Despite all of the advances made in the last couple of decades related to baseball statistics and their implementation into game philosophy, despite our ability to explain, predict and define the successes and failures that we see on a night by night basis in Major League Baseball the two most important aspects of baseball success remain impossible to predict or to quantify. Above and beyond all else, success in baseball is and always will be the result of luck and timing.

As Crash Davis taught us all in “Bull Durham” so many years ago, the difference between a .250 and .300 hitter in baseball is just one hit per week; “A Gork, you get a ground ball, you get a ground ball with eyes. You get a dying quail, just one more dying quail a week and you’re in Yankee Stadium”. With one hit per week being the difference between good and great, the timing of that hit and the circumstances surrounding it become increasingly important.

Of course Seneca, a Roman philosopher who never saw a game of baseball taught is that “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity”. By stacking a lineup full of players with quantifiable and predictable skills you can compel luck and over the course of 162 Major League games you can expect that by stacking the deck in your favor with talent you can also expect that luck to take hold at enough of the right times to be successful.

Still, every once in a while a team like the 2012 Orioles comes along and just throws a wrench into everything that we thought we “knew” about baseball. To call the Orioles lucky might be an understatement. Sure, there’s a heart and an intensity to the team that seems to make them successful, but whether that’s the precursor to their success or a byproduct of it is at the least debatable.

The Pythagorean crowd has already written off this team’s success as lucky and therefore impossible to continue. Maybe they’re right. Actually they’re probably right, but you could pick any other team in baseball that you want and deem them unlikely to win the World Series (or even to get there) and you’d probably be right.

Even the fans that have grown tired of hearing about the luck of the 2012 Orioles are at a true loss to explain their success. While suggesting that the Orioles success this year has simply been lucky is a disservice to those who have performed so well in making it so, explaining it as the byproduct of a manager “hitting all the right switches” is equally insulting. So why have Orioles fans grown so disdainful of anyone looking to explain away their success as lucky, yet so accepting of the notion that it’s Buck Showalter’s uncanny ability to manage the game as the driving force behind the Orioles success?

Of all of the major sports in America, baseball may be the one in which the impact of the manager is most minimal. And the brand of baseball typically played in the AL East only serves to further diminish the impact of the manager. Writing the lineup cards and choosing the pitchers is substantially more impactful than simply shuffling a deck of cards or rolling dice, but once those cards are stacked or those dice cast the manager’s impact is over and it’s up to the turns and bounces of the principals to determine the outcomes.

As the Orioles battle the Rays in an AL East showdown pitting a once improbable and now perennial contender against an unlikely contender of historical proportions it is and will be sold as a chess match of baseball’s grand masters. Buck Showalter and Joe Maddon seem to get the lion’s shares of the credit for their teams’ successes because otherwise we simply struggle to explain those successes. But do they deserve the credit they get? And at what point does that credit to the manager begin to wear on those actually doing the winning?

When the Orioles and Yankees got together for their 4-game set over the weekend the biggest winner of all might have been the Tampa Bay Rays. After biding their time without Evan Longoria and suffering through their typical case of mid-season offensive anemia the Rays still find themselves in the thick of the AL East race, close to full strength if David Price is ready to return this week as speculated, and ready now to pounce on the Yankees and Orioles who both suffered significant (injury) losses over the weekend while splitting a 4-game series. Meanwhile the Rays took 2 of 3 from the Rangers and prepare to descend on Camden Yards for a 3-game set beginning on Tuesday.

Whatever hopes the Orioles had for the playoffs took a big step backward with the loss of their most credible and consistent hitter and improbable table setter in Nick Markakis. How the Orioles respond now is anyone’s guess, but maybe the loss of Markakis isn’t quite as devastating as it would appear on the surface. While the O’s are much (much, much) better with Markakis than without, the improbable season of Chris Davis continues (and now in a much bigger way it would seem) in Markakis’ stead. Also the Orioles have been unable, since promoting Manny Machado to the big league club, to find an adequate way to take advantage of Wilson Betemit’s abilities against right handed pitching due to his lack of ability in the field and the compelling desire to keep Chris Davis in the lineup.

The stacking of the lineup has been the subject of a lot of debate amongst Orioles fans all season, and as clearly the team needs a new answer in the lead-off spot; here’s how I’d stack things going forward:

VS. Left Handers

1. SS – JJ Hardy (R) 285/351/453

2. LF – Nate McLouth (L) 210/355/379

3. CF – Adam Jones (R) 296/329/481

4. C  – Matt Wieters (R) 313/388/487

5. 1B – Mark Reynolds (R) 237/368/412

6. DH – Chris Davis (L) 256/287/433

7. 3B – Manny Machado (R) 250/280/542

8. 2B – Robert Andino (R) 210/291/305

9. RF – Lew Ford (R) 365/324/588

VS. Right Handers

1. LF – Nate McLouth (L) 259/337/444

2. 1B – Mark Reynolds (R) 232/346/487

3. DH – Wilson Betemit (L) 304/360/506

4. CF – Adam Jones (R) 285/336/525

5. RF – Chris Davis (L) 257/316/466

6. 3B – Manny Machado (R) 291/296/494

7. C  – Matt Wieters (L) 213/294/391

8. SS – JJ Hardy (R) 217/256/370

9. 2B – Robert Andino (R) 221/285/320

We’ve all watched movies or read books that depicted some sort of a time machine. A character would enter the time machine and get to experience a bunch of memories from the yesteryears, hoping and praying that they’d be able to fend off the incoming reality and stay in the past for the remainder of time.

My memories of the Orioles early in my life have always stayed with me, but they’ve dimmed as I’ve gotten older. I remember my first day of Pre-K, my First Communion, my first day of middle school, my first baseball game as a little leaguer, etc. Fitting right in with those memories are memories of sitting in the left field stands with my mom in the mid 90s when we had to order our tickets at the beginning of the year to make sure we got good seats for the games we wanted to go to.

I faintly remember sitting in left field watching B.J. Surhoff and Brady Anderson patrol the outfield as the fans were hanging on every single pitch. I remember when fans really associated with the players on the field, and welcomed them as part of their Baltimore family.

But again, as time has passed and losing seasons have amassed, the details of those memories have faded.

Until last night, when I entered into my own personal time machine as I walked into Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The ceremony was really special and something that I’ll probably always remember. It was evident from early on that this was going to be a special night. It wasn’t going to be a bunch of fans attending the game simply because they got free tickets or because they wanted to take home a bronze statue to put on E-bay. I knew last night would be different, but to what extent? I wasn’t sure…

I started to get an idea of just how different this warm September night would be when Jason Hammel threw his first strike. The crowd erupted. Like, literally erupted. J.J. Hardy made two really nice plays to start the inning as Jason Hammel set down the first two Yankees he faced in his return from the disabled list.

Then something really, well, crazy happened. Jason Hammel threw strike two to Robinson Cano. Fans started to stand. More fans got up. And more. And more…

Every single person in the stadium was on their feet, urging Jason Hammel to strike out Robinson Cano. There wasn’t anything on the scoreboard urging the fans to stand up. There wasn’t any lame applause sound effect being played over the loud speaker. Rather, it was just a pure moment of baseball joy that engulfed the 46 thousand fans that packed the most beautiful sports stadium in the world. It was pretty special.

Even more special was the bottom of the inning. J.J. Hardy singled with one out, as did Nate McLouth. Adam Jones brought Hardy home to give the O’s the 1-0 lead, and then Matt Wieters stepped to the plate.

On the first pitch, Wieters, who in 2009 made the most anticipated rookie debut in recent Orioles history, once again penned his name into the Orioles history books as he tomahawked a three run home-run into the left field stands. With one swing, Matt Wieters and the rest of his Orioles teammates announced to the city, and to the world, something that I would have laughed at five months ago.

To: Joe Girardi and the New York Yankees

I’m sure when you all looked at the 2012 schedule back in March, you probably assumed the post-Labor Day series in Baltimore would be a 4-game walk-in-the-park.

Turns out you were right.

It WILL be a walk-in-the-park.

For the Orioles.

Let me officially welcome you guys from New York to the beginning of the end.  I imagine you started to feel it – for real – last weekend in Yankee Stadium when the Birds buzzed in and slapped you around on Friday and Sunday, serving notice that this September might be different than the others of the last 14 seasons prior to this one.

In fact, let me take a second to remind you that Yankee Stadium actually transformed to “Camden Yards in The Bronx” this year, as the Orioles won all three series’ played in “your” place.  How’s that humble pie taste, Joe?

If you haven’t been paying attention — and honestly, when I watch the Yankees this season, I wonder if you are — the Orioles are threatening to claim the top spot in the American League East.  And with Tampa Bay putting their foot up your ass in Florida earlier this week, the Yankees are in the not-so-delightful position of actually having to fight for the right to make the post-season.

For once, the Yankees are just like any other team, fighting and scratching for wins down the stretch.  You’ve lost more than you’ve won since the All-Star break.  Not all bad for a team of scrubs.  But not good for a team like the Yankees who are supposed to win 55% of their games just by showing up at the stadium on time.

And now, on September 6, the time has come to separate the men from the boys.  Let’s see how the Yankees react to this moment-of-truth over the next four days in Baltimore.  Do you have the stones to man-up and win 3 out of 4 to put a halt to this freight train in orange?  Or will you buckle under the pressure of that 10-game A.L. East lead you squandered in less than 50 days?

Here’s my guess:  The Yankees are going to leave town late Sunday evening embarrassed and battered.

Based on the pitchers you’re scheduled to send to the mound, I’d say you guys will be very fortunate to win 2 of the 4 games and more likely a safe bet to win only one.  And it sure wouldn’t surprise me if you go 0-for-4 in Charm City this weekend.

This weekend, by the way, is simply the finishing touch on a season gone haywire here in Baltimore, where the Orioles have done the unthinkable and gone from worst to maybe-first.  That we’ll be jetting above the Yankees in the process is just icing on the cake.  I’m not naive enough to think this is the beginning of some sort of decade long trend where the Orioles win division titles “on the trot” (as they say in England) while the Yankees wallow in 3rd or 4th place.  That gives me even more energy to laugh at what’s happened this year.  It’s come completely out of nowhere.  We might not experience something like this for another decade.  So while we have it, here, at our fingertips, we’re going to revel in it.  You don’t mind, do you?

How that all relates to the upcoming post-season, I have no idea.  But I know this…when the dust settles in a few weeks the Orioles will be ahead of the Yankees in the standings.

Make book on that.

(Please see next page)

I think winning two out of three in New York at the beginning of September to pull within two games of the first place Yankees made the city take notice.  Two days later, the Baltimore Orioles are in a tie for first place.  For most of this quizzical 2012 Orioles season, a lot fans in Baltimore have sat back, watched and waited for collapse with which we have all become too familiar.  For fourteen seasons, the month of September at Camden Yards has been irrelevant.  Losing seasons.  Each and every one of them.

A 21-8 stretch has morphed this group of over-achievers into a legitimate threat to win a 27-game sprint for the American League East Championship.  I watch in disbelief.  I struggle to explain it.  I struggle, still, to buy in wholly.

How can a team win so many extra-inning games in a row?  Win so many one-run games in a row?  Win without a true first baseman?  Win when plugging a rookie in at third base in July?  Win with its most dependable starter on the shelf?  Win with a left field of Whos??  Win when a Quintanilla has had more impact than a Thome?  It really defies all logic.

Two instances in the past seem to be relevant here in the Orioles history.   The Why Not season of 1989 is the most obvious.  Losers of 21 straight the season before came within a series win in Toronto of claiming the East title.  Winning the World Series in 1966 against the venerable Dodgers may be another.  Imagine beating Drysdale twice and Koufax in four games over 5 days, never trailing in the series and finishing with 33 straight scoreless innings pitched.  At that point, the Orioles had never played a post-season game.  How could they beat LA, which had won the World Series three of the last seven years, in four straight games?

In 2012, a lot of work remains.  The playoff race is a crowded one with teams full of seasoned playoff veterans.  Seven other teams can all claim to be more prepared than the Orioles on paper.  But after 135 games, those teams haven’t proven it.

So what happens in these 27 games remaining?  I can’t see the O’s staying this hot.  But I can’t see Oakland and Tampa keeping it up either.  Could Detroit or the Angels wake up in time to snag playoff spots?  Can the Yankees collapse!??!  Wouldn’t that be a shame?

At this point, it’s just nice to care and not talk about Boston.  This team has moxy.  It has Showalter pushing all the right buttons.  It’s finally got the right uniform (though i could do without the Friday night ensemble).  Could they possibly do the unthinkable of just 6 months ago?  They just might.

On September 4^th, 2012 the Baltimore sports scene has officially turned into bizarro world. You remember bizarro world from the Superman comics where everything was opposite and Superman was evil. Well today Baltimore officially turned into bizarro world. It all started as we were wrapping up “Catch the Buzz”. I was gathering my things together when Thyrl Nelson came by and said, “anyone know why Bryant McKinnie just tweeted Decision is made I’m gone? Soon after we all knew exactly what it meant as the Ravens had called McKinnie into the office and told him that he would either have to take a pay cut or be released by the team. Huh? Six days before the season and after the team had already made their final cuts the Ravens were telling their starting left tackle to either take a pay cut or take a hike? Ultimately the two sides would come to agreement on a restructured contract but what message does that send to your starting left tackle six days before the season and why aren’t you more concerned about the Cincinnati Bengals then saving money at this point? Were the Ravens going to sign another player? How would a successful negotiation actually help the team? Were they over the salary cap? Ultimately it seems like McKinnie will be able to recoup that money if he reaches certain incentives during this year. Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh was vague about the Ravens intentions during his press conference today and only said that McKinnie never left and has always been a Raven. Quite frankly this is a move that I would have expected from the Orioles organization over the last 14 years.

Just hours later I got this from Orioles PR:

ORIOLES ENCOURAGE FANS TO “BUCKLE UP!” FOR SEPTEMBER,

OFFER THROWBACK TICKET PRICING FOR TAMPA BAY SERIES

The Orioles today announced a new ticket promotion to celebrate the team’s push for the postseason in this 20^th Anniversary season of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. In an effort to encourage fans to “BUCKle Up!” and Back the Birds, the team will offer 1992 throwback pricing for select locations during the Orioles’ series against the Tampa Bay Rays September 11-13.

            For all three games of the series, while supplies last, Eutaw Street Bleacher seats are $4.00 (regularly $19) and all Left Field Lower Box seats are just $8.00 (regularly $32). Fans can take advantage of this 75% discount online at www.orioles.com/buckleup or by stopping by the Oriole Park Box Office.

Fans who already purchased regularly priced seats in the Eutaw Street Bleachers or Left Field Lower Box will receive a refund for the difference in ticket value. A refund check will be automatically issued, and fans should allow up to four weeks for processing and delivery.

“We are looking forward to a September to remember and encourage all Orioles fans to ‘BUCKle Up!’ and support the club,” said Orioles Director of Communications, GREG BADER. “Orioles ticket prices are already the most affordable of any professional sports team in the region, and we hope this extra incentive will allow even more fans the opportunity to demonstrate that they ‘Back the Birds.’”

Orioles fans are encouraged to utilize the hashtag #BUCKleUp throughout the remainder of the season to promote the Orioles’ push for the postseason.

What? The Orioles are doing something for their fans and are reaching out to their fan base to come to the games. When I showed this to my wife and daughter do you know the first thing they said? Hey dad can we go to the games next week? I guarantee you a lot of other families around Baltimore were saying the same thing when they heard the news from the Orioles. To be honest something like this is what I would expect from the Baltimore Ravens over the last 14 years. They have done everything in their power to reach out to their fans. Instead today it was the Orioles. Oh and by the way the Orioles are now tied for first place in the A.L. East. What? Tell me this isn’t bizarro world. I just hope and pray that it’s just for one day because I would never wish what the Orioles have been through for the last 14 years on any organization.

The Orioles officially have surpassed their win total from 2011, winning their 70^th game on Monday night versus the White Sox. The organization has finally started to turn things around, as they are in a well-publicized playoff hunt and on pace for their first winning season since Davey Johnson was manager north of the BWI.  A year full of “Orioles Magic” has been a long time coming in Baltimore, but has been a long work in progress as well.

Though his tenure here was not only brief, but extremely disappointing, Andy MacPhail actually laid the ground work for the team that is winning games at what seems to be a rapid rate this season.  Though the Orioles have witnessed momentous failures (Brian Matusz, Mark Reynolds and Felix Pie), the core of this group can be credited to MacPhail’s tenure in Baltimore.  Now this does not mean that current GM, Dan Duquette, does not deserve his own fair share of the credit.  The moves he made throughout the season have been unspectacular, yet crucial in their own right.  Nobody thought the Wei-Yin Chen experiment would amount to anything, but he has exceeded probably his own expectations as the Orioles best and most reliable pitcher.

The Jason Hammel deal sent fan favorite, Jeremy Guthrie, out of town but in turn brought back two quality starters.  Obviously Hammel has spent a good portion of the season on the DL, but pitched well enough to be considered a building block for the rotation.  The Orioles also received Matt Lindstrom in return for Guthrie, who now has been moved for Joe Saunders.  Doing the math, any major league roster would take two quality starters for one.  Add in moves to bring in Nate McLouth, Omar Quintanilla and Luis Ayala, while bringing up top positional prospect, Manny Machado; Duquette’s 2012 can be nothing more than remarkable.

But that does not take it account what he has inherited here in Baltimore; which is a lot more than anyone would have given him credit for in the offseason.  MacPhail made the moves to acquire Adam Jones, Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy; who are the best hitters in this lineup not named Markakis.  He drafted Gold Glove (and fan favorite) catcher Matt Wieters, rising star Manny Machado and the top prospect in the minors, Dylan Bundy; none of which with the first pick in the draft.

So five of six most productive starters in the lineup came from the daunted MacPhail era, along with the future Ace of the rotation.  But most importantly, he is the one get Buck Showalter off MLB tonight and back into the dugout.  MacPhail is the one to recognize Buck as the fit to lead this roster past a decade and a half ineptitude.  So even though he never was able to make the small moves, which sets rosters apart from winners to losers, he made the big picture for the Orioles much better for present day and the future.

The Orioles announced yesterday that recently acquired pitcher, Joe Saunders will start tonight in the third game of a four game series with the Chicago White Sox.  Saunders comes to the Orioles with a 6-10 record in 21 games and a 4.22 ERA all in Arizona this year.

Saunders is, however, exactly what the doctor ordered for the Orioles.  He averages 6.2 innings per start and is posting the highest strikeout to walk ratio of his career at 2.87.  The Orioles have been in desperate need of a quality starter who can spare the bullpen some innings and consistently get guys out.  “They brought me over here to help them get deep into games.  I pride myself on going deep into games, pitching into the 7^th-8^th innings, saving the bullpen a little bit,” Joe said during “Catch the Buzz” on WNST.

In addition to his tangibles, Saunders adds a veteran presence to an otherwise rather young team.  “I’ll help when I can, if the guys have any questions on what to expect, I’ll answer,” said Saunders, “I’ll reiterate the fact that it’s going to be tough but September’s a fun time, it’s a mental grind.”

Most of the players on this team have not had to deal with the pressure of a playoff race before.  Saunders will be the guy they can turn to for experience.  He has 3 playoff starts.  Two with the Angels and one with the Diamondbacks.  “There is just a difference in intensity and focus.  Everything rises, especially the last month; September is like a whole other season in itself, especially if you’re in the race,” Joe said in regards to postseason play.

Saunders is also a ‘local’ guy.  He grew up in Falls Church, Virginia (about an hour from Baltimore) and played his college ball at Virginia Tech.  He said that he and his family would make the trip up to Baltimore a handful of times each year to see the O’s play.  “I’m back here at home, pitching for a team I grew up watching” he said as he met with the media earlier today.  “I remember walking on Eutaw Street and going to the left field bleachers to try and catch homeruns,” he said, “so it’s pretty surreal that I’m here playing for this ball club.”

“I’m pretty used to pitching in high intensity games” Saunders said.  Let’s hope that pays off because every game from here on out will be a high intensity game for this team as they push for a playoff berth.

Joe also understands how important this would be to the fan base. “I’m sure they are on Cloud 9.  As a new player, you have to keep them on cloud 9. You have to keep them cheering, keep putting a good foot forward.  The fans want to see success and if we can do that it would be awesome.”

Saunders seems ready to buy into the attitude of that this team has had all season.  He is exactly what the doctor ordered at this point in the season. “Baltimore is there, they are hungry, the fans are hungry and hopefully we can get there.”

The Orioles are now 24-17 in the second half of the season.  The team is playing great ball in the midst of a hunt for a playoff berth.  Here are the my keys to the Orioles second half success thus far:

1. Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta’s demotions – Clearly, these two players were not having a great year and it seemed that every time they took the mound, they were going to automatically give up 5 or 6 runs.  This put the offense in an incredibly difficult position without even taking the field.  Just knowing that they would have to score big that night puts added pressure on the team.  With these guys now back with the team, we will see if they were able to work out their difficulties in the coming weeks.

2. Nick Markakis’s move to the lead-off spot – Since being moved to the top spot in the order, Markakis is batting a whopping .337/.384/.506 with 10 doubles, 5 homers and 20 RBI.  Nick is a player who likes to take a lot of pitches so the lead-off spot is completely tailored for his batting approach.  His success has been due in large part to that as well as getting some rest after coming back from his hand injury.

3. Miguel Gonzalez and Chris Tillman – With the injury to Jason Hammel and the demotions of Arrieta and Matusz, the Orioles turned to these two guys to keep the team’s head above water.  They have done that and more.  Gonzalez has had to face a number of teams aces this year by shear scheduling quirkiness and has posted a 3.66 ERA with 49 SO. Tillman has also filled in nicely and has earned a regular spot in the rotation with his 3.71 ERA and 42 SO.

4. Buck Showalter – Buck Showalter has taken this team of, lets face it, average players and turned them into a playoff contender.  Shrewd personnel and managerial moves have been the reason for most of their wins.  Showalter has infused a “never give up” mentality into these players and they have bought in.  The Orioles are 12-2 in extra innings, 23-6 in one-run games, and 21-12 in two-run games.  This team wins the close games simply because they just won’t let the other team do so.  They exude confidence and that can never be underestimated.

5. Manny Machado and Steve Johnson – While I am not ready to crown either of these guys All Stars yet, the two have come in and helped in big ways.  Both had a lot of buzz surrounding them as they were called up.  Manny Machado for the fact that he is the top batting prospect in the Orioles system and Johnson for the fact that he is a local kid and had been pitching really well at AAA.  They have invigorated the fan base that has been hesitant to come out to OPACY even during this current playoff push.  Johnson has filled in well during his couple starts and Machado is playing great defense at third (which the Orioles had been lacking) and is putting up decent numbers at the plate.

It’s time to look back at the three most compelling events of this past weekend. The Orioles are going to be a big part of this. When was the last time that we mentioned the Orioles and the word compelling in the same sentence late in the month of August? Enjoy the ride Baltimore sports fans. The Ravens are getting ready to gear things up and the Orioles aren’t just Wild Card contenders, at 4 ½ games back they are challenging for the AL East crown. Let’s get to our top three:

#3

Sunday afternoon the Baltimore Ravens made their first round of cuts. Included in those cuts was Kicker Billy Cundiff.

The training camp kicking battle between Cundiff and rookie Justin Tucker was intense from start to finish. I feel bad for Billy because he will not get a chance to redeem himself here in Baltimore after his AFC Championship miss that ended the Ravens hopes of going to Superbowl  XLVI. This competition has been the talk of the town since Justin Tucker signed with the Ravens as an Undrafted Free Agent. In the beginning I didn’t believe that Tucker would beat out Cundiff for the job, but as training camp and Preseason went along it became pretty evident that Tucker was starting to edge out Cundiff. It all culminated with Tucker getting all the kicks in the Ravens’ Preseason game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tucker was nearly flawless in every aspect of his game. Tucker even pulled off a successful onside kick vs. the Detroit Lions.  I truly believe that Cundiff didn’t lose the job but Tucker was just that incredible in the competition. I’m fairly certain that Billy Cundiff will be kicking somewhere in the NFL before this season is over. Ultimately I think the Ravens had to consider the potential weapon that Tucker could be. His 53 yard field goal in Thursday’s game had plenty of distance and hit the net above the crossbar. Not out of the question to say that it would have been good from at least 65 yards.

Some will question the Ravens for starting this season with a rookie Kicker. The last time the Ravens attempted this it ended poorly with Steve Hauschka unable to handle the pressure of the job. Hauschka was just 9-13 for the Ravens back in 2009 before being cut after nine games. That year the Ravens picked up journeyman Billy Cundiff. If Tucker somehow folds under the pressure the Ravens would make a similar move. I just think that Coach John Harbaugh, General Manager Ozzie Newsome and the rest of the Ravens personnel staff just couldn’t let the potential talent of Tucker get away. Here was John Harbaugh’s statement after the decision was made to cut Cundiff, “Billy had a great camp, the best he has had with us. He showed, like he always has, a toughness and an ability to come back and be a top-flight NFL kicker. These decisions are never easy, and this one was difficult for all of us – Ozzie [Newsome], Jerry [Rosburg] and me. Of course, that says something about Justin [Tucker], the way he has kicked and our belief in him. But, that does not say something less about Billy. Billy was ready in every way to be our kicker. He’ll kick in the NFL. He’s a very good kicker and an even better person.” I don’t think there is any doubt that Harbaugh and the Ravens have the utmost respect for Cundiff and I truly believe that this was not an easy decision for the Ravens.

#2

Mike Mussina was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame before Saturday night’s Oriole game. I don’t understand the venom that some Oriole fans show towards Mussina. He was truly one of the Orioles all time greats and gave everything he had for the organization. I defy anyone to put themselves in Mussina’s shoes and say they wouldn’t have done the same exact thing that Mussina did when he left Baltimore to play for the Yankees. For those that don’t remember, Mussina took less money to stay in Baltimore twice before he finally left to take the deal with New York.

Mussina won 147 games here in Baltimore and was the last true player the Orioles had that I would actually pay to just go watch him play. He was more than just a good pitcher. It was fun to watch the way he would think his way through a game. He prepared and was as mentally tough as any pitcher. He had that bulldog mentality that I love in pitchers. Mussina pitched 200+ innings in 12 of the 18 years he pitched in the Major Leagues. The sad part for the Orioles is that he was the last true #1 starter that the franchise had. He left after the 2000 season. That’s 12 years of starting rotation mediocrity. Congratulations Mike Mussina on being an Oriole Hall of Famer and thank you for all that you gave to the Oriole organization.