reliever who shouldn’t be in the majors.

He is pinch-hitting a kid who won’t be in the big leagues in two years with a veteran who won’t be in the big leagues in two years.

OK, I’m exaggerating a bit, but the guy doesn’t have enough quality personnel to allow us to properly evaluate his managerial skills on a daily basis. Are there things he has done I disagree with? Absolutely. But are his mistakes so rampant that it proves he can’t manage at this level? Nope.

I keep him for 2010. And one of the reasons is I don’t know who should be his replacement. Or, I should say, what kind of manager should replace him.

Today I don’t want to get into the names of potential replacements. Trembley still has his job, and it would be disrespectful to start clamoring for another candidate.

But I want to know this: What type of manager should lead the Orioles in 2010?

What’s funny is that the Orioles have tried all kinds of prototypes in the past decade: There was the veteran who would force accountability onto the players (Ray Miller), the proven winner (Mike Hargrove), the fresh-faced hot commodity (Lee Mazzilli), the players’ manager (Sam Perlozzo) and the nurturing development guy (Trembley).

How did those work out?

What’s left is the hard-(nosed) disciplinarian -- which is usually a disaster for young teams. No doubt some Orioles could use a good benching when they don’t give 100 percent. But let’s see how that disciplinarian keeps the clubhouse when this team is losing 90 in 2010 and the veteran leaders are grousing about being treated like rookies. (Remember, the 2009 player is much different than the ones Earl Weaver terrorized in 1970.)

Again, I think it is a lot more about the personnel than the manager right now.

But I want to hear what personality type you want in your next manager. And I want to see how that differs from what Trembley brings to the table. Or what Sammy P brought. Or Mazz or Grover or Rabbit.

Daily Think Special: What type of manager do the Orioles need for 2010?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:22 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (89)
        

We have officially made it to the last week of the Orioles season.

And I am ready to address the elephant in the barroom.

It’s really a two-headed pachyderm.

Will Orioles manager Dave Trembley be fired at season’s end?

Should he be?

My colleagues at The Sun, columnists Peter “The Promised Land’s Ugly American” Schmuck and Kevin “Cat Hater” Cowherd give their differing opinions in Wednesday’s edition. If I were you, I’d check it out.

Now, I am weighing in as well.

I have been waffling on the first question during the past month, and now, as the Orioles are hideously stumbling to the finish line, I’m leaning toward the belief that Trembley will be fired. It’s tough to survive a 100-loss season (or something real close).

The second question I have answered consistently all year: No, Trembley shouldn’t be fired. He didn’t put this team together. He didn’t assemble the bullpen. He didn’t ask for several of his best veteran players to be dealt away or shelved with injuries.

Trembley did what he could with this mess of a roster. Like those before him -- Sam Perlozzo, Lee Mazzilli, Mike Hargrove -- he was handcuffed the moment he said, ‘I do.”

You can make the argument that Trembley has done a better job than those mentioned above. Because, collectively, he probably had less talent to work with, and, for the most part, the players haven’t openly turned against him.

Sure, Trembley made some lineup and pitching moves that could be questioned. But that’s the beauty of baseball. None of us is under the same pressure as the manager and yet we can second-guess his decisions.

The biggest criticism of Trembley is that his players failed miserably when it came to mastering the fundamentals. Yet Trembley’s teams practiced fundamentals more during the season than any other group I have covered. Whose fault is that?

Some of Trembley’s biggest critics within the clubhouse are the same guys who failed to do their job this year. But as the old adage goes, "You can’t fire 25 players."

The only reason to can Trembley now is to change the ever-present “culture of losing.” Yet whoever takes over almost certainly will have to suffer through another terrible season next year. And then that person will be caught in the undercurrent of losing as well. And the cycle, the criticism will continue.

That is until the club has enough horses to compete with the big boys in the AL East. That could be coming, but it isn’t here yet. And won’t arrive next year.

So until then, it doesn’t matter who the manager is. Therefore, it seems unfair to ship out Trembley now to pay for the sins of past regimes.

That’s my $2.02. Give me yours.

Daily Think Special: Would you fire Dave Trembley? Why or why not?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:37 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (78)
        

Now, that one was easy.

I know there were several of you that were slightly worried that the Ravens could experience a letdown against an inferior Cleveland Browns team.

They did; they allowed a field goal. They should be ashamed.

Seriously, the final was 34-3, more of a blowout than most of you blowout predictors had anticipated (including myself).

Drew Johnston gets a free drink chip for his 34-6 prediction. Ed gets one, too, for his 31-3 guess.

They aren’t the big winners, though. This week’s free (and fake) bar tab goes to Tay Dizzle, and not just because he has a cool name.

Tay Dizzle went with 31-3, Ravens. But he also called the tiebreaker, predicting Willis McGahee would be the hero of the game. Drew and Ed were thinking running back, but went with Ray Rice.

Plenty of heroes on Sunday, but McGahee ran for two TDs and nearly 10 yards a carry.

So drink up Tay Dizzle.

As for the rest of you, I have a simple question: Are the Ravens this good?

They are 3-0 and look much improved offensively. Their defense is still fierce against the run, and perhaps their pass defense – four picks Sunday – is getting it together.

I know any NFL team can beat any other on any Sunday, but, be honest. Even the most pessimistic Ravens’ fan had to expect the team to be 2-1, at the worst, at this point. And the San Diego Chargers, with their injuries last week, weren’t as good as everyone expected heading into the season.

So the real test comes next week, when the Ravens travel to New England. If they can beat the Patriots, and then the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings, they would head into the bye week 6-0 and arguably be considered the NFL’s best team in 2009.

That will be the week to truly evaluate. But what about now? Are the Ravens as good as they have looked so far? Or is their unblemished record more of a by-product of the teams they have played.

I am thinking it’s a combination of both.

Daily Think Special: Are the Ravens this good?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 4:21 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (56)
        

I am officially south of the border now.

I’m not buying fireworks or anything, just home from Toronto.

Just in time for Prediction Friday.

I won’t be going against the patrons this week. Consider me happily in the majority.

I don’t see the Ravens having a letdown Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. And partially that’s because I don’t think much of the Browns. (And as an Irish Catholic I am biologically obligated to support Brady Quinn in his endeavors.)

Really, even a Jonathan Ogden-sized letdown shouldn’t be enough for the Ravens to drop one at home to the Browns.

But it is the NFL, so I guess you can never say never.

Still, I’m predicting a 24-6 Ravens win. My hero of the game is Ed Reed, who snags two interceptions, and returns one for a touchdown.

Am I off? Did I jinx your beloved purple and black?

Daily Think Special: Predict the score and hero of Sunday’s Ravens-Browns game.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:18 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (33)
        

I am finishing up at Rogers Centre – I can call it Skydome in a blog, thankfully -- after the Orioles were swept by the Toronto Blue Jays in an amazingly forgettable three-game series.

There is truly only one highlight from this series.

Matt Wieters hit an absolute bomb against Scott Richmond that hit the façade just under the club-level seating in right field. They don’t give estimates in Toronto – and I am not smart enough to do the conversion anyway – but trust me, it was crushed.

There was so much buzz about Wieters when he arrived that his slow start at the plate and behind it made it seem like he was a disappointment.

But the kid has heated up in a big way.

After two hits Wednesday, he now is batting .290 with eight homers and 38 RBIs. He’s also made some great throws to second recently.

He has hit safely in 15 of the 19 games he has played in September and is batting .367 in the month.

He is hitting an outrageous 12-for-22 (.545) since being moved to the third spot in the lineup five games ago.

So I am impressed.

This kid has become a major league hitter before our eyes. Yes, he could exhibit more consistent power, but for a guy in his second pro season it’s a matter of time.

But I know some of you wanted more from Wieters early on. Has your perception changed in the past month or so?

Daily Think Special: What are your impressions of Matt Wieters now?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:17 AM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (66)
        

Hey everyone:

Transportation issues have made Monday one heck of a day. So I decided to bang out a bar entry before I got to the ballpark in Toronto.

Therefore, we are going back to football again for Tuesday.

(Quick aside: If I could have one superhero power it would be teleportation. No question in my mind. After sitting for a couple hours in Baltimore rush hour traffic and a few more hours at BWI, I would pay good money to be able to teleport. I’d give up the potential of having X-Ray vision or flying like a bird or superhuman strength if it meant I could just show up where I wanted whenever I wanted.)

OK, back to the real item at hand. And speaking of superheroes.

After the Ravens’ Ray Lewis tackled San Diego Chargers Darren Sproles for a loss with 30 seconds left and fourth down on Sunday, I heard an announcer refer to the game-clincher as possibly the greatest play in Lewis’ career.

I immediately scoffed. Great play, sure. But come on, this is Lewis we are talking about. This is a Hall of Fame career we’re talking about.

No way it was his best ever, right?

Well, after the game, Lewis called it “probably one of the greatest plays of my career because of what we did as a team.”

OK, well he would know.

It got me thinking. In your opinion, what is Lewis’ greatest play? Certainly something from the Ravens’ Super Bowl run qualifies.

I am going with the now famous Eddie George hit that teleported the Titans running back into another zip code. Maybe it didn’t end a game, but it served notice about the force that was Lewis and the Ravens.

Daily Think Special: What is Ray Lewis’ greatest play?

Bonus Think Special: Which superhero power would you most want to possess?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (56)
        

You all were right. I was wrong. I am more than OK with that.

Your Baltimore Ravens are now 2-0 after a 31-26 win at San Diego.

Excellent win. Definitely not an easy one, though.

Most of you said the Ravens would be victorious. A lot of you predicted a blowout.

Both Jeff Orndorff and Ed SoPaFan had the Ravens winning 31-27 and Bob Dana was right there, too, with a 31-24 prediction.

Bob gets a free drink chip and Ed can enjoy a free tab today. But we’ll give the free (and fake) tab for the week to Jeff, who won the tiebreaker by saying Todd Heap would be the hero of the game.

He wasn’t. Willis McGahee deserves that title (with Ray Lewis delivering the biggest play of the game). But Heap caught a TD, and Ed didn’t list a tiebreaker.

So if you can’t follow the fake rules, Ed, you can’t fully reap the fake benefits. It’s probably not his fault, however. Those guys up in York County get confused easily.

Anyway, be thirsty, Jeff. You are a winner at Connolly’s.

Now, to Sunday’s victory. I must be honest, I had other responsibilities and couldn’t watch the Ravens’ game as intently as I would have liked. I saw most of it, but had to listen to some on the radio. So I am even more ill-equipped than normal in my not-so-expert analysis.

But here are three quick observations: 1. The offense really does look like it will be formidable this season. 2. The secondary concerns me even more than it did last week.
3. So long as the offense is for real, this team should win a bucketload of games, because the defense will improve.

I want to hear what you think. Let’s get a good discussion going today among the patrons while I fly to Toronto to watch those other birds of Baltimore.

Daily Think Special: What did you take from Sunday’s Ravens’ win?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:25 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (82)
        

It’s Prediction Friday, people.

You know the drill.

I don’t want to bore you with a lot of useless prose. You don’t read it anyway on Prediction Friday.

It’s all business and dry martinis when it comes to pigskin prognostication.

So give me your prediction for Sunday’s Ravens game in San Diego. I want a score, a winner and who you think will be the game’s hero.

If you get it right, you’ll get lauded at this very site next week.

I am going with a hunch here people. Remember, don’t shoot the bartender. Or at least not until after closing time.

I think this is a knock-down drag-out with a few big plays mixed in.

My prediction: The Chargers win 20-17 with a last-second 51-yarder by Nate Kaeding. I’ll make Kaeding my star of the game, too, for that potential boot.

I know, I am wrong. How dare me.

So set me straight.

Daily Think Special: Predict the Ravens-Chargers outcome and star of the game

Posted by Dan Connolly at 11:48 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (44)
        

We’re flipping back to football for a couple days after doing some baseball.

The San Diego Chargers, my pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl this year, host the Ravens on Sunday.

Should be a good game, and we’ll make predictions Friday.

But here’s what I want to know from you today:

Which running back gives the Chargers a better chance to win these days: Darren Sproles or LaDainian Tomlinson?

Tomlinson injured his ankle last Monday and was watching on the sidelines as the Chargers and Sproles made their final comeback against the Oakland Raiders. But there are some that believe LT should have stayed on the sidelines regardless.

That the short and shifty Sproles is a more effective weapon these days.

I am not ready to believe it. Not yet anyway. I think Tomlinson still has plenty left in the tank. I think he is still a feature back. I think he is still the best running back in San Diego.

Sproles has looked good, very good, at times, but he has never been a feature back before. So I can't automatically give him props over Tomlinson.

I may be in the minority, though.

Take away the fact that LT may be a little banged up right now, and answer this question: Who is the better back for 2009, LT or Sproles?

Daily Think Special: Who is better Tomlinson or Sproles?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:52 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

I am writing this sitting in the press box at Camden Yards, where myriad baseball arguments are being tossed around as I type.

It’s September in Baltimore, we have to entertain ourselves somehow.

I may recycle a couple of them later, but I want to throw one at you today.

We have kicked around who should be the 2009 Most Valuable Oriole a couple times this season.

It has been an award of attrition. And now there are two candidates standing: second baseman Brian Roberts and right fielder Nick Markakis.

Injuries wiped out Brad Bergesen and Adam Jones (who had struggled in the second half anyway). Luke Scott’s post-break slump took him out of the competition, too.

George Sherrill might have had a chance had he stayed in Baltimore, but he and last year’s winner, Aubrey Huff, were shipped out.

That basically leaves Markakis, who leads the team in RBIs, batting average and is third in homers while playing a strong right field.

And Roberts, who leads the team in runs scored, is second in RBIs and set a franchise record for doubles Tuesday night with his 52nd of the season.

Both have had good years. Either is a fine choice.

I lean toward Markakis for the all-around game. Others argue for Roberts, because of the doubles.

I am sure some of you will say it doesn’t matter because being the MVO is akin to the world’s tallest midget.

But, to me, it is worth arguing/discussing. Really, what isn’t? So let’s do it.

Daily Think Special: Nick or Brian for MVO?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:07 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (30)
        

OK, let’s be honest.

None of us saw that coming.

Thick 5, Steve and the ubiquitous Anonymous had the Ravens scoring 38 points in Sunday’s opener. No one had the Kansas City Chiefs scoring 24 in what was the second highest scoring game of the day (behind New Orleans thrashing Detroit).

The open bar tab this week goes to Dave, who at 33-14 was at least in the ballpark.

But it certainly wasn’t a blowout, like most of us expected. The opposite in fact. Heck, it was a tied game with three minutes to play.

Yet here is my lasting impression of Sunday’s Ravens’ 38-24 win over the Chiefs: I never thought the Ravens were going to lose. That’s not Monday morning quarterbacking or pure homerism.

And maybe it had something to do with how bad I thought the Chiefs were. But it never struck me that the Ravens would lose that one, even as the score was tied. I was taken aback that it was so close, but didn’t expect them to lose.

And that is a feeling that I didn’t have at the beginning of last season. So that’s what I’ll take from Week 1 of the 2009 NFL season: This team has confidence, and it spills over to the stands.

Here are a few other quick thoughts from Sunday’s Ravens game before I give you the floor. (Disclaimer: I have covered football in the past, but it has been years since I stepped into a NFL locker room. These observations have no insider-info linked to them. If you want true analysis, check out the Sun’s Ravens’ beat stuff, which is excellent.)

It’s nice to see the Ravens can air it out -- and will do so when necessary.

I don’t want to see them get into a shootout with a good NFL team.

Flacco’s no fluke.

Great to see Kelly Gregg back (and Todd Heap, too).

The big play could haunt the defense this year.

Daily Think Special: What’s your lasting thought about Sunday’s Ravens’ win?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:51 AM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

We’re cracking open the bubbly. And not the cheap stuff either.

This champagne comes all the way from French Lick, Indiana.

Only the best for my patrons.

We’re celebrating because you have made it to our first true, football Prediction Friday of the late summer.

If you are new around here, Prediction Friday is simple. It’s a fiesta and party all wrapped into one.

Basically, the deal is this: Each Friday we share our predictions for the upcoming Ravens game. The one who is closest to the score gets a free drink chip and the adoration of his barkeep and fellow patrons for a full week.

(Neither is worth anything, but this is a fake bar people. What do you expect?)

If you hit it straight on, it’s a free bar tab for a week and your name in Christmas lights over the sports mural on the front wall.

The tiebreaker – if we need one – is if you correctly select the hero of the game (decided at my discretion to give me a better chance of winning).

But since this is the very special week one, we have even more fun and games on tap (bad bar pun). I also need your prediction for the Ravens’ season record.

I’ll keep them and get back to you in January. Last year, almost no one had them over .500. My guess is that changes today. We'll have this run all weekend, and you can make your prediction up until kickoff.

OK, here is my entry: I say the Ravens win 23-6. Todd Heap catches two TDs for hero of the game.

And the Ravens go 11-5 in 2009.

Your turn.

Daily Think Special: Predict the winner and score of Sunday’s Ravens-Chiefs game.

Bonus Think Special: Who will be the hero of the game?

Double Secret Think Special: Predict the Ravens’ record at regular season’s end.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:00 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Ravens, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (48)
        

We are now knee deep in NFL preview week here.

And it’s time for your Super Bowl predictions. I'll keep them, I promise.

I believe I had the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl this time last year. So it’s pretty obvious why The Sun employs me as a baseball writer (For the record, most of my predictions for the baseball playoffs are still in good shape).

Basically, the AFC is tough for me to figure out this season.

I’m going to avoid putting the Ravens into the Super Bowl. That would make me too much of a homer. But feel free to do it yourself.

As a card-carrying Baltimoron, I am contractually obligated to not pick the Pittsburgh Steelers. Besides, it is so tough to repeat that I probably wouldn’t have picked them anyway, despite their immense talent.

And I am just not sold on the New England Patriots simply because Tom Brady is back. Yes, it makes them better; but not necessarily the AFC champs.

So I am going with the San Diego Chargers, because I like their balanced offense and strong defense, assuming a certain former Terp behaves. Plus, their division is so terrible they should be ashamed if they don’t lock up the conference’s best record and home-field advantage.

On the NFC side, I know the Cowboys, the Eagles and the Falcons are chic picks. But I am going with the Green Bay Packers. Again, I like the balanced offense and the opportunistic defense. And they also get to face some bad teams.

So that’s my call: Chargers versus Packers in the Super Bowl, with Packers winning.

Daily Think Special: Post your Super Bowl predictions.

Posted by Dan Connolly at 5:58 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (25)
        

We dipped into the NFL pool on Tuesday.

Let’s jump in feet first today.

I am looking for a breakout Raven (prison jokes not welcome). Could be offense, could be defense, could even be new kicker Steve Hauschka.

Basically, I am looking for this year’s Le’Ron McClain, Jim Leonhard or Joe Flacco.

Players that helped carry the team that you weren’t exactly counting on before the first game. Players that took the biggest leap from one season to the next.

Ray Rice is going to be the popular answer here. I will give you two more: Tavares Gooden and Todd Heap.

Yes, Todd Heap. Yes, I know it is not 2003. Yes, he’s already broken out, but then he broke down.

As Paul of Arlington (free drink chip) predicted in Tuesday’s fantasy football entry, Heap could be a big source of TDs if he is healthy.

A huge if, I get it. But I think he might have one more productive season left in him.

Call me an optimist.

Or call me an idiot. But call me.

Come on Ravens’ fans, I want your breakout Raven for 2009-10.

Daily Think Special: Which Raven (or Ravens) will have a breakout year? Why?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 7:41 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (29)
        

Labor Day is over, so I no longer have an excuse to keep the bar dark.

And it is a good thing, too. I have received several emails wondering why I have ignored the NFL for the past month.

The answer: Because it was preseason. And preseason means nothing. And the Orioles, if you haven’t noticed, are still playing. And my pseudo-expertise with baseball is why I get a paycheck.

But, alas, we are into September. We are post Labor Day. I won’t wear white for months (I’ll have to dust off the colored undershirts) and I won’t make baseball my only focus.

So, you ready for some football?

We are embarking on the first week of the NFL season with the first game Thursday.

We’ll get to Super Bowl prognostications and the like this week as well as Prediction Friday (copyright pending) with the Ravens.

But Wednesday night is my second fantasy draft, and since Aubrey Huff is no longer an Oriole (he was my fantasy football sounding board) I am coming to you. (Although Orioles PR guru Jay Moskowitz navigated me through my first draft.)

I want your sleepers, guys that may not be highly touted to start the season and end up as key picks. I will give you a few of mine, but I have to be careful because some of my opponents frequent the bar.

Running back: Donald Brown of Indianapolis. Wide receiver: Hakeem Nicks of the New York Giants. Quarterback: Matt Leinart of Arizona (no way Warner makes it through the season).

I have others, but I am keeping them close to the vest. But you don’t have to.

If you aren’t a fantasy football player, that’s OK. Just give me some names of players that you think are going to have breakout seasons. That’s helpful, too.

Daily Think Special: Which NFL players will have breakout/sleeper seasons?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 8:51 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

Thursday was an off day for the Orioles, but baseball writers still have to come up with stories.

That and the fact that baseball players make roughly 600 times what we earn in a year are really what separates the professions.

Oh, and the groupies. And the fact we can’t hit curveballs. And don’t have shoe or sunglasses deals.

OK, there is plenty.

Apparently, some of you believe there isn’t much that separates Yankees’ fans and Red Sox fans. It was another interesting debate at the bar Thursday. Some great points and very little name-calling, I like that.

Back to off-day stories. The one I wrote for Friday’s paper is about the possibility that the Orioles could lose 100 games in a season for just the third time in their history.

They did it in 1954 – the first year of the modern-day franchise here – and in 1988, when the club lost 21 straight to begin the season.

And now this year it could happen again. The Orioles (54-80) would have to go 9-19 in their final 28 games to stave off 100 losses. Coincidentally, they were 9-19 in their past 28 games.

So they’ll have to dip a notch below their current scuffling pace, but with a tough final schedule, the loss of center fielder Adam Jones to injury and the eventual shutdown of starters Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz, it’s within reach.

But does it matter? Do you want to see the Orioles avoid 100 losses, or is it just another number in a rough season?

Daily Think Special: Is losing 100 games a big deal to you?

Bonus Think Special: Will the Orioles lose 100?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 6:40 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (50)
        

OK people, the Yankees fans have gone. It’s safe to come out now.

They have taken their swollen pride and their “Hip, Hip Jor-Heys” and headed back up Interstate 95 for another year.

You only have to suffer through three more Red Sox games at home this month before you can reclaim Camden Yards.

Yeah, that Blue Jays series in October is going to be rocking.

Three-quarters of the park this week was filled with Yankees fans – par for the course these days. They did their thing, too, cheering everything pinstripe. But I’ll stay on record that Yankee fans are much more tolerable in 2009 than Red Sox fans. Not even close.

We’ve done this topic before, and most of you agree with me.

But here’s my question for today: The Yankees and Red Sox are, again, clearly among the best teams in the American League. They’ll both likely make the playoffs, meaning there’s a 50 percent chance one will get to the World Series.

I want to know which is the lesser of the two evils. Right now. In 2009.

Would you rather have the Yankees, who last won a world championship in 2000 but have 26 overall, get to the World Series?

Or would you still rather see it be the Red Sox, who have won two since 2004?

You don’t get an alternative option of swallowing cyanide in late October.

It’s a simple question. Two choices. One painful answer. If you had to choose – and I am making you – who would you rather see win the 2009 World Series?

Daily Think Special: Yankees or Red Sox?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:40 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar, Orioles, Today's Special | Permalink | Comments (71)
        

I’m back from the beach, with no discernible color on my cadaver-white, Irish Catholic skin.

No burns, either. So I considered that a small victory.

More important, the bar is open just in time for the Orioles to take another shot at history.

They were seven outs away from being up-close spectators of a perfect game.

The pitcher who had retired 20 straight Orioles to begin Monday night?

Andy Pettitte, the New York Yankees’ veteran left-hander and one of the greatest Oriole killers of all time.

Pettitte lost the perfect game when former Oriole Jerry Hairston Jr., booted Adam Jones’ two-out grounder in the seventh. The no-hitter evaporated when Nick Markakis singled in the next at-bat.

An eighth-inning Melvin Mora homer ruined the shutout, but Pettitte still got his 26th win against the Orioles, moving him into a tie with Catfish Hunter for second all-time in wins against the Orioles.

Only Whitey Ford, with 30, has more.

We’ve discussed Oriole killers before. We’ll put a slightly different twist on it today.

When Pettitte goes out to the mound in Camden Yards, you absolutely expect him to dominate the home team since we have seen it so many times before.

But who else gives you that feeling when he faces the Orioles?

Roy Halladay? Jamie Moyer? Every starter in the AL East?

Daily Think Special: Which pitcher do you most hate seeing the Orioles face?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 9:48 PM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

I am thinking about making another change to the bar.

I am considering offering up only topics about hate. Ones that really fuel your ire.

Because that’s what makes this place rock.

On Thursday I mentioned my slight irritation with the Tropicana Field cowbells and my deep-in-the-gut, wanna-retch disdain for the wave. (Thanks Gus. I did this at 1 a.m. But, hey, no excuses).

Many of you rode that whitecap of vitriol all the way in. Beautiful.

I probably could get away with doing a “Do you hate the wave?” topic, but that would be too easy.

And I can’t be lazy today, because I am closing the bar for a week. I need time to think on an all-hate décor (Post-modern Irsay, perhaps?)

Actually, I am going to the beach for a week with my family. Every now and then I have to act like an actual dad.

So the bar likely will be closed after this weekend – unless something HUGE happens in the world of Baltimore sports. But there will be other aisles to stroll down in the Toy Department. Or so I have been told.

We’ll get the place reopened by Sept. 1. I promise. And maybe in the meantime we’ll get rid of that rat problem once and for all.

Today’s topic should be a good one. It comes courtesy of my friend and Connolly Bar semi-regular Brian.

He’s torn and wants your opinion. And I think it’s a good one.

If the Orioles just maintain their crappy pace for the rest of the season, they will again lock up a Top Five pick in the amateur draft for the fourth consecutive year. But if they step up their September Swoon into overdrive, they could challenge the Nationals (and Royals, etc.) for the top pick.

And that could, perhaps, yield them 16-year-old Las Vegas slugging phenom Bryce Harper. Or whoever is considered the best amateur player next June.

So would you like to see the Orioles fall apart even more if it meant getting the No. 1 pick? Obviously, the Orioles’ players and management wouldn’t consider tanking the rest of the season for the No. 1 overall slot. That is wrong in so many ways.

But what you, as fans, wish for is a different story.
The dilemma is this: Losing at a clip that would produce the No. 1 pick would make this season even uglier. And that means the young players on the roster will be exposed to even more desperation and have even less hope to build on going into 2010.

So which would you rather have: A good final stretch to give the young players some positives or a terrible swoon that produces the top pick?

Which would make the future brighter?

Your choice. I am hitting the beach.

Daily Think Special: A successful September or the No. 1 draft pick?

Posted by Dan Connolly at 12:45 AM in Connolly's Corner Sports Bar | Permalink | Comments (71)