10. The Postal Service/Ra Ra Riot (Tuesday 6pm Merriweather Post Pavilion), Zac Brown Band (Saturday 5:30pm Merriweather Post Pavilion); Bruno Mars (Saturday 8pm Verizon Center), Rolling Stones (Monday 8pm Verizon Center); Melissa Ethridge/Eric Hutchinson (Tuesday 8pm Wolf Trap), Billy Idol (Thursday 8pm Wolf Trap); Umphrey’s McGee (Friday 9pm Rams Head Live), Fitz and the Tantrums (Sunday 8pm Rams Head Live); Josh Krajcik (Wednesday 8pm Rams Head on Stage); Molly Hatchet (Sunday 8pm Rams Head Center Stage); Rancid (Wednesday 7:30pm Fillmore Silver Spring), Courtney Love (Saturday 8pm Fillmore Silver Spring); Wale (Sunday 8:30pm Howard Theatre); Dawes (Wednesday 7pm 9:30 Club), Dwight Yoakam (Friday 8pm 9:30 Club); Travis Tritt (Monday 7:30pm Birchmere); Harry Connick, Jr. (Wednesday 8pm Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric); Buddy Guy (Sunday 8pm State Theatre); Kanye West “Yeezus” available in stores/on iTunes (Tuesday)

Drew Forrester and I are big Ra Ra Riot fans. For good reason.

I’ll be at ZBB Saturday night. I hope he does this again.

The smartest thing the Stones have EVER done is (apparently) hire Gary Clark Jr. to join the band. He’s the best. Ever.

I haven’t begged for FATT tickets yet, but I will. They’re the other best. Ever.

9. Daniel Tosh (Friday 7pm & 9:30pm Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric); Seth Meyers (Friday 8pm Warner Theatre); Carlos Mencia (Thursday-Sunday DC Improv); “Monsters University” and “World War Z” out in theaters (Friday); Baltimore Dragon Boat Challenge (Saturday 8am Tide Point Marina)

After hanging out with Jay Pharoah last week, I sorta feel like part of the SNL family. Oh wait, did you not hear? I hung out with Jay Pharoah last week…

And Seth Meyers is hilarious. Hilarious.

(Continued on Page 2…)

The post Top 10 Baseball Distractions appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

The Orioles announced after Monday’s game that they have optioned right-handed pitcher Jake Arrieta to Triple-A Norfolk.

Arrieta is 1-2 with a 7.23 ERA (23.2IP, 19ER) in five starts for the Orioles this season.

A corresponding roster move will be announced Tuesday.

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Reilly hints around in the piece about the very subject I’ve been discussing with regard to Woods for the better part of a year now:  It sure looks as if he’s lost his putting nerve in the only four tournaments that matter to him anymore — the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA.

That Tiger has won 13 times over the last five years – a helluva career for just about anyone else – during his major-less drought is a testament to the golfing ability he still retains.

But, make no mistake about it, putting on Sunday at Torrey Pines in late January is nothing at all like staring down a slippery five-footer at the U.S. Open in June.

Bobby Jones once said:  ”There’s golf and then there’s tournament golf, and in no way are the two similar.”

What he meant, basically, is that anyone can go play a round of golf with their buddies…or tee-it up in the Tuesday night beer league at the local club — but playing in a golf tournament is a completely different, and more difficult, animal.

Well, the same goes for the greats of the game like Tiger Woods.

There’s playing well at Doral and/or Bay Hill and then there’s shooting 32 on the back nine at Augusta on Sunday to win The Masters, something Woods apparently is no longer capable of pulling off.

And the reason he can’t win a major these days is almost purely because of his putting.

To my eye – and I haven’t seen EVERY putt he’s missed in all of the majors since ’09 – it’s easy to tell that Tiger’s nerves are slipping because most of the make-able putts I’ve seen him miss have gone low of the hole, which tells me he’s quitting on the stroke at impact.  A confident putter generally misses on the high side.  Someone struggling to make solid contact at impact usually misses it low.  I see Tiger missing a lot of putts low these days.

Back in 2006, at the height of Tiger-mania, I played in a U.S. Open qualifier with a journeyman touring professional named John Elliott, who will forever be part of a trivia question:  ”Name the two players who played with Tiger Woods in his professional debut in Milwaukee in 1996.”  One of those guys was the aforementioned John Elliott.  Anyway, as Elliott and I walked down the 15th fairway at Eagle’s Nest, he made what seemed at the time to be an offhand comment about Woods that stuck with me that day and has really proved to be quite true now, in 2013.  He said, “Tiger hasn’t missed a putt that’s mattered in his career.  Never.  Once he does, he’ll become just a regular decent putter again like the rest of us.”

It seems crazy to say that a guy who has 13 wins in the last five years has declined to that of a “regular decent putter”, but there’s putting in tournaments at Doral and TPC Sawgrass and there’s putting in tournaments at Augusta and Merion.  They’re not the same, at all.

I was at Merion last Monday and Tuesday and I could distinctly sense tension in Tiger when I was around him on the range and in the media center on Tuesday.  He was smiling a lot, but once a question turned to anything remotely close to “why haven’t you won a major title lately?” he quickly defended himself with a comment about having four wins this season and anything else he could say to deflect the obvious issue in front of him:  he’s been stuck on fourteen major titles since 2009.

He’s quick to point out “winning majors is hard work”, but it wasn’t hard work for him from 1997 through 2009 when he beat everyone like a drum whenever he felt like doing it.

(please see next page)

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Needing to push back pitching Jason Hammel further as he continues to recover from a stomach virus, the Orioles announced they will recall left-handed pitcher Zach Britton to make Tuesday’s start in Detroit.

After right-hander Jake Arrieta was awarded a spot start against the Tigers on Monday, Britton was held out of his scheduled start for the Tides with the thought that Hammel might need more time to regain his strength after a virus required him to have intravenous fluids and kept him away from the ballpark for two days over the weekend.

Britton will be making his second start of the season for the Orioles after suffering a loss in Seattle on April 29. The 25-year-old allowed six earned runs and 10 hits in six innings of work before being optioned back to Norfolk after that start.

In his last five starts for the Tides, Britton is 2-1 and has allowed only seven earned runs in 31 innings while striking out 26 and walking 11. He is 3-2 with a 3.28 earned run average in 11 starts in Triple A this season.

One of Britton’s best starts in an otherwise disappointing 2012 season for the Orioles came against the Tigers on Aug. 18 when he pitched seven shutout innings to earn the victory in a 3-2 final. In two career starts against Detroit, Britton is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in 12 innings of work.

Reports from Detroit indicated right-hander pitcher Miguel Gonzalez received word that his wife was ready to give birth to the couple’s daughter and he departed for California on Monday evening.

The Orioles optioned Arrieta to Norfolk following Monday’s loss to presumably make room for Britton on the 25-man roster before Tuesday’s game. If the club wants to bring rookie Kevin Gausman back to Baltimore for further starter reinforcements, they could recall him prior to the 10-day waiting period’s conclusion if he were to replace Gonzalez, who is expected to be placed on the paternity leave list.

The post Britton to be recalled to make Tuesday’s start in Detroit appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

During the 2013 season, Drew Forrester and Luke Jones of The D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction will provide the “10-Game Scorecard” for the Orioles, rating the club in 10-game increments in a number of categories and looking ahead to how Baltimore will fare over the next dozen games on the schedule.

(Editor’s note: The segment will now be based on 10-game increments instead of the previous 12-game scorecards due to scheduling difficulties centered around scheduled vacations. The specifics of the segment remain the same, however.)

You can hear the full explanation from Monday morning shortly in the BuyAToyota.com Audio Vault.

1. Should the Orioles have been better or worse than their 6-4 mark (three at Tampa Bay, three with Los Angeles Angels, four with Boston)?
Drew: Better
Luke: Better

2. Most Valuable Player/Least Valuable Player
Drew: MVP – Chris Davis; LVP – Pedro Strop (*Forrester didn’t like ganging up on Strop and wanted to pick Chris Dickerson instead)
Luke: MVP – Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tillman; LVP – Pedro Strop

3. Biggest surprise
Drew: The continued contributions of Danny Valencia
Luke: Not sending Pedro Strop on a rehab assignment prior to his activation from the 15-day disabled list

4. Best thing about the 10-game stretch
Drew: Winning three of four games from first-place Boston
Luke: Completing a 5-2 homestand with good starting pitching against two of the better-hitting teams in the American League

5. Ten games from now…
Drew: The Orioles will be in first place.
Luke: Fans will begin to have false hope for Brian Roberts’ upcoming rehab assignment.

6. Record in the next 10 games (three at Detroit, three at Toronto, four with Cleveland)
Drew: 7-3
Luke: 6-4

7. Stock rising/falling over the next 12 games
Drew: Rising – Matt Wieters; Falling – Jason Hammel
Luke: Rising – Nate McLouth; Falling – J.J. Hardy

8. Grading Buck Showalter in games 61-70
Drew: B+
Luke: B+

The post D&L Window Tinting Morning Reaction Orioles 10-Game Scorecard (Games 61-70) appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

The Baltimore Ravens’ 2013 training camp, connected by Verizon, will feature for the second-consecutive year free individual practices to be held at M&T Bank Stadium, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and Stevenson University. Additionally, by entering a lottery on the Ravens’ official website, fans in limited numbers will have the opportunity to win free tickets to training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills.

The Ravens can safely host 200 people on the fields of their training center, and fans who are randomly chosen through the drawing will be invited to view one of the team’s 13 open training camp sessions at the Under Armour Performance Center. The first full-team training camp practice is July 25 and the last is Aug. 13.

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will be the site for a training camp practice on Sunday, Aug. 4. The Ravens will then practice at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 11. Both of these sessions are free and open to the public.

The team will round out its off-site training camp sessions at Mustang Stadium at Stevenson University on Sunday, Aug. 18. While this is a free event, due to limited seating, fans must enter a lottery on the Ravens’ website for an opportunity to win tickets.

Each of these practice venues will feature interactive fan events, including player autograph signings for children, fun-filled activities designed specifically for youth and cheerleader/mascot meet-and-greets.

Additionally, this year, fans can enter a website lottery to reserve tickets to the premiere of “America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions.” An annual documentary series created by NFL Films profiling each season’s winning Super Bowl team, the 2012 Ravens’ feature will debut at the Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric in Baltimore on Aug. 27.

FAN LOTTERY FOR TRAINING CAMP PRACTICES & “AMERICA’S GAME”

Beginning today (June 17), fans may enter a lottery at http://www.baltimoreravens.com/ravenstown/training-camp/index.html to attend one training camp practice at the Under Armour Performance Center or the practice held at Stevenson University. Fans may also enter to win tickets to the premiere of “America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions.”

All lottery submissions must be made by Monday, July 1 at 5 p.m., and the Ravens will contact fans who are chosen for these practices no later than Wednesday, July 17. Details – including parking, practice day/time and procedures – will be communicated to winning recipients upon notification.

RAVENS OFF-SITE TRAINING CAMP PRACTICES 

Location:                             Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, MD) – Free and Open to the Public

When:                                  Sunday, Aug. 4

Practice Start Time:        5 p.m.

Gates Open:                      3:30 p.m.

Parking:                               Lots open at 1 p.m. and are available for cold tailgating.

• ·     $10 for cars and $25 for buses
• ·     Parking may be purchased via www.navysports.com
• ·     If Navy lots become full, nearby off-site locations are available with stadium shuttles.

Other Details:                   Baltimore’s Marching Ravens, cheerleaders, official mascot Poe and live mascots Rise and Conquer will be in attendance. The Ravens Team Store will be on-site, and concession stands will be open.

Location:                             M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, MD) – Free and Open to the Public

When:                                  Sunday, Aug. 11

Practice Start Time:        5 p.m.

Gates Open:                      3:30 p.m.

Parking:                               Stadium lots open at 1 p.m. and are available for cold tailgating. The parking fee is $10.                

Other Details:                   Baltimore’s Marching Ravens, cheerleaders, official mascot Poe and live mascots Rise and Conquer will be in attendance. The Ravens Team Store and concession stands will be open.

Location:                             Mustang Stadium at Stevenson University (Owings Mills, MD) – Free Tickets Via Lottery

When:                                  Sunday, Aug. 18

Practice Start Time:        5 p.m.

Gates Open:                      3:30 p.m.

Tickets:                                Due to limited seating, this is a ticketed event, one for which fans can sign up via lottery at

                  www.baltimoreravens.com/TCLottery

Parking:                               Parking will be provided when tickets are sent to fans.

• ·     No tailgating

Other Details:                   The Ravens Team Store will be on-site, and concession stands will be open.

The post Ravens opening three Training Camp practices to fans again appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

* Chris Jones allowed one earned run in five innings but Triple-A Norfolk was blanked by Louisville 1-0

* Devin Jones struck out nine, allowed four earned runs in six innings, but a walk-off homer by Binghamton handed Double-A Bowie a 5-4 loss

* Eduardo Rodriguez allowed four runs (one earned) in three innings as errors doomed Single-A Frederick in 9-8 loss to Potomac

* Parker Bridwell struck out ten, allowed one earned run in eight innings as Single-A Delmarva beat Hickory 4-2

The post Orioles minor league recap – 6/16 appeared first on We Never Stop Talking Baltimore Sports.

He did win the tournament.

But, the golf course the tournament was contested on was the real winner of the last four days.  Only 6800 yards and located on a measly 111 acres, Merion was up to the task of challenging the best golfers in the world.  Yes, it required the USGA to stick the pins in some questionable positions on a handful of occasions over the four days, but when you have 360 yard par-four holes, you can’t stick the flags right in the middle of the green or 10-under par will be the typical score.  The par-3 third hole was made into a bit of a joke by the USGA, who decided Sunday was the right day to make it a 274-yard hole into the prevailing wind.

That said, when you’re trying to identify the best golfer in the country, it doesn’t hurt to throw a bit of unfair in there to see how everyone handles the friction of questionable pins, fast greens and a pace of play that bordered on silly.

All told — Merion wasn’t an ideal place for spectators, sponsors and, at times, even the players, but tee-to-green the course was among the most memorable spots for a U.S. Open over the last twenty years.

Here’s a quick analysis of the winners and losers from the 2013 U.S. Open:

Winner:  Justin Rose — finally broke through to win a major title and get that proverbial “monkey off his back”.  Like most major championships, this event at Merion was won by the guy who holed the most putts on the final day.  Produced two glorious shots at the 18th hole on Sunday, a fitting way to end a 17-year English drought in major championship golf.  Has the game to win any of the other three major championships.

Loser:  Hunter Mahan — lost his golf swing in the final hour and went from tied for the lead to taking FOOOORRRRRREEEEVVVVEEEEERRRRRRR to play the final three holes.  Someone needs to show him the “While we’re young” commercials.  Still a player very capable of claiming a major title but until he does it, questions will loom about his ability to finish off winnable events.  Seemed a little “too happy” at the end of the day on Sunday.

Winner:  Phil Mickelson — didn’t win, but acquitted himself well on a day when three putts (#1, #2, #16) that coulda-shoulda-woulda turned out to be the difference between winning and losing.  Two back-nine wedge shots (tee shot at #13, second at #15) were the ones that did him in, particularly the approach at fifteen which was right in his wheel house with a back right pin that favored his left-to-right ball flight.  Dodged the question about Mahan’s slow play potentially distracting him on the final three holes, but it surely couldn’t have helped.  Still, at age 43, proved once again he’s among the world’s best when it comes to playing tough courses in sometimes unreasonable conditions.

Loser:  Luke Donald — spit the bit early, conking a girl in the elbow at the 3rd hole with his tee shot and never really recovering from that unnerving situation.  Played as well as anyone on the back nine, but wasn’t a factor after such a tough start.  Still without a major title and now has to start facing those Lee Westwood-type questions of “when are you going to win one?”

Winner:  Jason Day — has been one of golf’s best performers in major championships over the last three years.  Putting saved him throughout the back nine, but the missed 5-footer and bogey at #18 dropped him to +3 and made the final hole much easier for Justin Rose to stomach.  Has become a much better driver of the golf ball, something that held him back when he first showed up on TOUR five years ago.  He’s going to win a major soon.

Loser:  Rory McIlroy — embarrassed himself by bending his wedge on the 11th hole after a less-than-stellar approach shot.  Angrily threw a club earlier in the round after a poor shot, something the USGA will probably address with him in the form of a nice “reminder letter” that champion golfers aren’t expected to behave like that at U.S. Open events.

Winner: Billy Horschel — anyone who has the nerve to wear those pants in front of 25,000 spectators and a hundred million people watching on TV all over the world is a winner just for that alone.  Did let his well-known temper get to him late in Saturday’s round and on occasion Sunday as well, but anyone who drives the ball that straight and that far is going to be heard from in major events for a long time to come.  Didn’t putt well enough to win, but once he becomes a great putter he’ll be tough to beat.

Loser: Tiger Woods — it’s now five years since his last major title and there’s no relief in sight as long as he continues to putt like a 6-handicap in major tournaments.  No matter what denials he offers to the media, his putting in majors isn’t nearly as solid as in “regular” TOUR events, which is why he’s no longer winning them.  Never looked comfortable with the golf course from the first tee shot on Thursday.  At least he didn’t embarrass himself with junior golf behavior like his Nike-mate, McIlroy, but that’s about the only positive he can take from this week’s event.

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