PHOENIX — So, the Baltimore Orioles hold all the cards. And that’s always a dangerous thing. And that’s the way Peter Angelos loves it.

If you are a lover or fan of the Baltimore Ravens and are awaiting the big announcement from here at the NFL Owners Meetings at the beautiful Biltmore in Arizona about the NFL Kickoff extravaganza at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 5th you’ll be waiting a little longer.

There’s been an impasse. The Orioles have a game scheduled against the Chicago White Sox on that night of the traditional NFL opener and it appears that moving that baseball game back by seven hours is more difficult that it appears.

Of course, it’s on the desk of Peter Angelos now and has been passed onto the desk of Bud Selig and well…there’s really no reason for MLB to do anything or move anything on behalf of Baltimore’s truly loved NFL team.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been on the phone with Bud Selig for the past week and there’s still nothing even remotely promising on the horizon and it’s pretty evident that the Ravens are concerned and the word is now on the street.

Moving the game to Thursday afternoon would take the approval of MLB, the Orioles, the White Sox and the MLB Players Association.

And here’s the real story – all parties have known about this issue for six weeks and nothing substantial has been accomplished.

A source with the Baltimore Ravens told me that the Ravens and NFL would be willing to pay the Orioles to move the game.

“If there’s a financial loss for them, sure we’d be willing to compensate them. It’s only fair.”

Moving the Ravens kickoff game to Wednesday, Sept. 4th was an option but the team and the NFL will not play on Rosh Hashana. Moving the game to Friday night wouldn’t help because the Orioles are home that night and the NFL has a long-standing “no play on Friday” rule to stimulate interest in high school and college football.

If the Ravens were to not host the game there’s a line of reasoning that they’d still play the Thursday night opener but it would be on the road, potentially in a division rival (Pittsburgh is the hottest rumor with Denver not far behind.) There would be a television issue with CBS losing a key game like that to the NFL kickoff game.

The Ravens consider playing the Thursday night game a huge competitive advantage because of the 10 days off after the game. They almost consider it a second bye week after a long training camp. They will almost certainly play a game on the night of Sept. 5th.

There’s also a rumor of a concert or event in Baltimore in conjuction with a potential road game but all of these are in limbo because the NFL still wants the Ravens to play at home on Sept. 5.

Stay tuned.

The Ravens are hoping for the generosity of Peter Angelos to kick in and a reasonable settlement to have the game in Baltimore.

We’ll see how that works out for them…

I can report with full confidence that the Ravens are not optimistic.

In the coming weeks, I will be doing a four part 2013 Orioles season preview in which I will tell you what you can expect from every player who played significant time for the Orioles or another team last season.  I will be dividing the series into starting pitchers, relief pitchers, infielders (and catchers), and this editions subject, the outfielders.  Hope you enjoy!

2013 Orioles Outfielders Preview 

Nate McLouth – McLouth was arguably the biggest surprise for the Orioles last season.  Starting the season at Norfolk (after having disappointing campaigns in Pittsburgh and Atlanta), McLouth was eventually brought up due to injuries to Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold.  He had a solid season of 55 games for the team and was a huge part of the playoff run, even batting third and leadoff at some points in the season.  However, we’ve seen this type of production from Nate before, only to have a disappointing follow up season.  McLouth will have to fight for a starting job with Nolan Reimold this season in order to prove that he can be a consistent contributor.

Last season’s numbers (in 55 games):  .268 BA, 7 HR, 18 RBI

2013 Prediction: .262 BA, 16 HR, 70 RBI

Nick Markakis – It was frustrating watching Markakis sit on the bench during key games down the stretch and throughout the ALDS.  Knowing what a tremendous season Nick had had during the regular season filling in at the leadoff spot, will always have fans wondering what could have been if he had played during the playoffs.  Nonetheless, those injuries were rare instances (one being a cheap shot from C.C. Sabathia) and Markakis is expecting to play a full season even though he is dealing with a minor neck injury.  It remains to be seen where Markakis will bat in the lineup.  It all depends on what the Orioles can get out of Brian Roberts or Nolan Reimold at the leadoff spot. It is however, nice to know that Markakis can be a valuable fill in at that spot if needed.

Last season’s numbers (in 104 games): .298 BA, 13 HR, 54 RBI

2013 Prediction: .289 BA, 16 HR, 75 RBI

Nolan Reimold – Reimold played a mere 16 games last season but in that time showed the potential he has shown throughout his time in Baltimore.  It’s been injuries that have held Nolan back.  In those 16 games last season, Reimold was on a tear.  He was on pace for 45 homers and was batting .313.  Obviously no one expecting that kind of season from him but it would be nice to see what he can do in a full season.  If he can stay healthy, I expect him to take over the left field job at some point in the season.

Last season’s number (in 16 games): .313 BA, 5 HR, 10 RBI

2013 Prediction: .270 BA, 15 HR, 55 RBI

Xavier Avery – Avery was a pleasant surprise last season and filled in nicely during his short time in the big leagues.  He added some needed speed and base stealing prowess (stealing 6 bases) to a team devoid of both last year.  At only 23 years old, I don’t expect him to get much playing time this year unless the injury bug hits the Orioles again but it’s good to see such potential in a young player.

Last season’s numbers (in 32 games): .223, 1 HR, 6 RBI

2013 Prediction: .240, 2 HR, 15 RBI

Adam Jones – I guess this is the one you all have been waiting for.  After signing his long term deal last season, Adam went into a bit of a slump which carried into a postseason in which he had two hits and batted an abysmal .077.  However he had a stellar first half of the season which kept his numbers afloat throughout the season.  Let’s hope the post season let down and experience makes Adam “stay hungry” this year.  He is the face of the franchise now and he needs to be the leader both off the diamond and on it.  The biggest positive we can take from his 2012 season is that he played every single game.  You do not find that much anymore and that is huge impact no matter how you are playing.

Last season’s numbers (162 games): .287 BA (career high), 32 HR (career high), 82 RBI

2013 Prediction: .290 BA, 30 HR, 90 RBI

Check back next week when I preview the relief pitchers and in the meantime, listen to WNST’s Weekend Warriors every Saturday 9AM-12PM, like us on Facebook here, and follow me on Twitter here.

If you’ve been wanting to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and combine it with a Ravens game in Cleveland, this is the trip for you. WNST is firing up the Gunther Motorcoach for a two-journey into Ohio for the pathway to football and another Ravens clash with the Browns.

Our WNST Purple Football roadie to Cleveland will leave White Marsh Mall area at 6am on Saturday, Nov. 2 and we’ll be in Canton before lunch and have several hours to tour the hallowed halls. We’ll even let you complain about what a joke it is that Art Modell isn’t in the Hall of Fame and you’ll be among the first to see the bust of Jon Ogden in Canton!

We’ll arrive at the Holiday Inn Express in Cleveland in time for dinner and some relaxing in the downtown entertainment district. You can sleep in on Sunday morning or stop by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to see The Rolling Stones exhibit before the game.

Game time is 4:25 p.m. on Sunday Nov. 3 and our bus will return 90 minutes after the end of the game from the Holiday Inn Express Downtown to White Marsh and we should arrive after midnight. It’s about a six-hour ride.

Trip includes:

Gunther Motorcoach transportation from White Marsh to Ohio and return

Entrance into Pro Football Hall of Fame

One night deluxe accommodation at Holiday Inn Express Downtown Cleveland

One upper deck game ticket

Snacks, donuts on bus

Beer, soda, water for ride

Plenty of Purple entertainment, films and trivia on the bus ride

COST:

SINGLE — $375

DOUBLE — $325

TRIPLE — $300

QUAD — $275

Simply click on ADD TO CART below…