Nothing to add today. Got caught up this morning and filling in for Ray now. Hopefully Troy Smith will be well enough to play Thursday; and aren’t we all excited for the return of Brian Burres???

Let’s see what everyone has to say….

Best of Monday’s WNST Blogs:

Nestor Aparicio says Harbaugh learning about ‘hot seat’

Drew Forrester doesn’t get Trembley’s issues

Casey Willett still thinks QB job Smith’s

Vince Fiduccia likes ‘promise’ shown by McClain in backfield

Ed Frankovic says scout thinks Caps should own south for years

ORIOLES:

The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Waters solid but Birds lose scheduled game

The Official Site provides numerical evidence of loss

The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Montanez gets winning RBI as Birds win delayed contest

The Official Site provides numerical evidence of win

The Official Site’s Amanda Comak says Mickolio sent down, Burres called up

The Official Site’s Spencer Fordin says Cabrera sent to team orthopedist

The Official Site’s Danny Wild says Keys combine for one hitter

The Official Site’s Amanda Comak says Sarfate more comfortable back in bullpen

White Sox Official Site’s Scott Merkin says Thome’s homer gives Sox series opening win

The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Cherry gets first big league save in resumed win

The Sun’s Dan Connolly says Castillo gets first big league win in resumed game

The Sun’s Dan Connolly says Cabrera to have MRI on elbow

The Sun’s Dan Connolly says Warehouse remains untouched in games

The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Ray to rehab at Bowie tonight

The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Mickolio will return Sept. 1

The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Montanez RBI recorded in August, not April

The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Guillen drank too much to remember April 28

The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Wieters continues power game on farm

Carroll County Times’ Josh Land says Trembley pleased with Waters’ performance

Carroll County Times’ Josh Land says most Birds support replay

The AP says Thome moves into 15^th on All-Time HR list with game winner

The AP says Trembley thinks Cabrera ‘disappointed’, not hurt

Washington Post’s Mark Viera says 20k see Birds win one, lose one last night

Washington Post’s Mark Viera says Trembley wants players to be honest about injuries

Fox Sports’ Aram Tolegian drops Birds to 22^nd in Power Rankings

Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales says Birds, Sox each win games 4-3

Daily Herald’s Scot Gregor says Birds rallied from down 2-0 before losing scheduled game

Chicago Sun-Times’ Chris De Luca says White Sox much different when April 28 game concluded

RAVENS:

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Gaither back at practice Monday

The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says Boller, Smith remain ahead of Flacco in QB derby if healthy

The Official Site says Harbaugh wants Smith to start Thursday if he’s healthy

The Official Site’s Geoff Peckham says Baltimore hosts “Madden Nation”

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says Flacco only man standing at QB

The Sun’s Mike Preston says entire starting O-Line could be on field Thursday

The Sun’s Edward Lee says Gaither ‘wants to play’ Thursday night

The Sun’s Bill Ordine doesn’t want to see Flacco start

The Sun’s Edward Lee says Edwards missed practice

The Sun’s Edward Lee says Harbaugh expects Gaither back Opening Day

Aaron Wilson says Smith did NOT have tonsils removed Monday

Aaron Wilson says D. Williams participated in individual drills

Frederick News-Post’s Stan Goldberg says Boller kept to ‘light tosses’ Monday

ESPN.com’s James Walker says Ravens needed Gaither’s good injury news

TERRAPINS FOOTBALL:

The Official Site previews opener with Delaware

The Official Site offers complete Maryland-Delaware release (pdf)

Delaware Official Site offers complete Hens-Terps preview (pdf)

The Sun’s Jeff Barker says Ralph thinks ground game ‘needs work’

The Sun’s Matt Bracken says future Terps struggle a bit in openers

Washington Post’s Steve Yanda says Franklin taking charge of turning offense around

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell says Ralph’s fitness test not easy

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell says Ralph thinks Terps as deep at LB as ever

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell says Meggett will be ‘second (back) in’

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell says Ralph remembers pulling tar

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell thinks trip to Blacksburg toughest test for Terps

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell wonders why Ralph said players picked Steffy

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell says Ralph trying to keep DHB focused on season, not Draft

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell says Ralph expects Ivey back Week 3 or 4

Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell thinks Terps win seven games

Washington Post’s Josh Barr doesn’t think Steffy choice hurts recruiting

Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Muhtadi not happy with video game rating

Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says nothing new known about Green’s injury

Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Ralph thinks situations will determine Portis’ playing time Saturday

Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Hens don’t want to use multiple QB’s

Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Ralph aware of fans’ displeasure towards QB decision

Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Franklin learning to be head coach

ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich thinks Terps’ schedule middle of the pack in ACC

ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich thinks Terps ‘dark horse’ to topple Tigers

Terrapin Times’ Keith Cavanaugh says Terps move into game week prep (must subscribe)

Terrapin Times’ Mark Clem checks in with Junior New Jersey WR (must subscribe)

TERRAPINS BASKETBALL:

The Official Site says former Terp Jasikevicius strong in Beijing

The AP says former Terp Strawberry traded to Rockets

Washington Post’s Steve Yanda says he’s on hoops beat

Washington Post’s Josh Barr says Woody job may be reason Gilchrist went to USF

Washington Times’ Dick Heller remembers Malone’s pro jump

Terrapin Times’ Dan Painter checks in with big prospect Williams (must subscribe)

TERRAPINS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:

The Official Site checks in with Coleman

Washington Post’s Camille Powell says she’s on Women’s beat

TERRAPINS LACROSSE:

Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Cottle thinks Final Fours get you head coaching gigs

Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Copeland headed to Fairfield

Inside Lacrosse’s Christian Swezey says Moran, Towers in mix to join Terps’ staff

NAVY FOOTBALL:

Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner believes Bryant will start Saturday, not KNKE

Washington Post’s Camille Powell says hamstring better, KNKE wants to return Saturday

TOWSON FOOTBALL:

The Official Site says Kiper headlines football luncheon

MORGAN FOOTBALL:

The Official Site says Bears continue to improve moving towards Sept. 6 opener

The Sun’s Mike Klingaman says Bears looking to get back over .500

HORSE RACING:

Thoroughbred Times’ Frank Angst says Kentucky step closer to banning steroids

The AP says Kentucky’s steroid ban includes lesser penalties

SOME QUICK THOUGHTS:

-Maybe now that he’s healthy, Jared Gaither will play to his potential. But I somehow doubt it.

Talk to you tomorrow.

-G

Brian Roberts tried steroids once. Do you believe that? I don’t. Could he be telling the truth? Yes. Sounds like a bunch of B.S. to me — kind of like the guy that gets pulled over and says, “I only had one beer.”

Isn’t it funny how all of the guys that are getting named in the Mitchell Report only did it once or twice? Andy Pettitte said the same thing. Some of the other guys are saying that they were prescribed HGH or steroids by their doctor. Some guys are saying that everyone else is lying. Not only are these guys drug users, but they are also liars. We have common sense. Please stop insulting us.

Kyle Boller is starting again this week. I’ve seen his act for five years now. God forbid that you see what Troy Smith brings to the table. Is Smith ready? Probably not. Take a look at him anyway. Let him get out there and run around. I know that some of the players on the team would rather see Smith out there. If the team is going to rally around the guy, then get him in.

I was at the Ravens-Dolphins game on Sunday. Man, it sucked having to walk out of that place.

A few years ago, Jim Palmer unwittingly indicted Brady Anderson for taking steroids. It was in the middle of a mundane Oriole broadcast, and Jim, probably in some “stream-of-consciousness” effect, claimed that the blip in Brady’s home run production in 1996 had to be the result of steroid use. After all, he had 16 homers in ’95 and 18 in ’97. What else could account for the 50 dingers he hit in 1996.

Brady Anderson was the first name I looked for after the Mitchell Report was made public. According to The Sun there are “at least 18 current or former Orioles” mentioned in the report. (I guess the report didn’t have the time or inclination to check if there were more than 18.)

Ok. Brady wasn’t on the list. That doesn’t mean he didn’t take steroids. Maybe he paid cash. Maybe he avoided the three main sources Mitchell used to make his report. Howie Clark, on the other hand, must have used his credit card, come in contact with Mets batboy Kirk Radomski, or maybe conducted business with the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO).

The report admits that “Other investigations will no doubt turn up more names and fill in more details”. So the bottom line is; Maybe Brady’s homers were ‘roid aided or maybe they weren’t.

What I can draw from this is that performance enhancing drugs are mere “fine-tuners’. An athlete must have the God-given, extraordinary skills to participate in the major leagues. Even with these skills, the Howie Clarks of the bigs can’t compete with the Brady Andersons. Clark could tell you, steroids won’t help. After all, he has a total of 25 major league homers. If steroids made that much of a difference, Clark would have more than the two homers he hit last year for Toronto.

Here’s the sad fact: Peer pressure resulted in the proliferation of performance enhancing drugs. The guys that were borderline took it, so the guys that were good took it to keep their place. In turn, the guys that were great, took it. The bottom line? Brady is better than Clark. Bonds is better than Justice. Clemens is better than Grimsley.

Steroids don’t matter; At least as far as who is better than whom.

Then, why should we care. If they’re all souped up, the playing field is level. Go ahead Barry, hit another into McCovey Cove.

Well, here’s why we should care. Those high school studs know going in that they need to “roid-up” in order to compete. Either take a chance at competing at the highest level and pollute your body with chemicals that will have far-reaching consequences, or drive a truck.

That’s a tough choice for an 18-year-old kid. Take the junk and have what is perceived as a really good shot at making millions of dollars playing ball, taking your choice of girls after the game, and having everyone wear your jersey. So what if my heart explodes at 50. That’s a long way off.

This is not good thinking. Who’s to blame? The owners, the men who pay the boys to hit baseballs harder, higher and farther. Yes. That’s one group. But the other, is the players association.

I believe that there is a majority of athletes who want to compete, but don’t want to jeopardize their long-term health. These athletes are card-carrying, dues-paying members of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Why aren’t they demanding that Donald Fehr institute steps that will admittedly give up some employee privileges in return for ensuring that all athletes are playing on a healthy playing field?

Just a thought …

The long awaited Mitchell report … MUST SEE TV … it was IRAN-CONTRA for those that are old enough to remember. What a waste of time …

The report could have been one page … how about this …

There are many major league baseball players over the past 15 years or so that have bought, taken and administered steroids and HGH, it’s a problem that MLB, the owners and the players’ association allowed to happen. All parties must work together to rid baseball of these enhancement drugs so the past is not repeated and once again bring honor to America’s game.

But NOOOOOOOOOO … we had to name names … two-thirds of the players named we have never heard of and the other one-third we either already knew or suspected.

Roger Clemens … shocking … come on people!

This report is a joke … because you named so few MLB players and the many of the people named are no longer playing or dead … now the debate of who did and who didn’t will continue …

Sorry, color me disappointed.

It turns out that Gibbons was telling the truth all of that time when he continued to deny using steroids. Indeed he wasn’t.  He was using HGH all along. Gibbons simply adds to the long list of humiliations the Orioles have suffered during this decade of discontent.

Almost from his first spring training in Baltimore when he earned the nickname Popeye, people have suspected Gibbons of using performance enhancers. He is the classic example of why enhancers are used. An average…or below average athlete who may need something to help him get over the hump. One big season, and a couple of exciting career moments, are turned into a long term, multi-million dollar contract that will provide for him, his children, and probably his children’s children. If you had the chance to do it, wouldn’t you consider it?

Yes, all of the orioles 1st base/ outfielders/ DH’s have distinguished themselves in this off-season. Millar, Huff, and Gibbons have damaged their credibility, and have turned off a fan-base that is looking for anything in the Orioles to embrace. IF there were any three players who I would say the Orioles could just release it would be these three players, and that is before you include the off-season mishaps.

At least Gibbons knew enough to be humble in the moment, apologize for his actions, and not appeal the suspension. Another situation where an athlete vows that there is more to the story and you will understand when the truth comes out, with no follow through would have not been good for anyone.

RUMORS

Two rumors that involve the Orioles have surfaced in the last 48 hours which I pray are not true. The first involves Tejada going to the Astros for players such as Adam Everett, and Chris Burke. While Everett is a quality defender, the Astros are looking to move these players because they can’t hit. Chris Burke has been such a bust that even after Craig Biggio retired, the Astros went to free agency and blocked Burke (a player that they have been waiting for for some time now) with the signing of Kaz Matsui. If they can’t hit in the National League, in one of the most hitter friendly parks in the game, what are they going to do in the AL East? Can anyone say under the Mendoza line?

The other rumor involves Roberts going to the Cubs for players sush as Matt Murton and Sean Marshall. Matt Murton? Matt Murton?? …. Matt Murton??? Come on now! I know that McPhail came from the Cubs, but COME ON NOW!!! McPhail needs to find a way to trade with a team other than the Cubs. There is a reason why they are current team with the longest run without a championship.

If the rumors are true, the Orioles could have moved Ramon Hernandez in a deal for Lastings Milledge. If McPhail picks up Everett Burke and Murton for Roberts and Tejada after passing up Milledge and several other names thrown in by other organizations, you would immediately have to wonder if we have the right man at the wheel. Right now they are just rumors, and I hope that is what they will remain.

JONES TO THE DODGERS

The Dodgers are following their Los Angeles counterparts in signing another center fielder a year after overpaying for one in the previous off-season (Matthews and Pierre respectively) Andruw Jones only signed for two years. If he is a bust it won’t kill them. The money is far too much. He is still one of the best defenders, but he isn’t what he once was. They are bringing him in for his pop. The problem is that his pop last year was nothing like what it was the previous two seasons. On top of it, Dodger Stadium isn’t a hitters haven. Given the cost, I would have to say that the Dodgers will regret this move. A $12 – $15 million dollar per season price tag, and I might have a different opinion. The good news from an Oriole perspective is that it may make it a little easier to pry Matt Kemp from the Dodgers in any potential deals now that they have Jones.

So, the “public” has decided that the Barry Bonds home run ball gets an asterisk* on it, huh?  The Hall of Fame – in dire need for any kind of publicity they can get for 51 weeks out of the year – must be hard-up for attention if they’re going to take the ball from this clown who caught it – and display it in Cooperstown with an * on it.

It must be about publicity, right?

It can’t be about FAIRNESS.

If the Hall of Fame execs want to make it all fair, then they need to immediately cough up the biggest loogy they can and promptly spit it on the face of Gaylord Perry’s plaque at Cooperstown.

That would be fair.  And that hunk of spit dangling from Perry’s chin will serve to remind us all that Perry broke the rules to get batters out.  It’s OK to cheat to get BATTERS out, I guess.  But it’s not OK to cheat to hit BALLS out.  Confused?  Of course you are.  But that’s what baseball has mastered over the years.  Double-standards and confusing the fans.

Gaylord Perry cheated.  He’s in.  No * on any of his stuff, right?  Why is that?  Oh, I know, it’s because he “cheated”, but in a weird, our-society-is-always-looking-for-a-loophole-kind-of-way, people look at Perry’s cheating as “acceptable” because it’s more like chicanery and less like breaking the rules.  Someone will e-mail me with that bullsh*t, I’m sure.  Or, someone will say, “throwing the spitball is just like the hidden ball trick…it’s just old school baseball tom foolerly.”  And, I’ll call “bullsh*t” on that too if you e-mail me the same nonsense.  You can’t get kicked out of the game for the hidden ball trick.  If the umpires catch you doctoring the ball, you get the heave-ho and, likely, a suspension from MLB.

Why is that?  Oh, that’s right, because doctoring the ball is cheating.  In Gaylord Perry’s case, he was white, and cheated, so that made it all OK, I guess.

So, the Bonds Hall of Fame ball gets to New York by way of an * in San Francisco.  If I’m Bonds, I call those stuffed suits in Cooperstown and say, “you put that ball on display with an * on it and you jack-asses don’t get one other piece of my memorabilia to display…EVER.”

Why not?  Everyone in the country already thinks Bonds is rude, abrasive and a semi-non-comformist.  Might as well stay in character and threaten the Hall of Fame, right?

By the way, I’ll nip one more potential e-mail in the bud.  I KNOW BARRY BONDS USED STEROIDS.  We all know it.  But for a good portion of Bonds’ career, the league didn’t care what you put in your body and had no hard-and-fast rules against it…to the degree that they didn’t even test for steroids until this decade.  So, yes, Bonds cheated.  The problem is, Bonds hasn’t yet been CAUGHT cheating by Major League Baseball.  Perry was caught…and later admitted to it – snickering the whole time, no doubt - in his book, post-career.

It’s so typical of major league baseball.  For five decades, they specialized in figuring out a way to punish the black player and allow the good old white boy to get away unscathed.  Don’t think that’s true?  Two words for you:  Ty Cobb.

At least they’re letting Bonds play in the league now.  Thank God he wasn’t born in 1920, we wouldn’t even know his name.

Go ahead, ship the ball off to Cooperstown with an * on it.  That will just serve to further remind everyone who goes to the Hall of Fame that cheating ISN’T black and white.  Some types of cheating are OK.  Other kinds of cheating aren’t OK.  It’s not black and white.  Or, is it?

Sure seems like it is to me.

Today, I want to examine a fan’s perspective on performance enhancing drugs. I’m just curious if we still care. With some many athletes getting “popped” from so many different sports, are we becoming immune? Do you still have the same reaction today, that you had three years ago? Are performance enhancing drugs becoming a way of life in professional sports?

Let’s talk about it. E-mail me at rob@wnst.net, or call 410-481-1579 from 2-6pm today.

If they ask nicely, maybe the Orioles could contact the Ravens and ask for that page in the team handbook that deals with a player who has run afoul of the law. 

At least once a year, it seems, the Ravens have to use the “legal process” quote, as in:  “We are not in a position to comment on the situation involving (insert player’s name here).  There’s a legal process that will now play out and until the case is heard and the player gets his day in court, we don’t have any official position on the matter.”

The Orioles are probably going to have to use that quote at some point in the near future as it relates to Jay Gibbons.  If you take Sunday’s SI.com article as gospel, Gibbons had illegal steroids – including HGH – shipped to his home by an underground pharmacy in Orlando, Florida that has since become the center of a federal investigation.  Gibbons joins Rick Ankiel and Troy Glaus as major leaguers who saw their name in print within the last 5 days.  At least Glaus was man enough to stand-up – ashen faced and all – and offer SOMETHING to the media who questioned him.  He didn’t say much, offering a shaky no comment while stammering about the playoff race – has he looked at the standings? – and helping his team.  Ankiel didn’t say much of anything and Gibbons, sidelined for the rest of the year and away from the club, conveniently left his cell phone at “Needles R Us” and didn’t return calls last night. 

Sadly, though, the Orioles are going to have protect Gibbons over the off-season when hot-stove talk centers on what to do with him prior to the ’08 campaign.

The Orioles have to keep Gibbons around.

What a country, huh? 

Yep, that’s what you get when the player’s association actually RUNS the league and the owners fetch coffee and tea for the players on a daily basis.  You’d think it would be the other way around.  The players, ever thankful for their $5.4 million a year, should be getting the owners a gin and tonic once a day, but when you give the player’s union all the power, they take it and run with it.

People calling in to The Comcast Morning Show on Monday want Gibbons cut in the off-season.  “Void his contract,” they say.  “Just cut the guy…get him out of here,” others bellow.

Easier said than done.  First, and foremost, Gibbons NEVER tested positive for steroids.  Anyone with half a brain knows Gibbons has used steroids.  He had them shipped to his house.  Oh, somewhere tomorrow, a Gibbons apologist will say, “Just because he had them shipped to his house doesn’t mean he used them.”  Hell, Gibbons himself might even throw that one out there and see if anyone will bite on it. 

To that, I merely say:  “How many of you get Playboy mailed to your house every month and DON’T read it (or at least look at the pictures)?  Exactly.  None of you.

How many of YOU out there have come home one afternoon, turned on the TV, settled into your favorite chair and then had the UPS guy show up at your door with a box of steroids that you DIDN’T order?  E-mail me directly if that’s ever happened to you.  I’d like to hear more about it.

So, the Orioles can’t void Jay Gibbons’ $5 million a year deal.  They’d like to, but they can’t.  There’s no provision in the deal that calls for a team to have authority to void a player’s contract if he gets away with something on a technicality.  If that were the case, the O’s could void Bedard’s deal on the basis of his surly, abrasive nature with the media.  Or they’d write a big fat “X” through Ramon Hernandez’s contract for failing to hustle down to first base in about 20 at-bats in August before Trembley finally had a Come To Jesus meeting with him and laid down the law.

And they can’t cut Gibbons, either.  Why?  Well, for starters, they’d have to pay him if they cut him and they’re not going to hand over $10 million or so to a guy for NOT playing.  They have to swallow hard every other Friday when they wire a portion of that $8 million they’re paying Aubrey Huff this year and he IS playing.  They’re not paying anyone to sit, for sure.

But there’s another reason why they can’t and WON’T cut Gibbons.  It sets a precedent.  If they suddenly decide to man-up and give Gibbons the heave-ho because of the “black eye” he’s given their organization, what will they do if – God forbid – the other two names that Grimsley muttered – Brian Roberts and Miguel Tejada – are suddenly next week’s SI.com revelation? 

Roberts is the face of the franchise, period.  He’s their golden boy.  And if Grimsley was right and BRob and/or Miggy both dabbled in the juice – even if it did happen before the testing period began in ’04 – how do the Orioles promote either of those two players in 2008 and beyond?  If they cut Gibbons now, they’d have to do the same thing with anyone else in the club who someday gets solidly linked to this federal investigation.  They can’t cut Jay.  Just in case…

It’s almost over, now, this train wreck of a 2007 season.  With 61 wins, the Birds look like they’ll likely win 66 or so games and there’s a fairly good chance they’ll finish in dead last in the American League East.  Sadly, they’ve completely squandered what was a fairly promising first 110 games by completely throwing in the towel and sputtering through what might become a 10-40 mark to finish the season.  Some dummies like me even bought into it all in July and early August, talking about the O’s adding a couple of quality players and a #2 pitcher in the off-season and contending for a playoff spot in ’08.  Lord, what on earth was I thinking?  

Looking for some positives in this Orioles season is like “trying to find a needle in a haystack”.  Might be better if I came up with something else, huh?