Baltimore Orioles Soundoff

After an interesting ordeal involving missing the team bus due to a miscommunication and receiving a $100 fine by the Orioles, Melvin Mora followed that up by going 0-3.

Way to make ammends.

Well Melvin was planning on apologizing sooner or later--with his bat I mean--and he did today.

The Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 today. I should say Melvin Mora beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 today.

Mora was 3-3 with a home run and 2 RBI's. Now that is the Melvin we all know and love.

With that being said, does anyone else want to ring Peter Angelos and Orioles front office's neck?

What the hell are they doing? Yes, I said "hell."

Mora came to the Orioles when Jeff Conine was the star of the team, anyone remember who else was on that team? Jay Gibbons was a rookie. Bring back any memories? They stunk, they had nobody. And that is exactly what Mora was, a nobody.

He quickly became somebody, and, for the O's, in a big way.

No other Oriole has played with as much passion and heart and pride for Baltimore since Cal Ripken. It almost brings me to tears to see how the Orioles are treating their savior. (Yes, I realize they haven't even won anything yet, but they are a better and more fun team)

Melvin Mora went from super utility man to superstar. He went from playing every different position to a gold glove-caliber third baseman. With age came stardom and still, he has been as humble as ever.

And he would die for the Orioles. Ask him, in his heart, what colors he bleeds. He won't say Orange and Blue like the mets, he'll say Orioles black and orange. He loves Baltimore, wants to end his career here.

For God sakes, give him whatever he wants. He's earned it. Treat him right. Make him happy.

Miguel Tejada is a great player with a load of heart, Melvin Mora is an ambassador.

When Tejada was making trade demands, who called him and talked him out of it? Mora did.

When the Orioles were courting Ramon Hernandez, who sold him on playing for Baltimore? Mora, his best friend, did. And, the thing is, everyone considers Mora their best friend.

I could go on forever. Bottom line, Melvin Mora should be an Oriole for good. He should retire here. He should live in Baltimore for the rest of his life. Then, when he is ready, he should be a coach for the Orioles.

In my mind, in my heart--and Mora's--he will always be an Oriole. Mr. Angelos, don't be greedy. If Cal Ripken asked for something he deserved would you let him walk out and go to another team? No way. Neither should you with Mora. Please, give him what he deserves.



Kris Benson, Hayden Penn and Chris Ray have good outings against the Red Sox:

Benson, the starter, finally put it together and pitched 4 innings of 4-hit ball, giving up only one run.

Hayden Penn followed Benson and added 3 innings of 1-hit ball, striking out three and not allowing a run.

Chris Ray got the save in the game, the future O's closer pitched a perfect inning and struck out one man.

The boys are back in town--some of them. And by boys I mean Bruce Chen and Erik Bedard--not Adam Loewen, he was cut. And by town I mean Fort Lauderdale.

Chen is like a walking billboard for the World Baseball Classic. But, he also pitched very well, and if he continues to pitch like he did in the WBC the Orioles will be very happy this season.

Bedard pitched great as well. And Rodrigo Lopez and Daniel Cabrera are still pitching well for their respective teams.

The Orioles are going to have a fun team this year. There is no doubt about it. With Kevin Millar and Jeff Conine, even if they aren't winning, they will be lovable losers. Last year they were dejected and couldn't stand to play with each other because of certain cancers in the clubhouse--named Sosa and Palmeiro and Mazzilli.

Bye bye. This year will be fun. Cowboy up and Gibby and B-Rob. Miggy and Niner. A young pitching staff. The Orioles are something I am looking forward to. I can't wait for the season to start.

One season that I am glad is finally over: Maryland Terrapins men' s basketball.

Yes, Maryland is my team. My father went there. I have had season tickets since I was 11 years old and a guy named Joe Smith was ACC Freshman of the Year.

I have always loved Maryland basketball. Always passionate. They always played with heart. Win or lose, they were great to watch.

Nick Caner-Medley, I am sorry to say that I will not miss you or the misfits that you call your recruiting class. John Gilchrist, who? Chris McCray, way to fail when your team needed you most. Travis Garrison, body like an NBA power forward and game like a middle-school point guard.

These guys stunk it up for four years. OK they won the ACC Tournament in 2002. Big deal. Gilchrist played amazing in those games and never played that way in a Maryland uniform again.

They played devoid of heart and emotion. They played unlike their coach. Caner-Medley has the talent, but when he tried to take the team on his shoulders he just forced shots. Maryland played no defense. They couldn't shoot or score for minutes at a time.

I am just sick of it. Ready to move on from four years of futility since the National Championship. This team missed the NCAA Tournament for two years running. That is unheard of for Maryland. What happened? They went from being a top team in the ACC every single year to being an afterthought.

I am glad to see all this year's seniors go, and can't wait until the next few years because of one man named Eric Hayes. 6'3", white guy, coaches son, fundamental, sound a lot like Steve Blake? Yes. I am giddy.


Washington Redskins went from having a sickly Wide Receiving corps to having a sick one.

They became the new "greatest show on turf," the new "posse" and the new "smurfs" in one expensive weekend.

Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle-El, Brandon Lloyd and David Patten. All speedsters, all could take it to the house on a bubble screen and all are highlight reel receivers. If they all play hard and adopt the Joe Gibbs attitude, AND if they have a healthy arm to get them the ball, the 2006 Redskins offense could be special.

Again, I am excited.

The Skins are going to rock next year, Maryland won't piss me off anymore (hopefully) and the O's are going to be fun to follow.

I am optimistic.

Oh, and there is a World Baseball Classic still going on...