David Steele - AOL Fanhouse - National Columnist

Jim Duquette - Former Oriole GM

Todd Helmick - NationalChamps.net - College Football

Jim Corbett - USA Today - NFL

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Was it just me, or was anyone else upset about the Orioles loss yesterday even though they took two of three from the Yankees in New York?  The positive is they did win two games and played well in all three, but that is still not good enough.  My thought process has changed, and when the O's have a team like the Yankees on the ropes, I expect them to win the game.  Buck Showalter has changed the culture in his short time in Baltimore, and the Orioles are not satisfied with taking two of three from the best team in baseball.  It is a mindset that even I am having a hard time adjusting to.  Oh yea, the NFL season finally starts tonight!

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Jim Duquette:  The former O's GM breaks down the playoff races.

David Steele:  The AOL Fanhouse columnist talks all things sports.

Todd Helmick:  The NationalChamps.net editor talks college football.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing ESPN's NFL Power Rankings.  Rob also talked about the Orioles winning again and if the Ravens can still win a defensive game.

- We went Way Back today and talked to former Baltimore Raven Matt Stover.  Matt talked about winning the Super Bowl and going through the 5-game stretch without a touchdown.  Matt also talked about being released by the Ravens and if still wants to play.

- Matt Bowen from NationalFootballPost.com joined the show to talk NFL.  Matt gave his thoughts on TJ Houshmandzadeh signing with the Ravens and Pete Carroll cleaning house in Seattle.  Matt previewed the first week of the season and Ravens-Jets.

- Dan Wetzel from YahooSports.com came on the program and talked about Reggie Bush.  Dan also gave his thoughts on the BCS and Boise State.

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I caught myself falling back into an old habit last night while I was watching the Orioles game.  It was late in the game, the O's were holding a 4-run lead at Yankees stadium, the starter was pulled after having a solid outing for a shaky reliever with two runners on, one out, and a stud hitter coming to the plate.  I have seen this many times before.  I expected the worse, but hoping for the best.  However, this is not the old Orioles and Matt Albers was able to get Alex Rodriguez to hit into a force out and eventually escape the bottom of the seventh inning without giving up a run.  I know the O's have played great baseball, but there are still times where I think everything will fall apart and they will look like the team we have seen over the last 13 years, especially when they are playing in New York.  The Orioles were even able to overcome a couple of outfield blunders by Adam Jones.  Entering today's game, the O's have a chance to sweep the Yanks in the Bronx for the first time since 1986 and extend their winning streak to five games. 

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Way Back Wednesday:  Be sure to tune in to hear who our guest will be.

Matt Bowen:  The National Football Post writer previews the NFL season.

Dan Wetzel:  The YahooSports.com national columnist talks all things sports.

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T.J. Houshmandzadeh met with the local media today to talk about joining the Baltimore Ravens.  Topics that were covered: his role with the offense, the impact he can make Monday night, the events that led to his departure in Seattle, and the influence Ray Lewis had on him coming to Baltimore.  Houshmandzadeh was introduced by wide receivers coach Jim Hostler.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the addition of T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the Ravens.  Rob thinks it is was an easy decision for Baltimore to sign Housh, but he wonders why Seattle would let him go.

- Barry Wilner from the AP joined the show to talk NFL.  Barry gave his thoughts on Randy Moss and two former Heisman Trophy award winners joining a new team.  Barry also talked about the Ravens signing Houshmandzadeh. 

- John Eisenberg from BaltimoreRavens.com and CSNBaltimore.com came on the program to preview the Ravens season.  John talked about the surprise cuts over the weekend and the acquisition of Houshmandzadeh. 

- Ralph Russo from the AP joined the show to recap the first weekend in college football.  Ralph talked about Boise State defeating Virginia Tech and if he wants to see them in the national championship.  Ralph also talked about the top 25 rankings.

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It was a great sports weekend over the Labor Day holiday, especially on the local scene.  The Orioles took two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays and the first game against the Yankees to improve to 4-3 over the AL East under Buck Showalter.  The naysayers wanted to wait until the O's played the East before they gave the team credit and through seven games, the Orioles are showing again that they aren't the same team they have been before.  The Terps won their first game and I still have no idea how they did it.  Navy moved the ball up and down the field the entire game, but couldn't execute once they were inside the 5-yard line.  Maryland completed two passes and that was enough...speechless.

However, the big news is the Ravens found a way to improve their team again with one week left until they start their season.  The addition of T.J. Houshmandzadeh makes the Ravens one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.  I thought they were fine without him, but now that he is on board, I do not know how the offense can be stopped.  Joe Flacco has targets everywhere, and Cam Cameron will find a way to get everyone involved.  This team is set up for a deep run into the playoffs.  There will be people that will point to the secondary or the linebackers or right tackle, but this team has too many strengths for the weaknesses to hold them back.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

John Eisenberg:  The BaltimoreRavens.com and CSNBaltimore.com writer talks Ravens.

Barry Wilner:  The NFL writer from the AP previews the start of the season.

Ralph Russo:  the AP college football writer recaps the first weekend.

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- Rob opened up the show bragging how he made it in time for the show after watching his Game Cocks win last night.  Rob also talked about the Ravens and who should be expected to make the final roster.

- Ed Lee from the Baltimore Sun joined the show to give his thoughts on the final preseason game.  Ed talked about the guys who hurt their chances to make the team and some players who helped their chances.  Ed talked about the defensive line depth and his expectations for the season.

- Ross Tucker from GoBigRecruiting.com came on the program to talk football.  Ross talked about Dannell Ellerbe showboating and John Harbaugh chewing him out.  Ross also gave his thoughts on the Cowboys and teams cutting veterans.

- Dave Miller from NationalFootballPost.com joined the show to talk some college football.  Dave gave his thoughts on South Carolina winning their first game and Pittsburgh losing.  Dave also previewed Saturday's games.

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I didn't need confirmation why Roger Goodell wants two preseason games, but after watching last night's Ravens game, I can't wait until the decision is made to reduce the exhibition season.  Troy Smith probably played his way off the Ravens roster last night along with a couple of other players.  Smith looked hesitant at times to get rid of the football and it led to a sub-par effort in a game he needed to perform at his best.  Dannell Ellerbe made the bonehead play of 2010 with his showboating on his touchdown return and Coach John Harbaugh wasted no time letting him know.  I never understood why Ellerbe was demoted from the starting lineup entering training camp after he finished the 2009 season strong, but as always, the coaches know more than everyone else.  I think Ellerbe has talent and seems to be a playmaker, but maybe they can't rely on him with the mental aspect of the game just yet.  The coaches are going to have some difficult decisions cutting the roster down to 53, but the hardest decision will be what kicker they keep.  I think Billy Cundiff wins the job, but I can see them deciding on Shayne Graham.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Ed Lee:  The Baltimore Sun writer recaps the Ravens-Rams game.

Ross Tucker:  The SI.com writer talks NFL.

Dave Miller:  The NationalFootballPost.com writer gives his thoughts on the first night of the college football season.

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While watching the O's last night, before the bullpen looked like the pen we remember, I noticed that the Orioles rebuilding project is nearly complete.  The players that everyone talked about prior to the season making an impact in Baltimore, have arrived.  Chris Tillman is expected to be recalled later this month, but Zach Britton is not.  Nolan Reimold is back and started as the designated hitter and went 1-3 with an RBI.  Former first round pick Brandon Snyder will be making his major league debut when Buck Showalter inserts him into the game. 

Jason Berken will not be back this year, but David Hernandez should be.  I was hoping to see Britton this year, but the best thing for him is to shut him down and try to make the team out of spring training next year.  Showalter has used his time to evaluate everything, and now he will get a look at a couple of players considered the core of the Orioles.  I still believe Reimold will be a productive major leaguer, and he has a chance to rebound from his roller coaster season.  We have talked for a couple of seasons about these guys arriving to Baltimore at some point, and finally, they are all here.

Here is the rundown of today's show:

Kristen Berset from FOX 45 and David Steele from AOL Fanhouse Co-Hosting

Todd Helmick:  The NationalChamps.net editor previews the start of the college football season.

Ed Price:  The AOL Fanhouse writer talks MLB.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing another Orioles victory.  The O's finished the month of August with a 17-11 record, 17-10 under Buck Showalter.  Rob also talked about the Ravens trading for cornerback Josh Wilson and wonders if he is an upgrade or added depth.

- Dave Ginsburg from the AP joined the show to talk about the O's and Ravens.  Dave gave his thoughts on Josh Wilson and Terrence Cody's surgery.  Dave also talked about the O's winning August. 

- We went Way Back and talked to former Raven and Super Bowl champion Rob Burnett.  Rob talked about moving from Cleveland to Baltimore and how the fans embraced the Ravens.  Rob also talked about the 2000 defense and the impact Marvin Lewis made.  Rob also commented on the current Ravens, Ray Rice, and the legacy of Ray Lewis.

- Don Banks from SI.com came on the program to preview the AFC North.  Don thinks the Ravens will win the division and Joe Flacco will take the next step to become one of the more elite quarterbacks in the league.  Don also talked about the Bengals and the Steelers, and thinks Pittsburgh will finish in third place in the division.

- NFL Films President Steve Sabol joined the show to promote The Top 100: NFL’s Greatest Players which will debut this Friday at 10pm on NFL Network.  Steve talked about the genesis of the day idea and it came from a night out at a sports bar (surprise!).  Steve dropped some hints of the players that will be on the list: There are 19 quarterbacks and running backs, the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys have the most players on the list, there are five teams with no one on the list, and there are eight current players on the list.  Let the debate begin!  Reminder, check out Rob's list on the site.

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The Orioles concluded their first winning August since 1997 by defeating the Boston Red Sox 5-2.  The are now 17-10 under Buck Showalter.  Brian Matusz was again stellar as he pitched six innings while striking out six and only giving up two earned runs.  Showalter said Matusz did not have all of his bullets, but gave the O's a chance to win.  I have seen him pitch with all of his bullets and dominate, and if he can pitch like he did last night without all of his pitches working, then he has a chance to be special.  Matusz tends to lose focus at times and have one inning that ruins his start, but he has contained that this past month and last night he was able to limit the damage and pitch into the seventh.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Way Back Wednesday:  Find out who our guest will be.

Steve Sabol:  The NFL Films president talks about the top 100 players in NFL history.

Don Banks:  The SI.com writer previews the NFL season.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the players he would cut from the Ravens roster.

- Steve Phillips from AOL Fanhouse and former MLB GM joined the show to talk some baseball.  Steve gave his thoughts on Roger Clemens pleading 'not guilty' yesterday.  Steve also talked about Manny Ramirez and what his legacy will be.  Steve also talked about Aroldis Chapman being promoted to the Reds and what kind of impact he will have.

- Tony Barnhart from "The Tony Barnhart Show" on CBS College Sports Network came on the program to talk college football.  Tony gave his thoughts on North Carolina and Ralph Friedgen's future.  Tony also previewed MD-Navy and Va Tech-Boise State.

- Gregg Doyel from CBSSports.com joined the show and was entertaining as always.  Gregg talked about USA Basketball and how he thinks LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Kobe Bryant should be playing.  Gregg also talked about Roger Clemens and Stephen Strasburg's injury.  Gregg gave his thoughts on the UFC fight over the weekend and NFL preseason.

- Mike Duffy from BaltimoreRavens.com came on the program to give the latest updates from One Winning Drive.  Mike talked about Matt Lawrence and Brendon Ayanbadejo being placed on reserve PUP and will miss the first six weeks of the season.  Mike also talked about Ed Reed, Willis McGahee, Mark Clayton, and the inside linebacker position battle.

- Matt Williamson from ESPN.com joined the show to talk NFL.  Matt is very high on the Steelers and thinks the Ravens will finish third in the AFC North.  Matt also talked about his concerns for the Ravens pass defense and his thoughts on the Colts.

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- Rob opened up the show giving his thoughts on Saturday's game and how he thinks the Ravens did.  Rob also talked about the Orioles successful road trip.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to breakdown the Ravens performance Saturday night.   Tony liked the no huddle offense from the first-team unit, and the impact of Donte' Stallworth's injury.

- Dan Graziano from AOL Fanhouse came on the program to talk NFL.  Dan talked about the Jets struggling this preseason and if it is too early to panic.  Dan also gave his thoughts on the Bengals releasing Antonio Bryant and if Aaron Rodgers is ready to step up and become an MVP.

- Matt Vensel from The B and BaltimoreSun.com joined the show to talk Ravens and Orioles.  Matt talked about Ray Lewis and if he lost a step and the lack of anyone stepping up for the other inside linebacker position.  Matt also talked about the Orioles successful August.

- Richard Cirminiello from CollegeFootballNews.com came on the program to preview the start of the college football season.  Richard gave his thoughts on South Carolina, and some of the impact players heading into the season.  Richard also commented on USC, Iowa, and Nebraska.

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- Rob opened up the show talking about "get over it" moments in the world of sports.  Rob also discussed the top 100 football players of all-time.

- Joe Platania from PressBox joined the show to preview the Ravens-Giants game tomorrow night.  Joe talked about the offensive fumbling problems and if he is concerned with the defense.

- Rob released his top 100 list, so make sure to read his list and see if you agree.  Rob thinks Jim Brown is the greatest NFL player of all-time.

- Peter Schrager from FOXSports.com came on the program and gave his thoughts on Rob's top 100.  Peter also gave his thoughts on people who wear jerseys and if the Packers are legit Super Bowl contenders. 

- Baltimore football legend Tom Matte made a surprise visit in-studio to talk some football.  Tom previewed the Ravens and gave his thoughts on Jared Gaither. Tom also talked about Sergio Kindle's injury and how he sustained an injury during his career.

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Saturday's preseason game will be the last time we see the starters for a significant amount of time until the regular season begins.  Joe Flacco has downplayed the state of the offense when he speaks to the media, but I am sure he knows they have to come out against the Giants and play well.  The first-team unit has lacked rhythm for most of the preseason, and with this being the final extended game action they will have, the offense knows they have to move the football and score some touchdowns.  Even with the new additions, the offense goes through Ray Rice, and he has barely played.  As well as Willis McGahee has performed, Rice is a difference maker and Flacco's security blanket.  There is a chance Rice will get more touches this week, but the coaches would rather see him get tackled when it counts, and I don't blame them.  The offensive line has to play better, and with Jared Gaither out again, Michael Oher will be getting more reps at left tackle, a position he has struggled at during the preseason.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Joe Platania:  The PressBox writer previews the Ravens-Giants game.

Peter Schrager:  The FOXSports.com writer talks NFL.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the new Ravens fight song.  Rob and I respect the tradition of the marching band, but we are not overly excited with the change.  Rob also wonders why Dave Trembley has decided to speak now and if anyone cares.

- John Ziemann, Band President for the Marching Ravens, joined the show to talk about the new fight song.  John talked about the importance of the change and why it happened.

- David Steele from AOL Fanhouse came on the program to give his thoughts on Kelly Gregg remaining the starter with the Ravens and what will happen with Jared Gaither.

- Paul Newberry from the AP joined the show to talk about the owners' meetings that took place in Atlanta.  Paul said the the main discussion was expanding the regular season.  The owners did not vote, but Paul thinks it is likely the NFL will move to an 18-game schedule.  Paul also covers the Falcons and talked about Matt Ryan's 2009 season and what he expects from the Falcons this year.

- Todd Helmick from NationalChamps.net came on the program to give his thoughts on college football.  Todd talked about the Virginia Tech-Boise State match-up and if Boise State is for real.  Todd also discussed if USC is irrelevant now.

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The Orioles won last night 4-2 against the Chicago White Sox to even the series.  The O's will try to win the series tonight as Jake Arrieta takes the mound.  Rookie Brian Matusz was sensational again, pitching 7 innings, giving up one run on five strikeouts and three hits.  Matusz is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in five August starts after struggling during the month of July.  Matusz is a pitcher that needs to concentrate on every pitch because he does not have one dominant pitch.  He has four above average pitches that when he throws for strikes, he can be successful.  It is not a coincidence that he started to pitch to his potential under Buck Showalter.  As I have said many times, the biggest difference with Showalter is that the entire roster is more focused.  I think Matusz at times losing his focus and that is when he runs into trouble.  When he is able to concentrate on every pitch, he can consistently be the pitcher we have seen this month.  If the O's finish with a 2-3 record in their last five August games, they will have their first winning August since...1997.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

John Ziemann: The Band Director for the Baltimore Ravens March Band talks about the new fight song.

David Steele: The AOL Fanhouse columnist talks about the latest news in the world of sports.

Todd Helmick: The NationalChamps.net writer previews the college football season.

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- Rob opened the show discussing the potential of the NFL expanding to an 18-game schedule.  Rob also wonders if the Ravens should trade Willis McGahee for a cornerback.  Rob thinks the Ravens shouldn't because McGahee is too valuable.

- Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent joined the show and was insightful as always.  Fay gave his thoughts on Buck Showalter and Lou Piniella's early retirement.  Fay also talked about umpires showing up the players and Stephen Strasburg's injury woes.

- We went Way Back today and talked to former Raven and Super Bowl champion Patrick Johnson.  Patrick talked about his early football career and playing college football at Oregon.  Patrick talked about his time in Baltimore playing for the Ravens and Brian Billick.  Patrick also gave his thoughts on Mark Clayton, Joe Flacco vs. Marc Bulger, and Trent Dilfer vs. Tony Banks.

- Jason La Canfora from the NFL Network joined the show to give his thoughts on an 18-game schedule.  Jason thinks it will happen, but there are other factors that will change besides adding two more games.  Jason also talked about the Vikings and Brett Favre's relationship with Brad Childress.

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Ray Lewis reiterated his disdain for the potential of an 18-game season yesterday after practice.  Lewis said the players are not machines and a season takes it toll and adding more games will water down the NFL.  I see both sides of the argument.  Fans love football and they want more.  This is evidenced by the viewers during the NFL combine and draft and the large crowds that turn out to watch training camp.  The NFL knows they can make more money by adding two games and subtracting two from the preseason.  However, it is the players that will be playing the games and they are not happy about it.  I have not read or heard from a player that is for it.  They are the ones that are putting their careers and lives on the line every week, and they do not see the benefit of an extended season.  I think if the NFL told the players that they will earn more money by playing 18 games, then you will see less complaints.  Everything is always about money, and the NFL knows an 18-game season will benefit them and if they convince the players the same, they will come around.  Even if they don't, there will be 18 games in the NFL soon, no matter what the players think.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Way Back Wednesday:  Find out who our guest will be.

Fay Vincent:  The former MLB commissioner gives his thoughts on the world of baseball.

Jason La Canfora:  The NFL Network analyst talks about the potential of an 18-game schedule.

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The announcement of Lardarius Webb being removed from the PUP list and returning to practice is great news for a secondary that has been criticized over the last couple of months.  Call me crazy, but I think the secondary will become a strength during the season.  I understand there are a lot of "ifs," but IF everyone returns healthy, the secondary will be fine. The offense has to carry the team over the first couple weeks of the season as the Ravens wait for the cornerbacks to get healthy and comfortable.   After Week 2, Cary Williams will return to add depth to the secondary.  At some point Ed Reed will return.  As I said before, a lot has to go right, but they are heading in the right direction with Webb returning to practice.

Here is the rundown of today's show:

Kristen Berset:  The FOX 45 sports anchor fills-in for Rob.

David Ginsburg:  The AP writer gives his thoughts on the Ravens and Orioles.

John Eisenberg:  The CSNBaltimore.com and BaltimoreRavens.com columnist talks Ravens.

Andy Staples:  The SI.com writer talks college football.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the Ravens second preseason game.  Rob says David Reed stepped up and has put himself in position to make the final 53-man roster.  Rob also talked about the greatest football players of all-time.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give his thoughts on the Ravens game.  Tony said Marc Bulger looked great and there is a chance the Ravens only keep two quarterbacks this season.  Tony has concerns with the offense and thinks Joe Flacco needs to step up.

- Ed Lee from the Baltimore Sun came on the program to weigh in on the Ravens' performance against the Redskins.  Ed thinks the offensive line played well and Tony Moll stepped up at right tackle.  Ed also talked about the secondary.

- Ralph Russo from the AP joined the show to talk college football.  The AP top 25 poll came out over the weekend and Ralph gave his thoughts on it.  Ralph talked about the overrated and underrated teams this year and how the ACC will shake out.

- Scott Hoffman from OriolesHangout.com came on the program to talk about Buck Showalter's influence.  Scott pointed to a couple of examples that shows the difference between Showalter and the previous managers for the Orioles. 

- Matt Bowen from NationalFootballPost.com joined the show and talked about Albert Haynesworth.  Matt also gave his thoughts on the Vikings.

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The Ravens cruised to a 23-3 victory over the Washington Redskins Saturday night in their second preseason game, but there are still a number of things they need to work on before they are ready for their Monday night showdown with the New York Jets.  The first-team offense could not get into a rhythm and their only touchdown was set up on a fake punt.  The Ravens put the ball on the turf three times, losing it once, and Michael Oher's false start on a first down conversion helped stop a drive that was gaining momentum.  I thought the offensive line played well overall and Tony Moll did a solid job at right tackle to put him back in the conversation to make the 53-man roster.  The second-team offense looked better and was able to move the ball behind Marc Bulger.  Rookie David Reed stepped up catching the ball and on special teams after struggling for most of training camp.  Reed is in a tough battle with Demetrius Williams and Marcus Smith for the 5th wide receiver position.

On the defensive side, the Ravens looked like they usually do.  They stop the run, but allow big plays in the passing game.  They also allow tight ends to make too many catches over the middle of the field.  Terrell Suggs looks to be in mid-season form, and I predict a huge year for him overall, even though he may not have one stat that stands out.  Jason Phillips and Prescott Burgess also stepped up, and proved again that there will be players that are cut that are capable of playing in the NFL.  One player that is flying under the radar is Dawan Landry and I think he will be one of the breakout players in the NFL in 2010.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Tony Lombardi:  The Ravens24x7.com editor gives his thoughts on Saturday's game.

Ed Lee:  The Baltimore Sun writer talks about the second preseason game.

Scott Hoffman:  The OriolesHangout.com contributor weighs in on the Orioles recent success.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing Brian Matusz's great start against the Texas Rangers.  Rob talked about Buck Showalter's impact on the starting rotation.  Rob also broke down the potential 53-man roster for the Ravens.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give his training camp reports.  Tony talked about the second preseason game for the Ravens and what he is looking to see.  Tony also commented on Troy Smith's status with the team and if he will make the roster.  Tony gave his thoughts on the battle for the other starting inside linebacker position and who he thinks will win.

- Mike Duffy from BaltimoreRavens.com came on the program to preview Saturday night's game and the bubble players he will be watching.

- Greg Amsinger from MLB Network joined the show to talk about the Cal Ripken World Series that will be broadcasted on MLB Network this weekend.  Greg talked about youth baseball and the impact it has on the future of the game.  Greg talked about the playoff race, the MVP race, and Robinson Cano's season.  Greg and Rob had a spirited debate over the St. Louis Cardinals and Tony La Russa.

- Dan Wetzel from YahooSports.com came on the program to talk all things sports.  Dan gave his thoughts on college football, specifically the SEC and PAC-10.  Dan also talked about Tiger Woods and his struggles.

- Charles Davis from NFL Network joined the show to talk football.  Charles commented on the preseason and how the lack of interest from fans is why Roger Goodell wants an 18-game schedule.  Charles also talked about C.J. Spiller and Percy Harvin's migraines. 

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The Orioles snapped their 2-game losing streak and improved to 6-0 under Buck Showalter in the first game of a series last night with a 4-0 win over the first-place Texas Rangers.  Brian Matusz was lights out as he pitched 8 scoreless innings while striking out six.  Matusz was able to command all four of his pitches and kept the Rangers off balance the entire night.  That is what he has to do to be successful as he does not have one dominant pitch.  He has four above average pitches, but when he struggles with a couple of those, he becomes very hittable.

I heard a comment from a friend that if Matusz pitched like that earlier in the season, then Dave Trembley would still be around.  I still don't understand why people can't see that the reason the Orioles are playing the way they are is because of Showalter.  The reason this didn't happen earlier in the season is because the clubhouse did not respect Trembley.  I know it is hard to believe that a light switch can be turned on just like that, but it is true.  The offense will continue to be inconsistent because they lack two legitimate middle-of-the-order hitters, but the one thing that has been consistent since the day Showalter arrived, has been the defense.  The Orioles continue to play solid defense behind their pitchers, and the starters have benefited by pitching deeper into the games.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Mike Duffy:  The BaltimoreRavens.com writer previews the Ravens-Redskins game.

Greg Amsinger:  The MLB Network anchor talks playoff races.

Charles Davis:  The NFL Network analyst gives his thoughts on the latest news surrounding the NFL.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing Brett Favre.  Rob wonders why some athletes think they have earned the right to act the way they do.  Rob points to other athletes who have earned the right, but they show their true character by allowing their play on the field to separate themselves from other athletes. 

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give his training camp reports.  Tony gave his thoughts on the 5th WR position and thinks Demetrius Williams makes the team over rookie David Reed.  Tony also talked about Tavares Gooden, Lardarius Webb, and the kicking situation.

- Author Brian Tuohy came on the program to talk about his book, The Fix Is In, which uncovers the shadow history of the sports world, and the way it interacts with media and gambling.  Brian reveals that hugely profitable sports leagues have covered up the truth behind their operations, and have traded in time-honored ideal of fair play for big money.

- David Steele from AOL Fanhouse joined the show and gave his thoughts on games being fixed. 

- Gregg Doyel from CBSSports.com came on the program and was entertaining as always.  Gregg talked about the Arkansas reporter getting fired for wearing a Gators hat to an Arkansas football press conference.  Gregg also commented on K-Rod punching his girlfriend's father in the Mets clubhouse and if sports games are fixed.

- Todd Helmick from NationalChamps.net joined the show to talk college football.  Todd gave his thoughts on South Carolina and the SEC.

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The O's dropped their second consecutive series last night in a 6-5 defeat against the Seattle Mariners.  I am not an expert on the Mariners roster, so I was surprised how many guys I have never heard of came through with big pitching performances or the clutch hit.  Matt Tuiasosopo, Adam Moore, David Pauley, and Luke French are guys that should not be leading a team to victory.  If Ichiro had a big series, then fine, but it is hard for me to accept a guy batting .177 hitting two homeruns and making a game-saving catch.  The Texas Rangers come to town tonight, looking to end their 3-game losing streak and get revenge for being swept by the O's to end the first-half of the season.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

David Steele:  The AOL Fanhouse writer talks all things sports.

Gregg Doyel:  The CBSSports.com columnist gives his take on Brett Favre's return.

Todd Helmick:  The NationalChamps.net editor breaks down college football.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the return of Brett Favre.  Rob has had enough and wonders why Favre can get away with his actions, but other athletes can't.

- We went Way Back today and talked to Baltimore Oriole legend Cal Ripken.  Cal talked about the Cal Ripken World Series that is taking place this week in Aberdeen and how the World Series has improved over the years.  Cal gave his thoughts on baseball returning to the way it was played before the steroid era and the development of Adam Jones as a player and an outfielder.  Cal also talked about his relationship with Peter Angelos and if he will one day have a role in the organization.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give training camp reports throughout the show.  Tony talked about Tavares Gooden taking reps with the first-team defense and Jim Zorn returning to DC this weekend.  Tony also talked about the coaches and the offensive line.

- Michael Lombardi from the NFL Network came on the program to discuss the NFL.  Michael talked about Brett Favre returning and if he is tired of hearing about it.  Michael also gave an in-depth look at the cornerback position.

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The Orioles could only manage three hits last night, two by rookie Josh Bell, as they wasted a great pitching performance by Kevin Millwood to lose to the Seattle Mariners 4-0.  Millwood only gave up one run in eight innings of work, but Armando Gabino allowed three runs in the ninth and put the game out of reach.  I have watched Gabino pitch a couple of times, and I would not be surprised if the O's send him down in the next couple of days.  The Orioles look to avoid losing their second straight series under Buck Showalter tonight as Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound.  Guthrie has been the best pitcher on the staff this season and he is another player that has taken his game to another level since the arrival of Showalter. 

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Cal Ripken:  The Orioles and baseball great talks about the Cal Ripken World Series and the new look O's.

Michael Lombardi:  The NFL Network analyst gives his thoughts on the return of Brett Favre and other football news.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the Orioles winning in walk-off fashion last night.  Rob talked about the young players finally playing well specifically Adam Jones and how it takes time for these players to develop.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give his daily training camp reports.  Tony talked about Cam Cameron's comments on Oniel Cousins yesterday and if he was taking a shot at Jared Gaither.  Tony also talked about Cory Redding's play and how the offensive line looks.

- Matt Vensel from The B and BaltimoreSun.com came on the program and talked about the Ravens 2008 NFL draft and how that is shaping up to be their best draft since 1996.  Matt also broke down the 53-man roster and how Joe Flacco will do this season.

- Brian McRae from 810 WHB in Kansas City joined the show to talk baseball.  The former big leaguer gave his thoughts on Buck Showalter and if free agents will want to come to Baltimore now because of Showalter.  Brian also talked about the playoff races.

- Ross Tucker from GoBigRecruiting.com came on the program to talk NFL.  Ross was entertaining as always as he gave his thoughts on preseason and Brett Favre. 

- Norfolk Tides infielder Brandon Snyder joined the show to talk about his season.  Brandon was very candid on his struggles this year and how he hopes to turn that around and make an impact in Baltimore soon.  Brandon also talked about the influence Buck Showalter has had already.

*******Sorry for the order being messed up, the problem is being corrected.*******

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The "new" Orioles continue to find ways to win under Buck Showalter and last night Adam Jones was the latest Oriole to contribute in game-winning fashion.  Jones' bunt in the bottom of the 11th lifted the Oriole to a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners and snapped a 2-game losing streak.  Jones has quietly put together a solid season after having a terrible month of April.  I think the two players that have responded the best under Showalter has been Jones and Felix Pie.  Even though Jones has been solid offensively since mid-May, there have been times where he has lost focus at the plate and especially in the field.  I have always thought Pie has had all-star potential, but his lack of baseball instincts has always held him back from being a consistent player.  However, it appears the light switch has come on for both players and they are both starting to play to the potential scouts thought they would.  I thought the Orioles outfield would be a strength this season offensively and defensively, and during the month of August, it finally has.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Ross Tucker:  The GoBigRecruiting.com analyst talks football.

Matt Vensel:  The BaltimoreSun.com writer gives his thoughts on the Orioles and Ravens.

Brandon Snyder:  The Norfolk Tides infielder talks about his season.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the latest on Jared Gaither and how much the Ravens can expect from him this season.  Rob also talked about the 53-man roster and how he thinks it will play out.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com came on the program to give training camp reports.  Tony talked about Thursday's game and what he thinks will happen with Gaither.  Tony also gave his thoughts on the 53-man roster and Carson Palmer.

- David Ginsburg from the AP joined the show and talked about Tiger Woods.  David also gave his thoughts on Buck Showalter's influence on potential free agency.  David talked about the Ravens and how he thought they did in their first preseason game.

- Jim Callis from Baseball America came on the program to talk about tonight's deadline for teams to sign their draft picks.  Jim thinks the top three picks sign which includes Manny Machado, drafted by the Orioles.

- Jason La Canfora from the NFL Network came on the program and weighed in on Jared Gaither's injury.  Jason also talked about Tim Tebow's performance and where Brian Westbrook will end up this year.

- Rex Hudler joined the show to talk some baseball.  The former big leaguer gave his thoughts on Buck Showalter and what he brings to a team.  Rex also talked about the playoff races and likes the way the Reds and Yankees are playing.

- Rob and I predicted the 53-man roster after watching the first preseason game.

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It is always good to get away for a couple of days, and I did just that this weekend as I visited my brother in Myrtle Beach.  We went to a sports bar on Friday night and when I asked to watch the Orioles game, I was not looked at like I had 10 heads.  Instead, people had good things to say about the O's because of Buck Showalter and they were optimistic that he can turn around the franchise.  Even though the Orioles dropped their first series under Showalter, it was a good barometer to see how the "new" O's stacked up against a playoff opponent.  Showalter knows the Tampa Bay Rays are better, but Tampa wasn't in a different league like they have been before when they played the Orioles.  The one thing I have learned about Showalter is he uses every situation as a test and he wants to see how the team responds.  Returning home after two straight losses is another test and Showalter wants to see how the players react and which ones he can count on moving forward.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Jason La Canfora:  The NFL Network analyst goes around the league.

Eric DeCosta:  The Director of Player Personnel gives his thoughts on training camp.

Rex Hudler:  The former big leaguer talks baseball.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing (still doesn't sound right) another O's win.  Rob also wonders what the most important part of tonight's Ravens game is.  I think its for the starters to stay healthy because the Ravens aren't winning a Super Bowl with a guy battling for a roster spot.  Rob thinks its evaluation.

- David Steele from AOL Fanhouse joined the show and gave his thoughts on Rex Ryan and if the Jets are a team on the brink of imploding.  David also weighed in on Alabama and Florida deciding to ban NFL scouts from practices.

- John Eisenberg from CSNBaltimore.com and BaltimoreRavens.com came on the program and gave three things he is looking for tonight.  John also talked about the offensive line and the wide receivers.

- Chris McClain from 610 The Fan in in Charlotte joined the show to talk about the Carolina Panthers.  Chris gave his thoughts on how the team is looking and the different roster battles that are taking place.  Chris also talked about Matt Moore and the offensive line. 

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The Orioles can't lose and the Ravens kickoff their preseason schedule tonight to begin a season with high expectations.  It's a great time to be a Baltimore sports fan.  I still watch in disbelief how well the O's are playing.  Brad Bergesen was the latest starter to pitch lights out as he pitched a complete game 2-hitter for his third straight quality start.  The offense did just enough, but the story is Bergesen.  He has had an up and down season, moving from the majors to Triple-A and the rotation to the bullpen, but he is finally starting to resemble the guy that was the most consistent starter in 2009.  The O's are now 8-1 under Buck Showalter and look to sweep the Indians tonight.

As for the Ravens, I want to see the starters walk off the field healthy.  It looks like the Ravens will be without their top 3 cornerbacks (4 if you count Dominique Foxworth) tonight and of course Ed Reed.  The first-team offense may play two series and I am not really concerned if they score or not.  I am excited that football is officially back, but I am looking at the big picture.  The Ravens get enough work in during practice and I realize it is good to face another team, but too much can be lost in the preseason.  I don't care if Joe Flacco leads an 80-yard drive for a touchdown, but I do care that he walks off the field and is ready to play next week.

Here is the rundown of today's schedule:

David Steele:  The AOL Fanhouse writer talks all things sports.

Todd Helmick:  The NationalChamps.net editor breaks down the latest news in college football.

John Eisenberg:  The CSNBaltimore.com and BaltimoreRavens.com writer previews tonight's game.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing...another O's win! Rob also talked about the playoff races in baseball and how it will be a great month and a half of games.  Rob wonders what constitutes a first-round bust in the NFL.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give his daily training camp reports.  Tony gave his thoughts on what players will sit out the first preseason game and gave the latest on Jared Gaither.  Tony also talked about the expectations for Thursday's game and the position battles he is watching.

- Baltimore Ravens Team President Dick Cass came on the program to talk about the state of the team.  Dick answered Rob's question of the day and said that a first round pick should be judged on pro bowl type seasons.  Dick also talked about the success of the new autograph policy and the impact Coach Harbaugh has made.  Dick gave an update on the latest involving a new television contract for the Ravens.

- We went Way Back today and talked to Baltimore football legend Lenny Moore.  Lenny gave his thoughts on first round picks and if Mark Clayton has been a bust.  Lenny also had high praise for running back Ray Rice.  Lenny talked about being embraced by the Ravens and what Art Modell means to him.

- Bowie Baysox INF/OF Brandon Waring joined the show to talk about his season.  Brandon has started to play the outfield and enjoys it because it helps his versatility and makes him more serviceable down the road if he is needed in Baltimore.  Brandon also talked about being part of a playoff run.

- Pete Fiutak from CollegeFootballNews.com came on the program to give his thoughts on Alabama and Florida banning NFL Scouts from practice.  Rob thinks the NFL needs to do something, but Pete says it is an NCAA problem, not the NFL's.  Pete also talked about the PAC-10 and the Terps.

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I had a different feeling watching the Orioles last night; I knew they were going to win. When they were down 1-0 after the 3rd inning, no big deal, they will score some runs.  After Jake Arrieta had a rough 4th inning and gave up five runs to put Cleveland ahead 6-4, I knew the team would respond and find a way to take the lead again.  That is exactly what happened as the offense scored a season high 14 runs led by homeruns from Luke Scott, Felix Pie, Corey Patterson, and Matt Wieters.  Arrieta battled for six innings and the bullpen took care of the rest as the O's are now 7-1 under Buck Showalter.  I love watching the national guys on TV talk about the Orioles now.  They seem just as shocked as O's fans about the turnaround that has been made.  I still can't believe one guy can make an immediate impact like Showalter has, but as Arrieta said after the game last night, "It's real fun to be an Oriole right now with the way the guys are swinging the bats and the starters have been able to throw the ball pretty well and go deep into games. We're all having a lot of fun right now."

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Training Camp Reports:  Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com gives updates throughout the show.

Dick Cass:  The Ravens team president talks about everything involving the purple and black.

Way Back Wednesday:  Be sure to tune in to hear who our guest will be.

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- Rob opened up the show talking about another Orioles win.  Rob also wonders if players salaries should be public knowledge.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give training camp reports live from Westminster.  Tony talked about the defense expectations this year along specifically Terrell Suggs.  Tony said practice was laid back today, as they are preparing for Thursday's game.

- Jim Duquette from XM Radio came on the program and gave his thoughts on the recent play from the Orioles.  The former O's GM said the Orioles are fun to watch right now under Buck Showalter and the players are responding because they know Showalter will be the manager for awhile.  Jim also talked about the pennant races in both leagues.

- Richard Cirminiello from CollegeFootballNews.com joined the show to talk college football.  Richard broke down the top 25 and previewed some of the early match-ups.

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The Orioles won again, thanks to another strong starting pitching performance led by Brian Matusz and a walk-off homerun by Brian Roberts in the bottom of the 10th inning.  The O's are now 6-1 under Buck Showalter and the starters have strung together seven straight quality performances.  I am amazed at the immediate impact Showalter has had, and it goes beyond the wins.  Felix Pie could not judge a fly ball consistently since he arrived in Baltimore, but the last week he has been getting great jumps and making tough plays look easy.  Adam Jones cut off a ball on Sunday that kept a run from scoring that I know two weeks ago would have rolled to the wall and allowed the runners to move up a base.  The defense as a whole is playing better than they have all season long and of course the starting pitching is on a level that O's fans have not seen in awhile.  The strength of Showalter is his attention to detail and keeping his players focused.  It is very easy to lose focus when a team is in the field, but with the starters working fast and throwing strikes, the players are able to keep their heads in the game and make plays that before they would have been a step too late. 

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Jim Duquette:  The former Orioles GM gives his thoughts on the start the O's have had under Buck Showalter.

Michael Lombardi:  The NFL Network analyst breaks down the latest news in training camp.

Richard Cirminiello:  The CollegeFootballNews.com writer previews the college football season.

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- Rob opened the show discussing the Orioles improving to 5-1 under Buck Showalter.  According to Rob, when players are speaking the same phrases as the coaches, they are buying in, and that is what is happening with the O's now.  Rob also wonders if Buck represents hope or hype for fans.

- Michael Popovec joined the show live from Ravens training camp to give updates throughout the show.  Michael talked about the defense and the latest on Jared Gaither along with other injured Ravens.

- Dan Graziano from AOL Fanhouse came on the program to talk about his article involving Roger Goodell meeting with players while he is on his training camp tour to talk about the upcoming CBA.  Dan gave his thoughts on if he thinks the 2011 season will start on time and what the biggest issues are for the players and owners.

- Former Oriole Ben McDonald joined the show to talk Orioles.  Ben is covering the Orioles-White Sox series and can't believe how different the team looks now compared to the last time he saw them.  Ben thinks the team is showing more sense of urgency and that is directly related to Buck Showalter.  Ben also talked about some of the younger players showing signs of improvement.

- Gregg Doyel from CBSSports.com came on the program to talk about his article on NCAA's double standards and college football coaches finding ways around the system.  Gregg also talked about Emmitt Smith being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

- Matt Williamson from ESPN.com joined the show to talk some NFL.  Matt gave his thoughts on the AFC North and how the Ravens have gone down in his power rankings because of his concern over the secondary.  Matt also gave his thoughts on how he thinks the Steelers will do and if there will be problems with the Bengals before the season is over.

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The Orioles continued their good play yesterday by defeating the first-place Chicago White Sox 4-3.  The O's are now 5-1 under Buck Showalter and they look to win their second consecutive series tonight in the finale.  Jeremy Guthrie pitched well again as he only gave up one earned run in eight innings while striking out four.  The starters have posted a 1.94 ERA on this homestand.  It has been fun to watch the last week and even when they lost Saturday night, you still thought they had a chance to win with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.  Showalter in one week has done more for this franchise then the previous managers and general managers have combined the last 13 years.  I'm trying to keep this run in perspective, but the fact is, this team is showing signs that fans have not seen before.  Showalter said actions will be the determining factor if this organization can be turned around, not his words.  So far, his actions are speaking loud enough.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Training Camp Reports:  Michael Popovec gives updates live from Westminster.

Matt Williamson:  The ESPN.com writer talks NFL.

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- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason joined Rob and Kristen Berset from FOX 45 on The Saturday Morning Football Show and gave his thoughts on Commissioner Roger Goodell meeting with players during his training camp tour.  Derrick talked about the meeting the Ravens had with the commissioner and his feelings on the upcoming CBA.  Derrick also talked about the other wide receivers on the team and the maturation of Joe Flacco.  Derrick gave an update on his health and if the addition of Anquan Boldin made him more competitive. 

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- Rob opened up the show discussing another Orioles victory (I know, crazy). Rob talked about Jake Arrieta's dominant performance and Buck Showalter.  Rob asks; is Ray Lewis this generation's Johnny Unitas?

- Michael Popovec joined the show to give training camp reports live from Westminster.  Michael talked about the new additions the Ravens made during the offseason and how they are doing so far in camp.  Michael also gave his thoughts on Jared Gaither and the cornerback situation.

- Barry Wilner from the AP came on the program to talk NFL.  Barry gave his thoughts on the Jets, Texans, the injuries sustained by the Broncos, and the Cowboys.  Barry also talked about Ben Roethlisberger and if his suspension will be reduced.

- Kevin Blackistone from AOL Fanhouse and ESPN's Around the Horn joined the show and gave his thoughts on Ray Lewis.  Kevin also talked about the Boston Celtics signing Shaq and Albert Haynesworth sitting out of practice again for the Redskins.

- Former Baltimore Colt Mike Curtis came on the program live from The National Sports Collectors Convention and talked about his career.  Mike gave his thoughts about not being in the Hall of Fame and if he thinks he should.

- Ted Keith from SI.com joined the show to talk about the MLB.  Ted weighed in on the Buck Showalter hiring and thinks he brings instant credibility to the Orioles.  Ted also talked about the pennant races in each division.

- Baltimore Ravens quarterback Marc Bulger came on the program minutes after practice and gave his reason why he chose Baltimore over other teams.  Marc talked about the adjustment of being a backup and what his future holds.  Marc compared the offense he ran in St. Louis to the one in Baltimore and how Ray Rice stacks up.

- Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas joined the show live from The National Sports Collectors Convention and talked about being inducted into Canton.  Thurman also gave his thoughts on how he became an every down back and playing with Jim Kelly.

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For the second consecutive night the old Orioles almost showed up, but Cesar Izturis made sure that did not happen with his game winning hit in the bottom of the ninth as the O's swept the Angels and improved to 3-0 under Buck Showalter.  Jake Arrieta was dominant and was able to pitch deep in the game because he threw strikes.  He did not get the win because Jason Berken gave up a 3-run homerun to Torii Hunter, but this was the best we have seen from Arrieta in his time in Baltimore.  The biggest problem I have had with the young pitchers is their inability to trust their stuff.  Even when they are pitching well, they have to come out of the game in the 5th or 6th inning because of a high pitch count.  I think Showalter will be able to get the message of trusting their stuff across better than the other managers and pitching coaches that have been here before.  Brian Matusz looked like a different pitcher the other night and Arrieta had his best performance last night.  The one pitcher that seems to lack this the most is Chris Tillman, but I am not sure we will see him in Baltimore anytime soon.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Training Camp Reports:  Michael Popovec gives updates live from Westminster.

Barry Wilner:  The AP writer breaks down the NFL.

Kevin Blackistone:  The AOL Fanhouse columnist talks all things sports.

Ted Keith:  The SI.com writer gives his thoughts on the baseball season.

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- Rob opened the show discussing the 2-0 start the Orioles have had under Buck Showalter. 

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show live from Westminster to give training camp updates throughout the show.  Tony talked about the toughness of camp, the Ravens practicing plays in the redzone, and the latest on the injured Ravens.

- Mike Harmon from FOXSports.com came on the program to talk about his training camp tour.  Mike was at Ravens camp yesterday and said the Ravens practice is a step above the other teams he has watched.  Mike also said the Ravens are a complete team and he thinks Joe Flacco is becoming the leader that the Ravens need.

- David Steele from AOL Fanhouse joined the show and commented on the Ravens secondary and if they can be an elite unit this season.  David also talked about Alex Rodriguez hitting his 600th homerun and how no one cares.

- Scott Hoffman from OriolesHangout.com came on the program and gave his thoughts on Buck Showalter through two games.  Scott thinks Buck will shake up the organization and leave his own imprint. (My opinion) I agree with Scott, but it goes beyond just the players on the field and the coaches.  Buck has already stopped the Wired Wednesday segment from the dugout and he said last night he will take a picture in his office down and replace it with something else, because...the Orioles were in the field and the bases were loaded.

- Former Oriole pitcher Mike Boddicker joined Rob live at the The National Sports Collectors Convention.  Mike gave his thoughts on the current Orioles and talked about his career in Baltimore.

- Marc Spears from YahooSports.com came on the program to talk about the NBA offseason.  Marc commented on the Celtics signing Shaq and if this makes Boston the favorite in the East.

- Former Oriole Scott McGregor joined Rob at The Nationals Sports Collectors Convention and talked about his career and coaching the Ironbirds.  Scott also gave his thoughts on the Buck Showalter hiring.

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The old Orioles almost showed up last night to blow an 8-run lead, but they held on to defeat the Angels 9-7 and improve to 2-0 under new manager Buck Showalter.  On the show yesterday, we talked about a couple of players that might improve under Showalter.  The two obvious names were Adam Jones and Matt Wieters and both have played well the first two games, however, the one player that was not named, Felix Pie, has five hits in his last two games.  I have been critical of Pie because I see a player with tons of talent, but is unable to stay healthy and seems to lack baseball instincts.  Pie has all the tools to be successful, but sometimes his focus is not there and it affects his play on the field.  I think Showalter recognizes this and will be able to turn Pie into the player that made him a top prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Training Camp Reports:  Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com gives updates from Westminster throughout the show.

Mike Harmon:  The FOXSports.com writer talks about his day at Ravens camp.

David Steele:  The AOL Fanhouse columnist talks all things sports.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing Buck Showalter's debut and how this brings hope to Orioles fans.  Rob talks about Showalter's impact and if this will finally make the Orioles a winner again.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give live updates from Ravens training camp.  Tony talked about Derrick Mason's injury, the offensive tackle situation, Anquan Boldin's impact and Roger Goodell visiting practice.

- Solomon Wilcots from NFL Network came on the program and gave his thoughts on the leadership Ray Lewis brings to the Ravens.  Solomon also talked about the high salaries that rookies are receiving before playing a game in the NFL.  Solomon previewed the 49ers, Eagles, Broncos, and Titans.

- We went Way Back today and talked to former Baltimore Colt legend Art Donovan.  Art compared his era to today's era.  Art's favorite player to watch is Peyton Manning and Manning reminds him a lot of Johnny Unitas.  Art also had time to share some entertaining stories about his career.

- Former big leaguer Jeff Nelson joined the show and gave his thoughts on Buck Showalter.  Jeff played for Showalter in 2004 for the Texas Rangers.  Jeff also talked about the playoff push from several teams.

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I told myself I would not get too excited while I was at the Orioles game last night, but in a historically bad season, it was hard not to.  The O's had great starting pitching, a bullpen that held the lead, solid defense, and timely hits.  In other words, they played a complete game and actually looked like a baseball team.  Buck Showalter's debut went off without a hitch as the Orioles defeated the Angels 6-3.  The fans at Camden Yards cheered every time he came out of the dugout or appeared on the stadium's big screen.  The team responded by looking more focused and their energy level appeared to be turned up a notch as they were trying to make a strong first impression. 

It is only one game, and I will keep that in perspective, but Showalter has already showed that he will not make in-game decisions based by "the book."  The one (of many) criticism I had with past managers is I knew what they were going to do based on conventional thinking.  If the Orioles had a lead late in the game, the manager would insert his closer and if it did not work, he could say that it was the right decision.  Showalter has already said he he will manage based on what his gut is telling him and last night calling on Michael Gonzalez in the 8th inning showed that as Gonzalez has not been called upon in a late inning role since he was activated from the DL.  Then with one out to go, Showalter took Gonzalez out of the game and let Alfredo Simon finish it, even though the O's had a 3-run lead and Gonzalez would have earned the save.  When Showalter was asked after the game why he did that, he said he is more concerned with winning, then someone earning a save. 

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Training Camp Reports:  Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com gives updates live from Westminster throughout the show.

Solomon Wilcots:  The NFL Network analyst breaks down the NFL.

Way Back Wednesday:  Be sure to tune in to hear who our guest will be.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing Buck Showalter's press conference and he is happy Buck did not give excuses about playing in the AL East.  Buck embraces the challenge and Rob loves that.  Rob also talked about Jared Gaither's injury.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show to give training camp reports live from Westminster.  Tony talked about Gaither, the play of the offensive line, John Beck being traded, and Derrick Mason's injury.

- Jason La Canfora from the NFL Network came on the program and gave his thoughts on Darrelle Revis holding out from Jets camp.  Jason also gave his thoughts on the Jets as a whole and what to expect from them this season.  Jason talked about LT and Albert Haynesworth. 

- Joe Reedy from the Cincinnati Enquirer joined the show as we conclude our preview of the Ravens schedule.  Joe says everything is good so far in training camp, but that could change quickly. 

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After watching Buck Showalter's press conference yesterday, I thought one thing; if this guy can't turn this organization around, then we could be watching losing baseball for another 13 years...at least.  Showalter's resume is well documented and he is a proven winner.  He said he did his homework before taking the job, but I still think he doesn't know exactly what he is getting himself into.  We have said many times on the show that the Orioles need to "gut" the losing culture and Showalter is the first of hopefully many steps of doing that.  I liked how Showalter said he will not give the fans "lip service," but instead let the actions speak for themselves.  Too many times we have heard the PR spin and bought into it.  Showalter recognized that O's fans have been there before and have become tired of hearing the same stuff over and over again.  Showalter also did not allow himself to use the AL East as an excuse for the team's struggles.  Showalter said it is a challenge and he is looking forward to it and knows the Orioles just have to work harder than the other teams in the division.  Good luck Buck as you will need a lot of it trying to clean this mess.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Training Camp Reports:  Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com gives updates throughout the show live from Westminster.

Jason La Canfora:  The NFL Network analyst breaks down the latest updates in the NFL.

Jeff Nelson:  The former big league pitcher talks about playing for Buck Showalter in 2004 with the Texas Rangers.

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- Rob opened up the show giving his thoughts on the most impressive unit so far in training camp for the Ravens.  Rob also talks about Jared Gaither's injury and what former Raven would fans like to see return.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com joined the show from Westminster to give training camp updates throughout the show.  Tony talked about Gaither, the tight end situation, the intensity of the practices, and the linebackers.

- Ken Rosenthal from FOXSports.com came on the program to talk MLB.  Ken gave his thoughts on Buck Showalter taking over for the Orioles today and if he should pick his own coaches now instead of after the season.  Ken also talked about Andy MacPhail's future and the importance of Showalter trying to reach out and talk to former Orioles.

- Ralph Russo from the AP joined the show to talk college football.  Ralph gave his thoughts on the top 25, the top games of the season, and how Navy will do.

- Matt Bowen from NationalFootbalPost.com came on the program to talk some football while he was on his way to Packers camp.  Matt talked about Aaron Rodgers and how expects the Packers to have a huge season this year.  Matt also talked about the conditioning tests that the players have to take and the impact of Dez Bryant's injury.

- Jerry Coleman joined the show live from the Warehouse before Buck Showalter's press conference.  Jerry broke the news that Juan Samuel will stay with the team, but not as the third base coach.

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The Buck Showalter era officially begins today when he is introduced as the manager by Andy MacPhail.  It won't take him long to realize how bad of shape this organization is in, which makes me wonder how much power Showalter will have.  Showalter is a smart man, and he would not put his reputation on the line if he didn't have more power than a regular manager would.  The Orioles may down play the influence Showalter will have outside of the big league club, but starting in the offseason, Showalter's fingerprints will be all over the organization.  I said it when Showalter's name emerged as the front runner to take over as manager, he is the only guy that can come here and have the immediate respect from the players and the resume to request to have say in the personnel decisions that are made.

Injuries hit the Baltimore Ravens over the first couple of days of training camp at two units they could not afford to lose anymore players.  During the offseason, depth at secondary and offensive line were a question mark, and less than a week in, it appears to be a huge issue.  No one knows the extent of Jared Gaither's back injury, but Gaither is quickly earning the reputation of being injury prone.  He missed five games last season, was hurt throughout OTAs and was injured on the first day of full-team practices in training camp.  With the lack of depth at offensive line, the Ravens better hope Gaither is only suffering from cramps as first reported on Friday.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Training Camp Reports with Tony Lombardi:  The editor for Ravens24x7.com gives updates from Westminster throughout the show.

Ken Rosenthal:  The FOXSports.com MLB writer talks trading deadline and Buck Showalter's debut.

Matt Bowen:  The NationalFootballPost.com writer gives his thoughts on training camp.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing Miguel Tejada being traded to the San Diego Padres.  Rob also talked about Buck Showalter finally being hired and wonders how much power he will have. 

- Gary Graves from USA Today joined the show to talk about his article on Joe Flacco.  Gary gave his impressions of Flacco and thinks he was put in a tough situation as a rookie and has stepped up to the challenge his first two seasons.  Gary also talked about the relationship Flacco has with John Harbaugh and Jim Zorn.

- Tony Lombardi from Ravens24x7.com came on the program live from Ravens training camp and gave us updates throughout the show.

- Dan Connolly from the Baltimore Sun joined the show to give his thoughts on the Showalter hiring and Tejada trade.  Dan thinks Showalter will bring discipline, accountability, and a winning approach.

- Former New Orleans Saints player Michael Lewis came on the program to talk about the offseason the Super Bowl champs have had.  Michael thinks the Saints are ready to defend their title and he thinks they are easily the top team in the NFC.

- Ravens receiver Mark Clayton joined the show right after practice to give an update on how the first full-team practice went.  Mark talked about his goals for the 2010 season and how the offense has evolved during the offseason.

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Today is a great day if you are a Baltimore sports fan.  The official start of training camp begins in Westminster for the Ravens, and the Orioles made two moves yesterday that could move them in the right direction.  As I said yesterday when I wrote about Miguel Tejada being traded to the San Diego Padres, this move was more about opening a spot for Josh Bell to play everyday than it was getting a top notch player back.  However, it appears Wynn Pelzer could be useful down the road as a power reliever.  Andy MacPhail has a lot of flaws, but he does seem to find a way to make productive trades and by moving a 36-year-old declining infielder for a potential late-inning reliever, he may have done it again. 

The hiring of Buck Showalter is way overdue and Showalter is the only guy that can turn this organization around.  Showalter has the reputation of being a control freak and can rub some people the wrong way.  My take: get over it!  This organization has had no control in the last 13 years and they need someone who wants everything done a certain way and wants it done right.  If a player/coach or front office member does not like it, they can find another team to work for.  Showalter will have two months to see just how bad this franchise is, and this will allow him to make the moves needed in the offseason to put the Orioles back on track.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Training Camp Reports with Tony Lombardi:  The Ravens24x7.com editor gives us the latest updates from the official start of training camp.

Dan Connolly:  The Baltimore Sun writer talks about the latest moves involving the Orioles.

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The Orioles have traded third baseman Miguel Tejada to the San Diego Padres for minor league pitcher Wynn Pelzer, pending league approval according to the Baltimore Sun. Tejada signed with the Orioles in the offseason and batted .269 with 7 homeruns and 39 RBIs. Tejada first played with Baltimore from 2004-2007.

Pelzer is 6-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 22 games (18 starts) for San Antonio, the Padres' Double-A affiliate. The 24-year-old is a ninth round pick in 2007, and was ranked as the seventh-best prospect in San Diego's system by Baseball America.

Third base prospect Josh Bell is on his way back to the majors from Triple-A Norfolk after two previous stints earlier this season.

My take:  I was hoping for a position player, but I can't complain when a 36-year-old is traded for a 24-year-old who is a top 10 prospect in an organization.  Pelzer was rated as having the best fastball and slider in the Padres organization and even though he has been a starter throughout his minor league career, it appears his future may be best suited for the bullpen.  The knock on the Orioles bullpen over the last couple of seasons has been the lack of power arms and too many situational pitchers.  However, that has started to change with former starters Jason Berken, David Hernandez, and Alfredo Simon being converted to relievers. 

This also opens the door for Josh Bell to become the everyday third baseman for the last two months of the season.  Bell struggled early in the season, but in his last 10 games with the Norfolk Tides, he has batted .381 with 5 homeruns.  Overall, Bell batted .278 with 13 homeruns, 50 RBIs, and 25 doubles.  In 19 at-bats with the Orioles, Bell batted .263.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing Ed Reed's latest comments that he made on a Cleveland radio station.

- Ed Lee from the Baltimore Sun joined the show to give his thoughts on the first two days of Ravens camp.  Ed talked about Terrell Suggs reportedly showing up in great shape and Jared Gaither showing up early to camp as well.  When the full-team begins practicing tomorrow morning, Ed wants to see who fills in for Ed Reed and how the offense looks.

- David Steele from AOL Fanhouse came on the program and commented on the criticism Joe Flacco receives from fans and his expectations of the Ravens defense.

- ND Kalu from the Texans broadcast team joined the show as we continue to preview the Ravens schedule.  The former NFL player talked about the expectations for the Texans this year and the tough schedule Houston has.  ND also gave his thoughts on T.O. signing with the Bengals.

- Peter Schrager from FOXSports.com came on the program and talked about Dez Bryant and if he thinks he was out of line.  Peter also gave his thoughts on the Chargers, Raiders, Redskins, and if he thinks Jay Cutler and Mike Martz will make a good team in Chicago.

- Todd Helmick from NationalChamps.net joined the show in-studio to talk college football.  Todd gave his thoughts on Alabama and what player will step up and become the leader.  Todd also previewed the ACC.

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The Ravens will hold a team administrative day today before finally starting training camp with the entire team on Friday.  The past two days have been fun because football is back, but it will be good to talk about real action instead of a rookie DT who failed a conditioning test on his first try.  Training camp is important of course, but this is also the time of the year where coaches and reporters will point out specific players who are having a good camp, and many of them will not make an impact during the season.  We will hear a lot about receivers Justin Harper and Demetrius Williams, but I will not be getting my hopes up.  I was fooled in years past by these two, but that will not happen again.  I think when the regular season starts, Williams will be on another football team and Harper will be on the practice squad.  Daily O's update...they lost again and Rick Kranitz is not happy with the progress of the young pitchers.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Ed Lee:  The Baltimore Sun writer breaks down the first two days of camp.

David Steele:  The AOL Fanhouse columnist talks all things sports.

Peter Schrager:  The FOXSports.com writer previews the NFL season.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the opening of training camp and responded to Cam Cameron's remarks in regards to the battle for the third quarterback spot on the roster.

- Mike Duffy from BaltimoreRavens.com joined the show and gave his thoughts on Terrence Cody failing the conditioning test yesterday.  We learned during the interview that he passed the test today and was able to practice.  Mike commented on the team's focus and the storylines that he is watching this training camp.

- Michael Lombardi from the NFL Network came on the program and gave his thoughts on T.O. signing with the Bengals and if this move will improve the team.  Michael also talked about the AFC North division and how he thinks the division will play out.

- We broadcasted live from the CAA Media Day at M&T Bank Stadium and CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager joined the show and previewed the conference.  Tom also talked about the roles of agents and college players.

- We went Way Back today and talked to former Raven and Super Bowl champion Duane Starks.  Duane talked about being a Raven and returning an interception for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.  Duane also gave his thoughts on being underrated as a player and the importance of film study during his career.  Duane talked about playing in Baltimore and playing for Brian Billick.

- Delaware head football coach KC Keeler joined the show live from the CAA Media Day and talked about Joe Flacco and previewed the season.

- Jerry Coleman, host of Sports with Coleman, came on the program live from training camp and gave the latest details from today's practice.

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The biggest news to come from the first training camp practice for the Ravens was rookie Terrence Cody failing his conditioning test.  I still don't know what to make of this.  I would like to see any player, especially a rookie, come to camp in shape and ready for the season, but Cody is close to 350 lbs.  I can't imagine he did a lot of sprints in the offseason.  Cody's game is 5 yards at a time and having an explosive first step and that is probably how he trained.  The coaches publicly will make it a big deal to motivate Cody, but deep down, I don't think they care that he can't run 20 yards in a certain amount of time. 

After listening to John Harbaugh, Cam Cameron, and Joe Flacco, it appears the biggest aspect of the offense the team wants to approve is redzone efficiency.  However, most of the questions asked by reporters surrounded the development of Flacco, which makes sense as I think he has to have a Pro Bowl season if the Ravens want to reach the Super Bowl.  Oh yea...the Orioles lost again and T.O. decided to join the circus known as the Cincinnati Bengals.

***Update at 8:35am*** Cody passed the conditioning test and will practice today.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Way Back Wednesday:  Be sure to listen to hear who our WBW guest will be.

Michael Lombardi:  The NFL Network analyst gives his thoughts on the NFL.

Mike Duffy:  The BaltimoreRavens.com writer talks training camp.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the Ravens as training camp finally begins.  Rob says there is pressure on Coach John Harbaugh because of the high expectations and the success the team has had in his first two years.  Rob talks about what he wants to see in training camp this summer.

- Alex Marvez from FOXSports.com joined the show to talk NFL.  Alex was insightful as always as he gave his thoughts on Sergio Kindle and his future.  Alex also talked T.O. and where he thinks he will play this season.

- Baltimore Ravens rookie tight end Dennis Pitta joined the show minutes after practice finished and gave his thoughts on how it went.  Dennis talked about the expectations he has this season and the difficulty of the conditioning test.

- Anwar Richardson from the Tampa Tribune came on the program to talk Buccaneers as we continue to preview the Ravens season.  Anwar talked about Terrence Cody failing his conditioning test and if he is surprised.  Anwar previewed the Bucs schedule and gave his thoughts about the offense.

- Jerry Coleman from Sports with Coleman joined the show to recap day one of training camp.  Jerry talked about Terrence Cody failing the conditioning test and says Coach Harbaugh was not happy.  Jerry also points out that the Ravens first two draft picks are not on the field and that is not a good thing.

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With rookies, QBs, and selected veterans practicing today, the 2010 season officially gets started.  Fans have had to get their football fix over the last couple of months by watching the combine, the draft, and old replays on NFL Network.  Unfortunately, the one player I was most excited to watch as training camp started, will not be in attendance, and I will be shocked if he plays at all this season.  Coach John Harbaugh announced yesterday that Sergio Kindle has a fractured skull and will miss the entire training camp and his season is in jeopardy.  Even though Kindle is a rookie, I thought he would make an immediate impact as a pass rusher.  I know many people are quick to point to the secondary as the biggest weakness on the Ravens, but I have thought all along that it was the pass rush.  I was hoping Kindle would be the lift the team needed, but with his injury, all eyes will be on Terrell Suggs to see if he has come to training camp in shape and ready to rebound from his 2009 sub-par season.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Alex Marvez:  The FOXSports.com NFL writer previews the start of training camp.

Anwar Richardson:  The TB Tribune writer talks Buccaneers as we continue to preview the Ravens season.

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- Rob opened up the show talking about the latest offseason incident involving the Ravens and how he is now officially concerned.  Rob gave the timeline of the different distractions that have happened and thinks this not good for the Ravens.

- John Eisenberg from CSNBaltimore.com and BaltimoreRavens.com joined the show to preview the start of training camp.  John talked about CSNBaltimore.com being launched and what readers could expect from the site.  John gave his thoughts on the offseason distractions and if he thinks Terrell Suggs will show up to camp in shape. 

- Former Orioles GM Jim Duquette came on the program and weighed in on Dan Haren being traded to the Angels.  Jim also talked about the incident involving Chone Figgins and commented on the Orioles Hangout story.

- Ross Tucker from GoBigRecruiting.com joined the show to talk about Sergio Kindle and if the different things that have happened with the Ravens this offseason will be a distraction.  Ross also commented on Dez Bryant.

- Play-by-Play announcer for the Carolina Panthers Mick Mixon came on the program as we continue to preview the Ravens schedule.  Mick talked about the uneventful offseason for the Panthers and the future of John Fox.  Mick also updated everyone on Steve Smith.

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I wrote about it on Friday.  I wanted training camp to begin as soon as possible because it seems like the Ravens can't get out of their own way this offseason.  Then the news came on Sunday that second round pick Sergio Kindle will not be reporting to camp today because he suffered a head injury due to falling down two flights of stairs.  Nothing that has occurred this offseason compares to this because now it will affect what happens on the football field.  This also raises some character issues that were brought up around draft time and caused Kindle to fall in the draft.  In 2007, Kindle was arrested for driving while intoxicated and in 2009, he had a one-car accident where he damaged a building and left the scene.  It is expected that Kindle makes a full recovery, but he needs to use this latest situation as a wake-up call and realize he has the greatest opportunity of his life and start to take advantage of it.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

John Eisenberg: The CSNBaltimore.com and BaltimoreRavens.com contributor previews the start of training camp.

Jim Duquette: The former O's GM and current analyst for XM Radio gives his thoughts on the playoff races in baseball and talks trading deadline.

Ross Tucker: The SI.com writer gives his thoughts on the start of training camp.

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I am glad that training camp begins next week as I have had enough with all the comments that have been made, especially recently.  For a team that is primed to make a Super Bowl run, there have been many distractions during the offseason.  I don't know how serious each issue is, but the fact that there have been issues, is not good.  It started with Jared Gaither not happy with moving from left tackle to right tackle and if he was going to get traded.  Then Le'Ron McClain came out and said he wanted more touches, Terrell Suggs said he will be at OTA's and was not, and of course the recent comments from Joe Flacco and Ed Reed.  Again, all of this can be a non-issue, but it is not good for a team that should have one focus.

- Rob opened up the show talking about the ejections that took place last night during the Orioles game.  Rob also talked about HGH testing in minor league baseball and if other sports will adopt that.

- Matt Vensel from B Free Daily and BaltimoreSun.com joined the show and gave his thoughts on the recent comments made by the Joe Flacco and Ed Reed and if we are reading too much into it. 

- Darryl Orlando Ledbetter from The Atlanta Journal Constitution came on the program to talk about the Falcons as we continue to preview the Ravens season.  Darryl talks about the youth on the team and if Michael Turner and Matt Ryan are ready to have a big season.  Darryl also gave his thoughts on the defense.

- Charles Davis from the NFL Network joined the show to talk football.  Charles commented on Ed Reed's comments and if it will become a big problem for the Ravens.  Charles also talked about Ray Lewis and the expectations the team has this season.  Charles gave his thoughts on Dez Bryant signing with the Cowboys and previewed the Ravens-Jets MNF Week 1 match-up.

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I haven't been that excited watching an Orioles game since the beginning of April before Michael Gonzalez single-handily ruined the season.  The sad part, the O's were losing and ended up losing 5-0!  Ty Wigginton's and Juan Samuel's ejections will definitely be one of the highlights of the 2010 season and that bothers me.  I know fans are saying they were excited to see some emotion from the team, but I will take wins over emotion.  I never understood how people can point to an emotional  player and say they want to win more than someone who goes out and takes care of their business.  Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano is emotional, but I call him an idiot.  It is all about winning, and the Orioles haven't done enough of it this year.  When they start to win, I am sure we will see more than enough emotion from the team.

Here is a rundown of today's guests:

Jim Duquette:  Former Oriole GM talks baseball.

Charles Davis:  The NFL Network analyst breaks down the start of training camp.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing Nick Saban's comments and if college athletes should be paid.

- Edgar Thompson from the Palm Beach Post joined the show to talk about the Miami Dolphins as we continue to preview the Ravens schedule.  Edgar thinks the Dolphins are being overrated by the experts because they still have too much inexperience.

- NFL agent Adisa Bakari came on the program to give his thoughts on agents talking to players who are still in college.  Adisa said the rules shouldn't be changed, but it needs to be enforced.  Adisa also thinks college athletes should be paid.

- Tony Pente from OriolesHangout.com joined the show to talk about his article, Actions Speak Louder than Words.  Tony talked about the start of the demise by the Orioles and how Peter Angelos is to blame.  Tony also talked about the bulletproof people in the organization and the slow process the O's take when it comes to making deals.  Tony also weighed in on the trades that could have been, the Andy MacPhail regime, and if there is hope in Baltimore.

- Don Banks from SI.com came on the program to talk about his article on the Ravens.  Don thinks Baltimore is set up for a Super Bowl run and they are at the top of the AFC.  Don talked about the other AFC contenders, but thinks the Super Bowl will be Ravens-Packers.

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Ed Reed opened his mouth again yesterday, this time at his football camp.  Reed doesn't think the team supports him enough, "I haven't had the support from the other side as you think has been there," Reed told Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun. "If I don't say it now, it won't ever get said."  I think this is why organizations cringe when the offseason begins.  They are unable to control what the players say because they are not standing next to them like they do during the season.  Reed has been quiet during his career as a Raven and when he does speak, it is in a controlled environment. 

It is bad timing for Reed to speak out now as training camp starts next week, but as he said, if it is not said now, it won't be said until next offseason as he will be kept in line during the season by the coaches and his teammates.  I just want training camp to begin so we can talk about football, but I would be naive to think that the comments made by Reed, Joe Flacco, and Terrell Suggs during the offseason is a "non-story."  I think Coach John Harbaugh will be able to get a handle on everything next week, but there have been too many comments to suggest this can be pushed under the rug.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

David Steele:  The AOL Fanhouse columnist gives his thoughts on the latest headlines in the world of sports.

Don Banks:  The SI.com NFL writer talks about his article on the Ravens and why he thinks they are set up for a Super Bowl run.

Tony Pente:  The OriolesHangout.com publisher weighs in on his article about the O's.

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- Rob opened up the show talking about the Orioles extra inning win last night that ended their 4-game losing streak.  Rob also talked about Lou Piniella announcing he will retire at the end of the season.  Rob brought up Ed Reed's comments about Marc Bulger and asks if he made too much of Joe Flacco's comments now?

- Barry Wilner from the AP joined the show to talk NFL.  Barry gave his thoughts on the Bulger signing and says Bulger is "damaged goods."  Barry also talked about Brett Favre and Chris Johnson's pay raise.

- Ted Keith from SI.com came on the program to talk MLB.  Ted talked about Piniella announcing he will retire when the season ends and if he will manage again.  Ted gave his thoughts on the potential replacements in Chicago and if Buck Showalter is a candidate.  Ted weighed in on the NL East as well.

- We went Way Back today and talked to former Oriole Doug DeCinces.  Doug talked about replacing the legend known as Brooks Robinson and the reaction from the fans he received.  Doug also talked about the great teams he played on and how they never beat themselves.  Doug gave insight on the process that led to his departure from Baltimore and how much he wanted to stay.

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It took 13 innings, but the Orioles ended their 4-game losing streak and finally have a win in the second half of the season by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 11-10 on Julio Lugo's single to score Cesar Izturis.  The O's offense has struggled since the All-Star break ended, but they were able to hit 4 homeruns, including 3 straight, to give the team a boost after starter Jake Arrieta failed to get out of the sixth inning.  Arrieta's command was off as he walked four batters and constantly pitched behind hitters.  This is the third consecutive game that an Oriole starter was unable to pitch deep into the game.  With the next scheduled off-day for the O's not until August, the starters have to start pitching deeper or the bullpen will be fried in two weeks.  The bullpen has pitched well overall for about a month now, but there will come a time that the starters will need to step their game up. 

The news came yesterday that Chris Tillman was demoted again to Triple-A to make room for Kevin Millwood as he will start Thursday night against the Minnesota Twins.  I don't agree with sending Tillman down again.  I am not making excuses for him, but it is hard to get comfortable when every start determines whether or not you stay in the big leagues.  Tillman has nothing else to prove in the minors, allow him to get 6-8 starts in the majors before deciding if he needs more time in Triple-A.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Way Back Wednesday guest:  Be sure to tune in to hear who our guest will be.

Barry Wilner:  The AP writer talks NFL.

Ted Keith:  The SI.com writer gives his thoughts on the MLB playoffs races.

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- Rob opened up the show wondering if he made too big of a deal yesterday about the comments Joe Flacco made in the Baltimore Sun.

- Erik Scalavino from Patriots Football Weekly joined the show as we continue to preview the Ravens schedule.  Erik gave his thoughts on Tom Brady and his potential holdout.  Erik also talked about the AFC East and the improvements the Jets have made along with the weaknesses on the Patriots  Erik said a 9-7 record may be optimistic.

- Richard Cirminiello from CollegeFootballNews.com came on the program and talked about the NCAA investigating some of the more high-powered schools in the country.  Richard also talked about Auburn and Notre Dame.

- Joseph Mahoney from the Bowie Baysox came on the program to talk about his season.  The first baseman was recently promoted from Frederick and has had immediate success at the Double-A level.  Joseph talked about being promoted and working on consistency.

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I guess I could post my "Monday on The Rob Long Show" blog today and insert the name Chris Tillman instead of Brian Matusz and it would still make sense.  Tillman reverted back to his pre-Texas start last night as he could not pitch past the third inning.  Tillman was unable to command his fastball which makes his other pitches ineffective and against the a team like the Tampa Bay Rays, the results aren't going to be good.  Tillman gave up 8 earned runs and walked four in 2 2/3 innings and his season ERA is now 7.92.  I was hoping he was able to build off of the great start he had against the Rangers, but instead, he looked like the pitcher that has struggled in most of his big league starts.  Tillman needs to stay in the majors, but he also needs to start pitching better.

The reality is that there are no veterans to take the pressure off of them.  This is a bad baseball team and they will sink or swim by the results of the young pitching.  The Rays had a rookie pitcher starting as well in Wade Davis, but he is able to go through his struggles because he has more established pitchers ahead of him.  That is not the case for the Orioles and hasn't been all season long.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Richard Cirminiello:  The CollegeFootballNews.com writer talks about the recent investigations by the NCAA into some of the high-power programs.

Michael Lombardi:  The NFL Network analyst gives his thoughts on the opening of training camp.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing Joe Flacco's comments with Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun talking about potential chemistry issues with Marc Bulger.

- David Ginsburg from the AP joined the show to recap the O's-Jays series.  David gave his thoughts on being swept and what happens next with the managerial search.  David also talked about Joe Flacco's comments.

- Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll came on the program to talk about his book Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play like a Champion.  Coach Carroll discussed the reason he left USC for the NFL and the lessons he learned along the way in becoming a great football coach.  Coach Carroll talked about his coaching philosophy and the NCAA sanctions placed on the Trojans.

- Lindsay Jones from the Denver Post came on the program to talk about the Broncos as we continue to preview the Ravens schedule.  Lindsay talked about the offseason, Tim Tebow's future, and the tough schedule Denver has this season.

- Greg Amsinger from MLB Network joined the show to talk baseball.  Greg gave his thoughts on the AL East, the race in the AL Central, and if any team can catch the Texas Rangers in the AL West.

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The mysterious case of Brian Matusz.  The former first round draft pick at times looks like the potential ace for years to come, but at other times, he looks like he may need more time in Triple-A.  The life of a young major league baseball player; inconsistency.  I think the problem with Matusz, as is most of the young players on the Orioles, is they think too much.  Instead of just allowing their natural talent to take over, they put too much pressure on themselves and the results are what they have been all season long.  This goes back to what Rob has said all season long; the Orioles do not have enough quality veterans on the team to take the pressure off the young players.  Luke Scott and Ty Wigginton are worried about their own careers, not helping young players.  Also, they aren't exactly going to win games on their own.  Here are the amount of earned runs Matusz has given up since May:

May 4 - 1ER, May 9 - 6ER, May 15 - 0ER, May 20 - 7ER, May 26 - 6ER
June 1 - 1ER, June 6 - 2ER, June 12 - 3ER, June 18 - 1ER, June 23 - 6ER, June 29 - 3ER
July 4 - 0ER, July 9 - 4ER(3IP), July 18 - 6ER

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Pete Carroll:  The Seattle Seahawks head coach talks about his new book: Win Forever

Greg Amsinger: The MLB Network anchor gives his thoughts on the start of the second half.

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- Rob opened up the show talking about the 2003 draft.  Rob and KZ did a re-draft and picked the entire first round of how it should have gone.

- John Harris from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review joined the show to talk about the Steelers as we continue to preview the Ravens schedule.  John said the Steelers are finally getting back on track after a bumpy offseason and the first step was extending Mike Tomlin's contract.  John also talked about the tough schedule and thinks Pittsburgh will finish 9-7.

- Scott Hoffman from OriolesHangout.com came on the program and previewed the second half of the season.  Scott talked about Matt Wieters being placed on the DL and if Josh Bell will play this time.  Scott also talked about Buck Showalter and Nick Markakis.

- Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brett Cecil joined the show to talk about his season.  The former Terp talked about playing at Maryland and Dematha.  Brett also gave his thoughts on the improvements he has made from his rookie year to this season. 

- Peter Schrager from FOXSports.com came on the program to talk NFL.  Peter chimed in on the 2003 re-draft and gave his top stories of the offseason.  Peter also talked about the importance of Ed Reed and the AFC North.

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The Orioles finally return to action tonight as the Toronto Blue Jays come to town.  Brad Bergesen will be on the mound for the O's against Ricky Romero.  With the second half starting, here are the things I would like to see happen the rest of the season:


1.  The continued development of the cavalry:  The future success for the O's hinges on Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, and Chris Tillman pitching to their potential.  Matusz has given up 3 earned runs or less in 6 of his last 8 starts and Arrieta has 5 quality starts in his 7 career starts.  The wildcard is Tillman.  Tillman has dominated Triple-A all season long but that has yet to translate to the big leagues until his last start against the Texas Rangers.  I think Tillman needs to stay in the rotation for the rest of the season, but obviously he needs to pitch like his last start more often.  Kevin Millwood will be coming off the DL soon so someone will be replaced, but the Orioles need to keep these three young pitchers in the rotation.

2.  Consistency from Adam Jones and Matt Wieters at the plate:  Adam Jones has hit well since the beginning of June and he needs to continue that for the rest of the season.  He is starting to show the power that many people expected and his pitch recognition has improved dramatically.  I don't think his OBP will ever be high, but if he swings at more strikes, his natural ability will take over.  Matt Wieters has started to show signs of life, but he will begin the second half on the disabled list.  This could be good for him in the long run, as it may allow him to stay fresh in September.  He will more than likely go on a rehab assignment before he returns which could help him find his swing for good.

3.  Avoid the August/September swoon:  Could the season really get worse?  Well, if the last few years is any indication it could.  The Orioles always struggle the last couple of months as they head into the offseason.  However, with the start that they have had, I can't imagine they will be able to top that.  It is important for the young players to continue to gain more experience the last couple of months, but they also need to learn how to win.  If next season is going to be the complete opposite of this year, the young players need to start reaching their potential and start putting "W's" on the board.

4.  Hire a manager:  This should be the easiest but most important decision for the future of the Orioles.  Andy MacPhail is being very deliberate with the managerial process as he always does when it comes to decisions.  Juan Samuel has held the fort down, but I agree with Rob, Samuel is proving just how bad Dave Trembley was.  When you can point to the team showing better effort under Samuel, that is not good enough.  Every manager should expect effort from their players.  Buck Showalter is the clear favorite and should be hired soon.  It needs to happen now.  He needs to implement his philosophy now so heading into the offseason there is not a transition period and the Orioles can hit the ground running trying to sign free agents and make the essential moves needed for an improved 2011 season.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Brett Cecil:  The Blue Jays starter and former Terp talks about his season.

Scott Hoffman:  The OriolesHangout.com contributor previews the second half of the season.

Peter Schrager:  The FOXSports.com writer gives his thoughts on the NFL offseason.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing players that were drafted in the first round in the last 10 years who were busts and if the team that drafted them could do it over, would they even draft them at all.

- Kevin Byrne, Senior VP, Public, and Community Relations of the Baltimore Ravens, joined the show to talk about the new autograph policy that will take place in training camp.  Kevin also previewed the camp and how this could be a special season in Baltimore.

- David Steele from AOL Fanhouse came on the program and he weighed in on the new Ravens autograph policy.  David also talked about the first round busts in the NFL.

- Marla Ridenour from The Akron Beacon Journal joined the show to talk about the Cleveland Browns as we continue to preview the Ravens schedule.  Marla talked about the position battles that will take place in training camp and the tough schedule the Browns have this season.

- Mike Duffy from BaltimoreRavens.com came on the program and talked about covering training camp.  Mike gave his thoughts on the position battles between the receivers and the secondary.  Mike also talked about the development of Joe Flacco and the rookie he is most excited to see.

- Todd Helmick from NationalChamps.net joined the show to talk college football.  Todd talked about the SEC and Heisman candidates this season.

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The world of sports will resume today after taking a day off on Wednesday, however, the Orioles will have to wait to start their second half until tomorrow.  I still have not figured out why the O's have not announced Buck Showalter as their manager if he is indeed the person they want to hire.  This is the perfect time to make a change.  If the plan was for Samuel to stay as interim manager for the rest of the season or the Orioles did not have their guy, then that would be fine.  However, that is not the case.  I do think Showalter is the perfect guy for the job.  I am sure he has a specific plan that he wants done, and if the requirements aren't met then he will continue his job with ESPN.  I think most of the problems with the Orioles over the years is they have not had a proven leader, but Showalter is the one guy available that could finally put the Orioles in the right direction.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

David Steele:  The AOL Fanhouse columnist talks about the latest headlines in sports.

Mike Duffy:  The BaltimoreRavens.com writer gives his thoughts on the upcoming training camp.

Todd Helmick:  The NationalChamps.net writer weighs in on the college football season.

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- Rob opened up the show talking about the All-Star game.  Rob thinks it is boring and he did not watch much of it.  Rob gave his second half Orioles wish list and talked about the Ravens.  Rob is worried about the defense and he thinks the one glaring weakness on the team is the secondary.  In Rob's mind, the offense will rank higher than the defense at the end of the season.

- John Eisenberg from BaltimoreRavens.com joined the show to talk about the offseason.  John talked about Terrell Suggs and what can be expected from him this season.  John also commented on the late season roster moves made by team signals an expectation to make a deep run into the playoffs.  John also talked about Ed Reed.

- Joe Reedy from the Cincinnati Enquirer came on the program as we continue to preview the Ravens season.  The Ravens play the Bengals in week 2 and Joe talked about the moves the Bengals made during the offseason.  Joe gave an update on Carson Palmer's health and how this is a big season for him.  Joe also talked about the defensive improvements and the tough schedule the Bengals face.

- Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent joined the show and gave great insight to the game of baseball as always.  Fay talked about George Steinbrenner and the process that led to him banning Steinbrenner from baseball.  Fay also gave his thoughts on the Orioles and Andy MacPhail and what needs to be done to turn the organization around.  Fay commented on steroids in baseball and if the sport is truly clean.

- Matt Williamson from ESPN.com came on the program and talked about his article on Joe Flacco.  Matt thinks the expectations will be high this season for Flacco because of the new weapons he has been surrounded by.  Matt also talked about Anquan Boldin.  Matt thinks Boldin is a great receiver, but don't expect him to stretch the field and stay healthy the entire season.

- We went Way Back today and talked to former Oriole Scott McGregor.  Scott talked about being with the Yankees prior to the Orioles and his encounters with the late George Steinbrenner.  Scott also talked about his career and the current state of the team now.

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The National League finally won an All-Star game.  This is the first time the NL has won since 1996 as they defeated the AL 3-1.  Joe Girardi is getting criticized for mis-managing last night's game as he made questionable pitching changes, did not pinch run for David Ortiz, and did not even play Alex Rodriguez.  This is why I hate that this game determines home field advantage in the biggest stage in baseball.  The game is supposed to be fun, a break from the day-to-day grind of a 162-game schedule, but instead, a manager has to coach like it is game seven of the World Series.  Even the Los Angeles Angels' fans were booing the Yankees during pre-game introductions.  Shouldn't they be rooting for the American League to win in case they make the World Series?  I would have done the same thing.  The All-Star game is supposed to be an exhibition, and Major League Baseball continues to screw this up.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Fay Vincent:  The former MLB commissioner talks about George Steinbrenner.

John Eisenberg:  The BaltimoreRavens.com contributor gives his thoughts on the Ravens.

Matt Williamson:  The ESPN.com writer talks about the NFL

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From the Baltimore Ravens PR Staff:

For Immediate Release

 

NEW AUTOGRAPH POLICY AT ‘RAVENS TRAINING CAMP, CONNECTED BY VERIZON’

 

The Ravens will institute a new autograph policy at training camp, which begins at McDaniel College on July 27, the first day practices are open to the public.

 

(Rookies and selected veterans report to “Ravens Training Camp, Connected by Verizon” on Monday, July 26, and this group practices twice each on July 27 and 28. Veterans report on July 28, and the first full-team practices open to the public will take place on July 30. There is an “Administrative Day” on July 29 that is not open to the public or media.)

 

Players will sign autographs for children only after all morning practices. Autographs will not be available following afternoon practices.

 

Safety is the key factor for the change. “We have considered changing the way we do autograph signings for a few years,” team president Dick Cass said. “Our crowds for the morning practices have become so large that we’ve had safety situations with people pushing each other to try and get closer to the players. Often times, children would be put in difficult positions with the rush for autographs, especially from our most popular players.”

 

Many NFL teams select a few players each day to sign a limited number of autographs in a designated area. “We want to keep the spontaneity and closeness we have with our fans who come to training camp,” Cass added. “The connectivity we have with our fans at camp is important to us and a Ravens’ tradition. We know that every person who comes to camp and wants an autograph cannot get one because of the players’ schedules. Under our new system, more children will have the opportunity, and that’s important to us.”

 

Children ages 6 through 15 will be allowed on the field after each morning practice. Children must wear a Ravens-issued wristband to enter the autograph area. There will be a tent adjacent to the fields where wristbands will be issued. Children can bring one item to be autographed, and adults will not be allowed to enter the autograph area.

 

Please note that two-thirds of the team has a post-practice football activity after every morning session. One-third of the team is required to lift weights. Another third is required to attend “Back School,” which is a core workout usually done outside. The other third is available to sign autographs. Team schedules are subject to change, and not every child is guaranteed an autograph.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing his dislike for the homerun derby.  Rob also talked about Joe Flacco and says he has a lot to prove.  Rob thinks this because Flacco was able to improve from season one to season two with the receivers he had and now he finally has the weapons and the expectations are high.

- Dennis Waszak from the AP joined the show to talk about the New York Jets.  We will be previewing each game the Ravens have this season and the Jets are the first opponent.  Dennis talked about the week 1 match-up and the season outlook for the Jets.

- Ralph Russo from the AP came on the program to talk college football.  Ralph gave his match-up he is most looking forward to the first week of the season and he chose Boise State-Virginia Tech.  Ralph also talked about Pete Carroll's comments.

- Ross Tucker from GoBigRecruiting.com joined the show to talk football, but as always he hit on a bunch of topics.  Ross gave his thoughts on LeBron James signing with the Miami Heat.  Ross also talked about the possibilities of HGH testing in the NFL.

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The Homerun Derby was last night and the All-Star game is tonight, but my mind keeps drifting towards football and the Ravens.  The NFL Network highlighted the Ravens last night in particular Joe Flacco and Ed Reed.  Flacco seems to be the consensus player around the league that needs to step up this year.  I think Flacco has progressed fine over his first two seasons, but when a team upgrades at the receiver position and has Super Bowl aspirations, the quarterback is going to be the guy who will have the most pressure placed on him.  Flacco is heading into his third season and most experts think this is the year he has to take the next step in becoming one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.  I think he will be able to, but I can see why there are criticisms.  Flacco along with the entire offense struggled the second half of the season, and Flacco played poorly in the playoffs.  Flacco has the weapons now and with the expectations of the Ravens in 2010, he will be looked at taking the next step in his young career.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Ross Tucker:  The SI.com writer talks about the NFL

Ralph Russo:  The college football writer for the AP previews the season.

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- Rob opened up the show talking about the difference between Art Modell and LeBron James.  Rob also discussed the Orioles getting closer to hiring Buck Showalter, fans defending athletes too much, the NFL and HGH testing, and the Annual Backert Bash.

- Jim Duquette from XM Radio joined the show to talk about the first half of the 2010 MLB season.  Jim gave his thoughts on the Buck Showalter rumors and what that will mean for the Orioles.  Jim also talked about the White Sox, Cliff Lee being traded to Texas, and the homerun derby that takes place tonight.

- Jason La Canfora from the NFL Network came on the program and talked about HGH testing in the NFL.  Jason thinks there are many players in the NFL that are on HGH.  Jason also talked about the Michael Vick latest and how the Jets and Packers look.

- Marc Spears from YahooSports.com joined the show to talk about John Wall making his debut in the summer league.  Marc says that Wall will be a great NBA player, but he is a great person as well. 

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The Orioles completed their first 4-game road sweep since 1995 when they did it against the Chicago White Sox.  The O's bullpen was solid the entire series against the Texas Rangers and the offense was able to come up with the big hits.  However, it was the starting pitching performances by Chris Tillman on Saturday night and Jake Arrieta on Sunday afternoon that has me excited as the All-Star break begins today.  Tillman has struggled during his multiple major league stints even though he dominates Triple-A.  I have said many times that the most frustrating part of this season has been the progress of the younger players.  They dominate in the minors and come to the big leagues and look lost.  Tillman finally had a start that he can build off of.  He has been working on a cut fastball and he used that pitch many times Saturday and he was able to throw his fastball and curveball for strikes.  In Arrieta's seven career starts, five have been quality.  Adam Jones has hit for over a month and Matt Wieters before his injury was starting to hit the ball with more authority. 

I do not know how the rest of the season will unfold or when Andy MacPhail will make a decision on the next manager (sounds like Buck Showalter will be named soon), but for the first time all season, I can finally see some of the younger players who are very important to the future of the Orioles making progress.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Jim Duquette:  The former O's GM gives his thoughts on the first half of the season.

Jason La Canfora:  The NFL Network analyst talks about the latest headlines in football.

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"The Decision" is finally over and LeBron James is heading south.  I think it is a great move by James.  He is at a point in his career where he knows he needs to win championships and he thinks he has the best chance with the Miami Heat.  James is already feeling the backlash from fans, and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert.  I figured this would happen as James was in a no-win situation.  He would be criticized for whatever decision he made, but in the end, James wanted to be on a team with his closest friends and a team, in his mind, that could win multiple championships.  Fans always complain about athletes only caring about the money, but James took less money to play for the Heat. 

I know if LeBron James wins a championship, his critics will say he needed two other all-stars to do it and couldn't win one on his own, but I don't think James cares about that.  James has won his MVP's and scoring titles, but he wants a ring and he probably felt he couldn't accomplish anymore in Cleveland.  Unfortunately, this decision will follow him the rest of his career, but if LeBron is able to win a couple of championships, his legacy will still stay intact.

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Mike Bordick:  The former Oriole talks about the O's season.

Jeff Zillgitt:  The USA Today writer talks about the LeBron James decision.

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I decided while I was on vacation that I would take a mental break and not watch the Orioles.  I followed the box scores, but I did not watch any games.  Of course, the first inning that I do watch in a few days, Julio Lugo attempts to bunt with two strikes because he thought he only had one and he struck out.  Then the O's blew the lead and eventually the game against the Detroit Tigers.  I am glad to see things have not changed.  With only four games until the All-Star break, the Orioles have a chance to be the first team in major league history to not have a 4-game winner by the break.  Perfect...

Count me as maybe the only person excited to see the LeBron James special tonight.  I am not a huge NBA fan, so I only really start watching when the playoffs start, but the fact that I am interested in July, the NBA has to be happy with the attention it is having.  I think James decides to stay at home in Cleveland, but I am hoping he decides to join the Miami Heat and team up with friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. 

Here is a rundown of today's guests:

Jason Cole:  The YahooSports.com writer talks NFL.

Ken Murray:  The Baltimore Sun writer gives the latest news involving the Ravens.

Todd Helmick:  The NationalChamps.net writer talks college football.

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***Rob and I are both on vacation next week, so there will be no Show Previews or Show Reviews.  Be sure to check out the archives and listen to all the interviews including the interviews from this week with Rob Dibble, Greivis Vasquez, and Don Baylor.***


- Rob opened up the show live from New Orleans and discussed if Adam Jones should be moved from center field to left field. 

- Barry Wilner from the AP joined the show live from South Africa and talked about USA's future in soccer and if head coach Bob Bradley will come back.  Barry also previewed the match-ups coming up this weekend.

- Interim AD at the University of Maryland Randy Eaton joined the show to talk about his new role.  Randy has not decided if this is something he wants to do long-term, but he is excited about the opportunity.  Randy said he was surprised that Debbie Yow left, but understands why she did.  Randy also talked about the future of the football program.

- Peter Schrager from FOXSports.com came on the program to talk about his top 100 players in the NFL.  Peter commented on his rankings for Jay Cutler, Miles Austin, and the many Ravens that are in the top 100.

- Scott Hoffman from OriolesHangout.com joined the show and gave his thoughts on Adam Jones' future in center field.  Scott also talked about Josh Bell's promotion and the hitting struggles by the team.

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As I said yesterday on the show, the Orioles defense is awful.  Earlier in the season they were making the routine plays, but that is not even happening now.  I have always questioned their range, but they are misplaying balls that should be caught.  Corey Patterson has been doing it all season along with Adam Jones and last night just further demonstrated their defensive liabilities.  The right side of the infield is slow, Cesar Izturis is always solid, but when the third baseman can only move a step or two to his right or left it leaves Izturis vulnerable.  I am not disappointed with the play of Miguel Tejada at third, he has played as I expected, but that doesn't mean he is an above average third baseman.  On a team that can't hit and has young pitchers, the defense has to be among the league's best, but in Orioles fashion, they are not.  The Oakland A's put on a clinic when they are in the field as they make the routine plays along with the highlight reels.  At this point, I will just take the Orioles keeping a runner from going first to third on a single or being able to turn a double play on a ground ball to third.

Here is a rundown of today's guests:

Randy Eaton:  The Interim AD for the University of Maryland talks about his new role.

Peter Schrager:  The FOXSports.com writer talks NFL.

Scott Hoffman:  The OriolesHangout.com contributor gives his thoughts on the O's.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the Orioles current hot streak and he continues to think it is because of Nick Markakis' comments in Mid-June.  Rob also talked about the Ed Reed Factor.

- Former Terp basketball star Greivis Vasquez joined the show to talk about his career at Maryland being drafted 28th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.  Greivis talked about his maturation process throughout his 4-year career and using criticism as motivation.  Greivis talked about the feelings he had when he heard his name called by David Stern and how winning is the only thing on his mind.  Greivis also gave his thoughts on the impact Gary Williams had on him as a person.

- Matt Bowen from NationalFootballPost.com came on the program to talk about his article: "The Ed Reed Factor."  Matt gave his thoughts on the impact Reed has from the view of a former NFL safety.  Matt thinks the Ravens are a good team without Reed but a championship team with Reed.

- Former NFL DB Keion Carpenter, current Bills defensive player Aaron Maybin, and Todd Helmick from NationalChamps.net joined the show in-studio to talk college football, NFL, and the summer camp Keion is hosting with Maybin.  The 2nd Annual Commitment for Change (C4C) football camp is being held Monday July 5-Saturday July 10 at Woodlawn Senior High School for youth ages 7-17 years old from 9am-4pm. Inspired by their hometown ties to Baltimore and personal journeys to the NFL, they have designed a 6 day clinic to teach young athletes the tools to succeed on and off the field.  For more information please visit www.c4c2010.eventbrite.com.

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The Orioles won in another come from behind fashion last night by the score of 9-6 over the Oakland A's.  They used 5 homeruns, one by Ty Wigginton at...FIRST BASE to pace the offense and Adam Jones continued his hot month with 3 hits including a homerun and a double.  In the last 13 years I have seen some crazy things while watching an Orioles game, and after last night I can add one more to the list.  Luke Scott injuring his hamstring while running around the bases on a homerun definitely goes in the category of "I have seen everything now."  The bullpen pitched well again with David Hernandez and Alfredo Simon getting the last 5 outs while their fastballs consistently touched 96 MPH. 

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Greivis Vasquez:  The former Terp basketball star talks about being drafted in the first round of last week's NBA Draft.

David Steele:  The AOL Fanhouse contributor gives his thoughts on the world of sports.

Matt Bowen:  The National Football Post writer and former NFL Safety talks about Ed Reed.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the Orioles ending their 4-game win streak.  Rob also wonders when the Orioles will trade Ty Wigginton.  Rob talked about his South Carolina Game Cocks winning the College World Series and why there are a lack of African-Americans playing baseball.

- Steve Phillips from AOL Fanhouse joined the show to talk baseball.  The former MLB GM talked about the playoff races and the Florida Marlins situation.  Steve gave his thoughts on Bobby Valentine as a manager and what he brings to a team.

- Jason La Canfora from the NFL Network came on the program to give his thoughts on the latest news in football.  Jason talked about the Steelers awful offseason and if it will affect their season.  Jason also talked about the Bengals and the latest in the Michael Vick situation.

- We went Way Back today and talked to former Oriole and current hitting coach for the Colorado Rockies Don Baylor.  Don talked about his playing days in Baltimore and why Garrett Atkins struggled so bad for two seasons.  However, most of the interview consisted of Baylor talking about his desire to manage again.  Don thinks he will be successful if given another opportunity and he would love to be the manager of the Orioles.  Don said people can't understand the pride of the Orioles unless they lived it.

- Oakland A's closer Andrew Bailey joined the show to talk about his season.  The 2009 AL Rookie of the Year gave his thoughts on the team and the chances the A's have at winning the AL West.

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Happy Way Back Wednesday!  The Orioles ended their 4-game win streak last night in a game that looked all too familiar.  The O's went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.  They wasted a quality start by Brian Matusz and were shaky on defense the entire game.  It was fun while it lasted.  In the minor leagues, Josh Bell hit two homeruns last night and Chris Tillman had a solid outing for the Norfolk Tides.  Bell has played well over the last few weeks, but he still strikes out too much and he makes too many errors in the field.  However, if he continues to hit the way he has overall, Bell will be in Baltimore sooner than later.  As for Tillman, it does not surprise me that he pitched well in Triple-A.  He always does, but has yet to translate that to the big leagues.  He is now working on a 2-seam fastball since his 4-seam is flat, straight, and is hit like the other team is taking batting practice.  I wonder why it has taken this long for a coach to ask him to work on a new pitch.  I noticed that his fastball had no movement the first time I saw him pitch. 

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Way Back Wednesday: Be sure to tune in to hear who our Way Back Wednesday guest will be.

Steve Phillips:  The former MLB GM talks baseball.

Jason La Canfora:  The NFL Network analyst goes over the latest headlines in football.

Andrew Bailey:  The Oakland A's closer and 2009 All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year talks about his season.

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the Orioles 4-game win streak.  Rob wonders if the recent success from the team and specifically Adam Jones is related to Nick Markakis' actions over the last couple of weeks.

- Dan Connolly from the Baltimore Sun joined the show to give us a dose of reality.  Dan talked about the recent win streak and if Markakis can be given credit.  Dan talked about Adam Jones' hot streak and the bullpen pitching well.  Dan also gave an update on Koji Uehara and Michael Gonzalez.

- Rob Dibble from MASN and FOX Sports Radio came on the program and gave great insight on baseball as always.  Rob talked about the Orioles pitching against the Nationals and the young players on both teams.  Rob also dropped this nugget...there is a young pitcher currently on the starting staff that told Jim Palmer that he looked up his numbers and was not that impressed.  I really have no comment on that except that I hope it is not true.

- Greg Amsinger from MLB Network joined the show and gave his thoughts on the Orioles recent hot streak and if they should trade some of their veterans.  Greg also talked about the Rays and the Mets.

- Lincoln Kennedy from FOX Sports Radio came on the program to talk the landscape of sports.  Lincoln gave his thoughts on players airing their dirty laundry about the team in public.  Lincoln also talked about the pending free agency in the NBA.

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A few weeks ago I decided that I was not going to let the wins and losses by the Orioles affect me.  Instead, I would watch the games and hope to see the young players who are still the future of this organization, turn their seasons and careers around.  In that time, Adam Jones went from looking clueless at the plate to the player that made him a high prospect and a 2009 All-Star.  I do not know what clicked (Nick Markakis' comments? Read Rob's Blog about it), but Jones is displaying the power that I expected from him all season.  I will admit that I probably had too high of expectations on Jones too soon, but I always saw him as a player that would hit 25 homeruns and bat 5th in a lineup. 

I think he has the capabilities to put up the same numbers Torii Hunter has throughout his career.  Jones will never be a high on-base guy; he strikes out too much and doesn't walk enough. The only thing that concerns me is if he is slumping, he brings nothing else to the offensive game.  He doesn't make enough contact to be able to move runners or do the "little things" it takes to win and since he doesn't walk enough, his average will never be high.  However, when he is swinging the bat like he has throughout the month of June, it is not hard to see why people think he can be one of the better centerfielders in baseball.

Side note: I am happy to see the offense finally clicking and the bullpen pitching well, but the starters need to step up their performances.  They have been bailed out every game during the win streak, but they have struggled all month long.  I was in attendance for Saturday's game with the 1970 reunion.  I saw how happy my dad was as he was able to remember the times of his youth and how great the O's were.  This just made me think how bad the Orioles have been during my lifetime and how when I am 50, the only memories I will have is Jack Cust falling down running from third to home or the Orioles losing 30-3...

Here is the rundown of today's guests:

Dan Connolly:  The Baltimore Sun writer talks Orioles.

Greg Amsinger:  The MLB Network anchor gives his thoughts on the MLB.

Lincoln Kennedy:  The FOX Sports Radio analyst talks football.

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For the first time in his career, Nick Markakis has vented his frustration. Speaking with Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, Markakis spoke openly about the direction of the team and the lack of approach at the plate the Orioles have shown this season.

Here are some quotes:

"You have to go up there with an approach. [Crowley] has 110 percent nothing to do with the way we are going about our business at the plate and on the field right now. You can have anybody come here and you still are going to have a couple of guys who are not going to change their approach and fix it. It’s worthless. You can point your fingers here and there, but it is what it is. You’re in the big leagues. You have to change your approach on your own. If you go up there clueless, you’re going to come back [to the dugout] clueless. It’s that simple."

“Sometimes, guys are going up there and it looks like they have no idea what they’re doing. I’m not saying that to bash guys. I want guys to be successful, I want this team to be successful, and I have to produce as well. I'm part of this. But it takes a lot more than one big bat. We definitely need that one guy who could hit you 40 home runs, but from top to bottom, you need guys getting on base. You need guys in there who have a plan, who have a clue and who know how to execute that plan and get on base. We don’t need every guy in this lineup trying to hit home runs. We’re paid to get on base and figure out how to score and drive in runs."

“At this point, yeah, where are we going? I know we have a lot of injured guys, we’re in the toughest division in baseball and we’re a last-place team. But at this point, it’s mind boggling. You don’t even know what to think, but you still have to be professional and go out and play every day.”

The fans have wanted someone to step up and say enough is enough. It is not in Markakis' nature to do something like this, but I think he finally reached a point where he could not take anymore. Markakis didn't single anyone out, but it is not hard to figure out who he might be talking about. I do not know how much good this will do, but Markakis is one of the most respected players in the clubhouse and he has paid his dues. He may not want to accept the responsibility of being a leader, but he has put himself in that position after the comments he made.

The 2010 season has continued to be a train wreck and Markakis, who agreed to be a part of the future when he signed an extension, wants to know where the organization is heading. He has every right to question Andy MacPhail as I am sure MacPhail made promises before Markakis agreed to his 6-year $66 million contract. I can also understand Markakis being frustrated by some of the players lack of willingness to change their approach. If a player is struggling, but refuses to change, there is not much anyone can do.

The players, especially the younger guys, have to be the ones to change the losing culture. If the players have been unwilling to listen to the coaches, then maybe it will take the comments by Markakis for the light to finally turn on. Maybe?

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Here is today's press conference from Camden Yards:

Highlights:

- Andy MacPhail said the season can be blamed on a few factors:  The free agents brought in have not been productive, injuries to the late-inning relievers, the offense is currently ranked last in the American League while playing a majority of their games against the most prolific offensives in the game, some of the young players have regressed (MacPhail even said this is the most disappointing part to him), and unforced errors. 

- MacPhail is hoping this change will give the team a spark.  He said baseball is a "goofy business" and pointed to the Colorado Rockies last year who went 10 games under .500 to the playoffs after a coaching change.

- MacPhail said he doesn't know how long Samuel will be the manager and said the Orioles will talk to candidates while Samuel is the manager.  MacPhail said that Samuel commands the respect of the players and will hold them accountable for some of the mistakes that the team has made all season long.

- Samuel looks to take full advantage of the opportunity that has been presented to him and he will make sure the team focuses on fundamentals.

- MacPhail said this setback has not affected his plan.  "I have no doubt whatsoever, that not only are we on the right path, we are on the only path that we can take if we are serious about ever being contenders in the American League East."

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Another move that is likely to occur is Corey Patterson being promoted from Norfolk to the big league team.  It appears Lou Montanez or Nolan Reimold will be sent down.  I would have thought Montanez would be the guy, but it could be Reimold.  Reimold is fighting with his confidence, and the Orioles know he is a key part to their future that it might be best for him to find himself in Triple-A, rather than continue to struggle with the O's.  This could be similar to when Brad Bergesen was sent down.  The Orioles would hope Reimold would be able to rediscover the power stroke he had as a rookie and be brought back up in a couple of weeks and contribute for the rest of the season. I am in favor of that because the Reimold we are seeing in 2010 is not the caliber of player that he has been throughout his career.

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It took almost a month, but the Orioles finally realized that their season started and it was time to play games that count.  Throughout the three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox, the O's had timely hits, good starting pitching, and late inning heroics.  With back-to-back road series against the Yankees and the Twins this week, I do not know how long this will last, but the Orioles have won 5 of the last 7 games and it appears they have turned their season around.  Ty Wiggington continues to hit and Kevin Millwood always keeps the O's in the game even though he is still searching for his first win of the year.  However, even with all the positives that came out from this past week, the Orioles are still 11 games under .500.

Here is the rundown of scheduled guests:

David Ginsburg:  The AP writer gives his thoughts on the Orioles.

Mike Duffy:  The BaltimoreRavens.com writer talks Ravens.

Geoffrey Arnold:  The NBA writer for the Oregonian breaks down the playoffs.

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Below is a cool video I found on the Baltimore Ravens second round draft pick Sergio Kindle.  Double click on the video to view full screen.

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Courtesy of the Ravens PR Staff:

2010 BALTIMORE RAVENS REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE

 

DATE                         OPPONENT              PLACE                          TIME

Mon.    Sept. 13        at New York Jets        Meadowlands Stadium     7:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Sun.    Sept. 19        at Cincinnati Bengals   Paul Brown Stadium      1:00 p.m.

Sun.    Sept. 26        CLEVELAND BROWNS        M&T BANK STADIUM        1:00 p.m.

       

Sun.    Oct. 3  at Pittsburgh Steelers  Heinz Field      1:00 p.m.

Sun.    Oct. 10 DENVER BRONCOS  M&T BANK STADIUM        1:00 p.m.

Sun.    Oct. 17 at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium        1:00 p.m.

Sun.    Oct. 24 BUFFALO BILLS   M&T BANK STADIUM        1:00 p.m.

Sun.    Oct. 31 BYE

 

Sun.    Nov. 7  MIAMI DOLPHINS  M&T BANK STADIUM        1:00 p.m.

Thurs.  Nov. 11 at Atlanta Falcons      Georgia Dome    8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)

Sun.    Nov. 21*        at Carolina Panthers    Bank of America Stadium 1:00 p.m.

Sun.    Nov. 28*        TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS    M&T BANK STADIUM        1:00 p.m.

 

Sun.    Dec. 5* PITTSBURGH STEELERS     M&T BANK STADIUM        8:20 p.m. (NBC)

Mon.    Dec. 13 at Houston Texans       Reliant Stadium 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sun.    Dec. 19*        NEW ORLEANS SAINTS      M&T BANK STADIUM        1:00 p.m.

Sun.    Dec. 26*        at Cleveland Browns     Cleveland Browns Stadium        1:00 p.m.

 

Sun.    Jan. 2* CINCINNATI BENGALS      M&T BANK STADIUM        1:00 p.m.      

 

*Flexible Scheduling Games                  Home Games in CAPS          All Times Eastern

 

 

Below is the Ravens' 2010 Preseason Schedule:

 

DATE            OPPONENT        PLACE   TIME

Thurs.  Aug. 12 CAROLINA PANTHERS       M&T BANK STADIUM        8:00 p.m. (ESPN)

Sat.    Aug. 21 at Washington Redskins  FedEx Field     7:00 p.m.       

Sat.    Aug. 28 NEW YORK GIANTS M&T BANK STADIUM        7:30 p.m.      

Thurs.  Sept. 2 at St. Louis Rams       Edward Jones Dome       8:00 p.m.      

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- Rob opened up the show discussing the UConn women's basketball team as they have won 76 straight games and advanced to the Final Four.  Rob also talked about the recent trade rumors involving Donovan McNabb.

- Solomon Wilcots from NFL Network and CBS joined the show and gave his thoughts on the Donovan McNabb trade rumors.  Solomon also discussed the Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings.

- Baltimore Ravens' Marching Band President John Ziemann came on the program and talked about the release of "The Band That Wouldn't Die" on DVD that is being sold at the Sports Legends Museum.

- We went Way Back today and talked to legendary Baltimore broadcaster Vince Bagli.  Vince talked about the Colts leaving, players of today compared to yesteryear, and the rebirth of Morgan State basketball.  Vince also discussed Gary Williams and if the NCAA should expand the field of 65.

- We went Way Back again and talked to former Baltimore Colt quarterback Mike Pagel.  Mike played for the Colts when they moved to Indy.  Mike talked about that experience and how he realized the NFL is a business and not just a game.  Mike also gave his thoughts on the fans of Baltimore and his career as a whole.

- Former big leaguer Jeff Nelson joined the show and gave his thoughts on Joba Chamberlain as a reliever.  Jeff thinks it is a good move by the Yankees.  The MLB.com and XM Radio analyst also talked about the fear some pitchers have at throwing inside and if the Giants' offense is good enough to compete.

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The ACC announced on Tuesday that Greivis Vasquez earned the 2010 ACC Player of the Year and Gary Williams was voted the 2010 ACC Coach of the Year.

Vasquez becomes the fifth University of Maryland player to earn ACC Player of the Year honors and the first since Juan Dixon earned the award in 2002.  Albert King won in 1980, Len Bias earned the award twice in 1985 and 1986, and Joe Smith won in 1995.

Coach Williams has now won the award twice, the first coming in the 2002 national championship season.  Also of note, Jordan Williams finished second in the ACC Rookie of the Year race.

I had to put this picture up.  Matt Wieters will be on the cover of Sports Illustrated that is released on Wednesday.  Wieters becomes the first Oriole in more than 13 years to grace the cover of SI.

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- Mike Duffy from BaltimoreRavens.com joined the show to weigh in on the Boldin trade.  Mike was surprised with how quickly the trade happened, but thinks Boldin will fit in quickly.  Mike also commented on the possibilities of Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton coming back in 2010.

- Matt Zenitz from PressBox came on the program and talked about the impact the Boldin acquisition has on the Ravens draft plans.  Matt doesn't think this changes their plan and that drafting a wide receiver in the first round is still a strong possibility. 

- Michael Lombardi from the NFL Network and NationalFootballPost.com joined the show and gave his take on the Ravens trading for Boldin.  Michael also weighed in on the possibility of Derrick Mason coming back and the importance of a pass rush in the NFL.

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