It’s The Least Wonderful Time of the Year

July…one of the slowest, driest months in sports. While baseball and WNBA basketball are doing their best to hold things down, the truth is, people love football and NBA basketball more. In the meantime I’ve pleaded with professional boxing associations to give us a big name fight (Gervonta Davis, maybe? *wink wink*) to enjoy while we wait out the dry spell, but haven’t been very successful. (And no, Jake Paul’s “fights” don’t count.)

The silver lining is that dead-of-summer down time can be looked at as the calm before the storm. It’s the time we need to have as we prepare for our adrenaline to shoot up in the next few weeks. Here are a few things I am preparing myself for:

The Orioles Breaking My Heart

The Orioles have been playing good baseball lately, but not enough to get traction in the AL wild card race. According to Orioles reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, the Orioles were 7.5 games out of a wild card spot on June 5. As of July 11, they are still six games out. Simply put, they’ve gained little ground over the last month, which almost certainly means they will be sellers by the trade deadline on July 31. I expect some of my favorite players who are in the last  year of their contracts — such as newly announced All Star Ryan O’Hearn and Cedric Mullins — to be gone soon. We could also see some pitching departures, as Dean Kremer has pitched himself into a category of a third rotation starter over the last few starts. (I’m not as sad about this as others. The Kremer Experience is a roller coaster.) There could be others on the chopping block, including Seranthony Dominguez, but certainly, O’Hearn and Ceddy will hurt me the most. I’m prepared for the Orioles to trade away some of their best players as they look toward the future. I’m not happy about it, but I understand.

While We’re Here…

Jackson Holliday was close, but no cigar, to reaching All Star status. The second baseman was a finalist to make the All Star roster, but didn’t get chosen, not even as a reserve. There’s been a lot of chatter on social media about Holliday getting robbed, and maybe it’s not all wrong. Did Holliday deserve to go? One could make a very good case for him. Is life fair? Not at all. The Orioles are at the bottom of the AL East and very low on the Wild Card totem pole. It’s happened before, but bad teams typically don’t get rewarded with multiple All Stars. The sooner we understand that this is a factor in how well the Orioles have played, the quicker we can accept the results and move on.

The Ravens Left Guard Battle

As we inch closer to NFL Training Camp, one position battle that I’m prepared to watch closely is the battle at left guard. For now, Andrew Vorhees is listed as the starter. Vorhees is going into his third NFL season, but missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury he sustained while at the 2023 NFL Combine. He’s going to be fighting for his spot with Ben Cleveland, who is entering his sixth year with the Ravens. Cleveland has weathered adversity during his tenure, with some claiming that he’s in Coach John Harbaugh’s “doghouse.” Cleveland has dealt with some off-the-field adversity as well, with a DUI arrest and a public divorce filing shortly after. We shall see if he finds his way out of the doghouse — which could happen if he plays better than Vorhees.

The DeAndre Hopkins Impact (or not?)

DeAndre Hopkins’ recent signing felt essential for the Ravens to move past their playoff hurdle. Time will tell, but this could mean the difference between January heartache and a Superbowl success. “It seems like there’s been a piece that’s been missing,” Hopkins said of the decision. Although he wasn’t saying that the missing piece was him, fans have warmed up to that idea. At just 33 years old, he’s an upgrade at the third wide receiver spot over Nelson Agholor, who was last year’s WR3. He will be a great option for intermediate plays, moving the chains and red zone. Could Hopkins be the missing piece the Ravens’ offense needs? Or could Jaire Alexander be the missing piece to help the defense lose out games? We will find out, as training camp starts in a couple of weeks, and all eyes will be on Hopkins to find chemistry with Jackson and the offense.

The Return of College Football

Duh! My favorite sport is back in seven Saturdays. NIL has done a number on the sport, and I don’t have the answers to fix it. But that’s not for me to figure out, and I’m glad the players are getting paid. Politics aside, there is no experience quite like the college football experience, and I’m anxiously awaiting its return.

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What the Jaire Alexander Signing Means

As I began to write this column, news broke that the Ravens signed former Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander to a one-year deal. Lamar Jackson and Alexander were college roomates, and both came out in the 2018 draft. This week, a reporter asked Jackson about whether he’d used that shared history to bring Alexander to Baltimore. Jackson’s response: “Go get him, Eric [DeCosta, the Ravens’ general manager].” But little did we know, Alexander was more than likely in the area already. As the news rolled out regarding the agreement, pictures of Alexander signing the contract had already been posted to the Ravens’ social media accounts. Typically, it takes a player a day or two to get to the team facilities, but the timing of the Ravens’ social media posts suggests that plans were in the works before Lamar was at the podium.  There are a lot of sneaky people in the 21117, I tell ya!

What this signing says to me is that DeCosta wants to give this team the resources they need to score a Super Bowl win. DeCosta has had several solid wins this offseason, including re-signing offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, extending wide receiver Rashod Bateman, signing wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, drafting outside linebacker Mike Green in the second round of the NFL Draft when many saw him as a top 15 pick, and now, securing Alexander. 

Some will argue that Alexander’s health is a major concern, and it is. He’s only played in 14 games the last two seasons, and has only played one entire season since 2021. His history poses a risk, and is largely the reason why the Packers let him walk. He missed so many games that the team basically moved on without him. But when Alexander is healthy, he’s one of the better corners of the entire league. He’s being added to an already loaded secondary that includes Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, and 2025 first-round pick Malaki Starks. DeCosta is doing what he can to make sure there are very few excuses as to why the Ravens aren’t Super Bowl champions. And if they don’t chip, it won’t be on him. The crazy part is, he may not even be done yet. 

The Orioles Are…Back?

Don’t look now, but the Orioles are playing good baseball at this very moment. They’ve won 10 of their last 14 games as of June 18, and are getting healthy at the right time. Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser’s returns have helped ignite this once-stagnant offense, and the O’s now look like the team we thought we’d see at the beginning of the season. Gunnar Henderson is getting hot, and Ryan O’Hearn continues to be a force in this lineup. On May 31, the Orioles’ pitching staff had the fifth-worst ERA (earned run average). Since then, they have had the fifth-best ERA. How much of this improvement is about getting healthy vs. firing Hyde? Well, maybe both things can be true. While players had heartfelt responses to Hyde’s recent firing, they seem to have cleaned up quite well under interim manager Tony Mansolino. One of the first things Mansolino did that I felt was necessary was to announce that Jackson Holliday would be in the lineup essentially every day, barring a day off or an injury. The team seems to be more aggressive about stealing bases, as well as their at-bats, by swinging more at first pitches. Even Adley Rutschman has improved a bit with catching steals. (I want him out of that two-spot, though.) For now, this team is having fun and regaining its swagger. Is it too late to contend for a wild-card spot in the long run? Never say never. We’ve seen other teams fire their managers and make it to the World Series, so why not Baltimore?  I’m not yet ready to drive around blasting the “Orioles Magic” song. But for now, things look promising. Which leads to my next question…

Should the Orioles Buy, Sell, or Squat?

The Orioles have some decisions to make in the next several weeks. Do they trade away valuable hitters like Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn to prepare for 2025 and beyond, or do they add to the roster in hopes of a big comeback? Or…do they let the cards fall where they may? I don’t think the last option is feasible for either side of the coin. You either have to make a push for now, which means you’re becoming buyers, or you have to sell, consider this season out of reach, and prepare yourself for the future. The current roster is responsible for a slow, bad start to the season. And while injuries have definitely played a role in that, the team still has its share of issues, even at full health. Charlie Morton has pitched better since his agonizing start and demotion, but this still doesn’t replace the loss of Corbin Burnes. Grayson Rodriguez may not return until the second half of the season, Cade Povich is dealing with an injury but never really consistently looked like an MLB starter, and the bullpen has been taxed often this year. Add the fact that Zach Eflin may be on the trading block as well, and the pitching picture looks very…blah. The Orioles are going to have to make some hard decisions, and winning games lately has just made things harder. As the saying goes, no pressure, no diamonds. Hopefully they’ll make the right decision.

Angel Reese Capitalizing Off the Trolls

One of my favorite stories of the week comes from Baltimore’s own Angel Reese. Last season, the Chicago Sky forward set the single-season record in rebounds. But critics and pundits mentioned that a good amount of those rebounds were in fact, her own missed shots. In came more of the same jokes this year, with social media users claiming that the rising star is mostly getting “Mebounds.” Reese heard the chatter and decided to trademark the term to monetize it. I absolutely love this for two reasons. 1. Reframing what was meant to be an insult as a tool for good publicity is genius. And 2. This shows people that posting mean-spirited jabs to gain internet clout is bad practice. 

Bravo, Angel. And send me a shirt!

The post Reeta’s Sportisms: Angel Reese has the last laugh, the Ravens make moves, and the Orioles are…back? appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

Baltimore had its first taste of the WNBA and the experience did not disappoint. 

Despite the unseasonably cold weather and Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark out of Wednesday’s lineup due to injury, the arena was nearly full of fans looking for their first opportunity for a live WNBA game in Charm City. 

Fans got to see a young Washington Mystics team that has been recharged by their rookies and DMV native Shakira Austin, as well as Fever’s DeWanna Bonner, the third all-time leading scorer, alongside teammate Aliyah Boston, the Fever’s 2023 #1 overall pick. Wednesday night’s game was one of two games that will be played at CFG Arena this season between the Fever and the Mystics. 

Despite the Mystics being the home team, there were a healthy amount of Clark fans that came to the game — Clark’s jersey was seen often throughout the crowd. Clark even came out and took pics with young fans and signed autographs.

Tom from Bel Air told Baltimore Beat he is a Fever fan who got into the WNBA thanks to his young daughter. “My daughter really got into basketball over the past couple of years and through her excitement, it really brings joy to me to see her enjoy the game so much,” he said. Tom also loved the fact that he didn’t have to drive to DC to get to the game and acknowledged that the drive to Baltimore was more convenient for his daughter to try and see her favorite player.

There were a lot of Mystics fans representing their squad as well. Anastasia from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has been a Mystics fan for a few years, and was happy to  ride down I-83 to see the team. “It’s pretty cool to have it in this big [arena],” she said. “There’s a lot more fans, it’s a lot more exciting.”

When in Baltimore, you must do Baltimore things. So of course, you have to play “Bring In The Katz.” The t-shirt giveaway became a dance party when the famous club song anchored by 92 Q’s Porkchop came on, causing everyone to get up off their feet and cut a rug.

Mystics house DJ, DJ Heat, played a lot of Baltimore Club music during TV timeouts, and the halftime show included local artists Tate Kobang, YBS Skola and Bandhunta Izzy, while local dance groups were on the floor doing Baltimore’s favorite tew steps such as the Park Heights Strut and the SpongeBob. 

Erin Blaine, fan experience manager at Monumental Sports, created a special ticket offer called Shot Clock Social, a VIP-type area where she curated a space for Baltimore influencers and content creators to be a part of (and post about) Wednesday’s inaugural event. The event had a culture shift theme, geared towards Baltimore culture. Those that were invited took pictures at the photo booth, a sneaker wall, received crafty cocktails from their own bar as well as catered food. Blaine said that they wanted to do a “remake of the city of Baltimore” with the space and they succeeded.

Pax the Panda, the Mystics mascot, hung out with the crowd and twerked his way around the arena, bringing the fun to kids and adults alike, while the Mystics dancers did their routines to today’s hip hop. 

As the game grew on, the crowd got more into the game and Mystics fans cheered louder, helping the Mystics secure their win over the Fever, 83-77.

If you’re someone like me who remembers the days of the Washington Bullets having games in Charm City, this brought back some nostalgic memories. The vibes were equally high and the support was just as strong. The Mystics definitely have a market in Baltimore. 

For those who missed the opportunity to see the Mystics and/or Clark, there’s a second chance. They play again at CFG Bank Arena on Sunday, September 7, at 3 p.m. This is the perfect time, as it doesn’t conflict with the Ravens game Sunday night. Don’t miss the experience. I promise it is well worth it!

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The Ravens officially put out a statement on Monday, notifying fans, media and the likes that they are releasing kicker Justin Tucker. The organization cited “football reasons” as to why the kicker was being let go. 

Yeah.. okay… sure. 

On January 30, the Baltimore Banner published an investigation reporting that Tucker,  one of the most coveted kickers in NFL history, had been accused of sexual misconduct toward massage therapists all over the Baltimore area. As the days went on, the numbers grew, from six to 16, with the women alleging that the misconduct happened between 2012, his rookie season, and 2016. A quick search of Tucker on X (formally known as Twitter) and you’ll find that people were actually tweeting about his alleged conduct for years, but it went unnoticed until present time. Tucker came out with a statement, pushing back on the allegations shortly thereafter.

The Ravens, however, did not.

The Ravens didn’t issue an official statement, but addressed questions about Tucker during the NFL Combine and pre-draft press conferences. Taking a “long pause” by saying things like, “that’s a really good question,” before answering or responding to the accusations with, “That’s a really tough deal.” Many considered their responses as vague, loose and “coachspeak,” a term people use about surface-level words to maintain a positive public persona.

The obvious signs that the organization was going to move on were there. In addition to the NFL’s investigation, the Ravens, who have never used a draft pick on a kicker, drafted Tyler Loop in the 6th round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Something that was unprecedented was now a reality, and it wasn’t a coincidence. 

It took 95 days for the Ravens to make a written statement about Tucker — one that still omitted the allegations against him. Not a, “we are aware of the allegations and we take this matter seriously,” or anything of the likes a day sooner. They were silent. This is a far cry from coach John Harbaugh’s “zero tolerance” comments about Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2022, who had numerous sexual misconduct allegations against him.

When I first read the team statement, I was a bit perplexed and overall disappointed. While I understand that the allegations against Tucker are just that — allegations — the statement was not only a show of feeling sorry for Tucker, but also tone deaf to the many massage therapists who felt like their stories weren’t considered or even heard by the Ravens.

We get it. The NFL is a business. Tucker has not been formally charged with a crime and the NFL is still doing their investigation on the matter. Tucker could try and file a grievance for being let go, and the Ravens want to cover all their bases. But to go on record and completely ignore the reason we are here to begin with is disingenuous and cowardice, at minimum.

There will be people that will read this and say that I am being too emotional and that I need to separate the two. But I’m actually being as logical as anyone. When business and personal intersect and affects the bottom line of the individual, it should at minimum be acknowledged. When players are suspended for drugs or performance enhancement drugs that they took, more likely off the clock, we know about it immediately or soon after. To simply ask that an organization acknowledge something as big as SIXTEEN sexual misconduct allegations isn’t a hard ask.  At what point should humanity be ignored — or overlooked — for the sake of “business”? And while the Ravens are trying to protect themselves by keeping it to business, doing so feels like disrespect to the women involved, female football fans, and anyone who may have been affected by sexual misconduct. Why was it so easy for Harbaugh to voice his opinion about someone else’s wrongdoings, but when it came down to his own players, didn’t say a word? And maybe he wanted to and was advised to say nothing. But what happened doesn’t go away because the Ravens didn’t put it in writing. It simply has people continuously asking questions like, “How come?”

Maybe… just maybe.. the Ravens don’t have a zero tolerance policy after all.

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Nowadays, we live in a short-attention-span society, so it’s easy to jump from one thought to the next. Over the years, I’ve had posts I used to create called “Reetaisms,” a post that compiled a bunch of random but relevant thoughts. I decided to make a sports version of these thoughts, “Reeta’s Sportsisms.” A bunch of random, yet relevant thoughts in the world of Baltimore and major league sports. Here are my random thoughts for this week:

The Orioles Need to Start Soul Searching

The Orioles are in a lot of trouble, and it’s not even May. After Sunday’s 24-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, the organization found themselves looking for answers. The last time they got whupped this bad was in 2007 when the Texas Rangers scored 30 runs against them. You read that right — THIRTY! The difference? The 2007 team was on their 10th consecutive losing season, while this 2025 team has been to the playoffs the last two seasons. The biggest issue is that the front office thought that gambling with a very old vet in Charlie Morton to help deal with the Corbin Burnes loss was foolish, and I’m being nice. With Grayson Rodriguez having another setback along with Zach Eflin’s injury, this team has no depth in the starting rotation or the bullpen. This is going to be a long season for people — myself included — who thought this team would contend for a third consecutive year.

While the Pitching is Struggling, the Offense Isn’t Helping

The Orioles have a plethora of problems, but another big issue is the offense continuing its inconsistent hitting since after the All-Star Break last year. As I am writing this, the Orioles rank 16th in batting average (AVG), 22nd in on-base percentage (OBP), and 11th in on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). While they’re still top 10 in homeruns (6th), they are 15th in RBIs, so if they don’t homer it’s essentially a crapshoot in scoring. For a team with playoff aspirations, this is mediocre. Basura. Trash. At times they look lethargic and even checked out. The season is still very early but the offensive output has been disappointing, thus far.

Oh, and One More Thing…..

One of the things that could be responsible for the offensive inconsistencies is the lack of consistency in the lineup. Jackson Holliday, the team’s former #1 prospect, has not been in the lineup regularly, as well as some other young talent like Heston Kjerstad (aka Silent J). The Orioles rely heavily on analytics, and as a result have had the young guys sit out. Analytics will have you believe that the likes of Gary Sanchez (boy, has this signing stunk so far), Ramón Laureano and Jorge Mateo should be in the lineup vs left-handed pitchers. Yet, as I am writing this, they’re currently batting .000, .077 and .091 against left-handed pitchers, disrespectfully. They’re taking away critical at-bats for Holliday and Kjerstad, simply because analytics says so. While there’s value in using analytics, the human element should ultimately be the final say.

The Mark Andrews Mystery Continues

When asked if he expects Andrews to be on the team in 2025, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta was non-committal, saying, “I never know what’s going to happen, but I can tell you this, Mark Andrews is a warrior.” Well, thank you for the Gladiator updates, DeCosta, but that didn’t answer the question. Not that I actually expected you to. The Ravens did exercise his $4 million option bonus this offseason, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock for being on the 2025 roster. My guess? They’re looking for suitors during NFL Draft weekend, most likely for a 3rd day pick (4th round and higher). While I’d hate to see Andrews not get the chance to make up for his last game, in which he fumbled and dropped a tying 2-point conversion, it is what it is and the game is the game. 

Ravens Draft Dark Horse: Interior Defensive Line 

The Ravens are a solid team overall, but they still have priorities for this year’s draft. Pass rush, offensive line, linebacker and secondary are all positions that could be upgraded after this weekend. One position that we’re not having enough conversation about is the interior defensive line. Michael Pierce decided to retire this offseason, leaving just Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington at interior line. Madubuike is more versatile than people think, being able to move outside to get added pressure. If the Ravens were to use Madubuike in more outside pressure situations, this means the only interior line guys would be Washington, who’s been a bit disappointing since signing his extension two seasons ago, and Jones, who is still on his rookie deal. Something to look at as we get closer to the NFL Draft.

Nico Iamaleava, NIL and the NCAA

If you’ve been following college football, you may be aware of the Nico Iamaleava story. The former Tennessee-now-UCLA QB ended his time with the Vols with Tennessee allegeding that Nico’s camp asked for too much money regarding his Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal. Nico’s camp claims that he left the program due to the offense, although rumors have surfaced about his father being the culprit for Nico’s departure for asking for too much. While there’s a conversation to be had about the way Nico and/or his family have handled this, the bigger issue here is the NCAA. However you may feel about NIL and collegiate sports, former NCAA President Mark Emmert and co are the main reason why we are here today. The NCAA had an opportunity to accept and regulate NIL, yet refused to allow players to receive compensation and get a piece of the pie that they so rightfully deserve. It wasn’t until states passed legislation that players were allowed to get paid. The toothpaste is now out the tube, with the transfer portal fueling the state of NIL. Is NIL out of control? Yes. Does it need to be regulated? Absolutely. Does this fall on the NCAA? 1000%. Multiple things can be true. So before we blame Nico for allegedly “knowing his worth,” blame the NCAA for allowing this to be the clown show that it has become.

NBA Playoffs

This weekend, I watched an NBA playoff game end with a 50+ margin between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder. This is as nasty as it gets. I have no further comment on that matter.

Let Me Get This Off My Chest 

This has been on my mind for a while now and I feel like now is the right time to get this off. Espresso martinis are the Yankees hats of drinks. Trendy, popular, convenient and bandwagonish. Yeah I said it. You’re a bandwagon drinker. I bet you’re sitting somewhere, reading this right now, Yankees hat on your head with an espresso martini in your hand and you’re nowhere near the city or state of New York. Sorry to tell you this but you’re no different than a Duke fan from Maryland or a Cowboys fan from DC when it comes to your drink selection. Do better. Be better. Drink better.

The post Reeta’s Sportsisms: Orioles’ Struggling Offense, Mark Andrews’s Status, and Espresso Martinis appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

It’s a quote heard around the world. After Maryland’s thrilling March Madness win over Colorado State Sunday night, reporter Andy Katz asked Terps freshman star Derik Queen, who hit the buzzer beater, where he got his confidence from. Queen smiled and said, “So, I think I’m from Baltimore. That’s why.”

It’s a relatable quote to many who live here. Baltimore is a city full of people who are loud and proud about where they’re from, what school they went to and what they’ve accomplished. Baltimoreans don’t allow the noise of larger neighboring cities like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York to drown out their strengths. And one of Baltimore’s long-known strengths is back on the national stage — its strong, rich history of basketball. 

From Muggsy Bogues to the late Reggie Lewis to Sam Cassell, Baltimore has always had a plethora of talent on the court. It had seemed to quiet down a bit over years, but with the emergence of WNBA star Angel Reese, her brother Juju Reese, who decided to stay at Maryland to finish his career, and the rise of the freshman star Queen, Baltimore has found their stride, once again, as the blue-collar city with a lot of hidden gems and great talent.

“Yesterday showed you the grit and grind that folks attribute to Baltimore, in general,” says former Maryland power forward and Baltimore native Rodney Elliott. “[Queen and the Reeses] are from Baltimore, their roots are here and for them to be able to showcase their talent on a national level is fantastic.”

It was Angel who just a couple of seasons ago, became a National Women’s College Basketball Champion when LSU defeated fan-favorite Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Everyone remembers the infamous “You can’t see me” hand motion that Clark used in their win against Louisville that looked like it was directed toward Hailey Van Lith. The next week, Reese taunted Clark with the same exact gesture on her way to the national title. While Reese was immediately portrayed as a villain, many people from Baltimore viewed it as a relatable gesture to remind people that Baltimore will always match the energy you give out. And they’ll finish anything you start.

As Maryland prepares for their Sweet 16 matchup against a tough Florida Gators team, who many have winning it all in their brackets, it doesn’t matter. The Crab 5, with Baltimore at the wheel, are confident they can move forward. 

The basketball resurgence in Charm City has been a fun ride. And it’s only the beginning. 

The post Reeta Hubbard: Baltimore basketball stars are rising to the occasion appeared first on Baltimore Beat.

It’s been a tough couple of months if you’re a Baltimore or Maryland sports fan. In January, the Ravens had a devastating loss to the Buffalo Bills after Ravens TE Mark Andrews dropped the ball to tie the game. on March 15th, Maryland’s men’s basketball team missed an opportunity to advance to the Big 10 Championship game after Michigan hit the go-ahead bucket to win 81-80 with 0.4 seconds remaining. Now, fans will try and shift gears to baseball season, which won’t be easy. After all, being an Orioles fan never is.

The last six months were a rocky ride for the O’s, full of disappointment and surprises. After losing the AL East to the Yankees by only three games (the disappointment), they were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the wild card round of the playoffs — as if the Chiefs haven’t done enough damage to this area (the surprise, because they scored just one run in two games). 

The offseason has been underwhelming, as the O’s couldn’t re-sign their ace Corbin Burnes and didn’t necessarily replace him in the process. They did sign Charlie Morton and Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. The concern? Morton is 41 years old and entering his 18th season in the majors, while Sugano has never pitched in America until now. The O’s also let fan-favorite Anthony Santander walk (or fly) to Toronto as he signed with the Blue Jays. They did sign Tyler O’Neill to replace Santander, but O’Neill has dealt with injuries pretty often over the years.

Fans have been looking for new ownership to invest in free agency, to show that they are serious about contending. So far, this offseason has looked like the others under the Elias regime. Active, but no major signings and honestly, not enough signings. 

The Orioles have dealt with big blows to their pitching, especially on the back end. Starter Grayson Rodriguez is dealing with a right triceps injury, while newly signed middle reliever Andrew Kittredge will miss multiple months with a knee injury. To add insult to injury, Félix Bautista, the Orioles star closer who many thought would be available by Opening Day after having Tommy John surgery in 2023, may need a little more time. 

Between the current injuries and not enough activity in the offseason, it feels like a recipe for disaster. 

“I definitely think they could have adjusted the bullpen more,” says Zach Moore from the PigTownSports Podcast. “Going into the season, I was pretty excited to have Félix [Bautista] back, but there’s been some question marks. It would’ve been nicer to have 2-3 guys that you could really depend on once you hit that 8th inning, you know, that you could just throw out there, like Tanner Scott,” referring to the former Orioles pitcher who was available this past offseason. Scott eventually signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Are fans asking for too much, or do they just want to see the Orioles elevate into true contenders? If you ask media personality Ryan Ripken of Ryan Ripken Media, the offseason bickering from the fanbase has been a great sign of the Orioles returning to what they once were. 

“I love the fact that the Orioles are relevant again, because you feel like there’s this hope that this team can win it all and when you have the higher expectations, usually that entails the fans specifically [to say], ‘Let’s go make those big splashes,’” says Ripken. “That’s a part of the expectations that grows when you have a contending team. So I get being disappointed [in the lack of big-name signings] because you care so much.”

The one thing that could overshadow the lack of depth from the pitching staff could be the offense. Now, I know what you’re thinking. The same offense that couldn’t drive in a run in the playoffs last year if their lives depended on it? Yes, that offense. 

After a tough second half in which the offense sputtered out in the playoffs, the Orioles hired Cody Asche and Tommy Joseph as their new hitting coaches. Adley Rutschman, who struggled heavily in the second half last season, has had a great spring training. Jordan Westburg, their most consistent hitter in 2024 who was missing late last year due to injury, is back in the lineup. Ryan Mountcastle has been back to form. Jackson Holliday has finally gotten the Similac off his breath and will be starting his first Opening Day. O’Neill brings a veteran presence to this young team, while hitting 31 home runs last year. Oh, and two words —  Gunnar Henderson. 

It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing. The Dodgers are spending money the way Kim Kardashian spends money on her surgeries. The Yankees lost out on Juan Soto but got Max Fried. The Red Sox have revamped their team as high rollers in free agency. The Rays are quietly building a great pitching roster. Why aren’t the Orioles getting better? Well, who says they’re not? Despite their flaws, this team is still constructed to win a lot of games in 2025. 

“I think they are very capable of winning the AL East,” Ripken said. “But to be honest, you just need to get in [the playoffs]. I don’t care how they do it, just get in. When you look at the Baltimore teams, they’re not going to be judged for the regular season. It’s going to be, what did you do in the postseason? Doesn’t that sound familiar with the Ravens?”

Thanks for reminding us, Ryan.

So buckle up, Birdland. The 2025 baseball season is upon us. There will be ups and downs, trials and tribulations. But I believe they will be ready for the challenges of getting the bad sports taste out of the mouths of many Baltimoreans and Marylanders alike.

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On the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 6, I was prepared to write an article about Lamar Jackson getting his third NFL MVP award. I was ready to tell the world that this solidifies Jackson’s career and how, even now without a championship, he is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

On Thursday evening, however, the MVP voters felt differently. After overwhelmingly voting for Jackson for first team All-Pro, the exact same voters went the other way for the league’s top award. Bills quarterback Josh Allen won narrowly, with 27 first-place votes over Jackson’s 23 first-place votes.

The voters basically sent a message to myself and others who were surprised by the outcome. We simply had too much dip on our chip.

As Jackson falls short of consecutive MVPs, the question has shifted from “how” to “why.” The answer may be simple: Jackson is simply a victim of his own success.

What we’ve seen from Jackson in his seventh NFL season has been nothing short of spectacular. A guy who many thought should change positions on the pro level has now revitalized the quarterback position. What Michael Vick started over 20 years ago, Jackson has epitomized. Never before have we seen a quarterback throw for over 4,000 yards, throw for over 40 touchdowns, and rush for over 900 yards in a single season. Jackson has created his own lane that many will try to duplicate moving forward.

There’s no doubt that Josh Allen did more with less and deserved to be in the conversation. After the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, many thought that the Bills would finish second or even third in the AFC East, behind the likes of the loaded Miami Dolphins and the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets. But the Bills finished the season as the second overall seed in the AFC and advanced to the AFC championship.

“There was no question that Josh Allen had a great season and should be mentioned as having a great season,” former Ravens wide receiver and Super Bowl XXXV champion Qadry Ismail says. “But [this is] a historic season for Lamar Jackson across the board. He really faced every single playoff team and, outside of a toe, beat them all,” referring to Isaiah Likely’s catch in the back of the end zone in week one’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

This offseason, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta bolstered their already stout running game by adding Derrick Henry to the backfield. The pairing was magical, as the Ravens finished as one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history. But many people have used the signing as a reason why Lamar isn’t the MVP. The reasoning, pundits have said, is that Lamar became greater because his personnel was upgraded in the offseason. And while there is no argument in that—great players should make great players better—it shouldn’t be a detriment or a knock on one’s success because a GM did his job of making his roster better.

Lamar has essentially become a prisoner of his own achievements. A guy who many thought would be a gadget player at best has now defeated the odds and stereotypes created against him. And now, because people finally understand how great Jackson is, he is not rewarded because this is suddenly “expected of him.”

Ismail goes on to say that Bills fans shouldn’t celebrate this award. “If you’re a part of Bills Mafia, you have to be embarrassed by the fact that they gave your quarterback a participation trophy, rather than earning it and just flat out dominating [the league],” he says. “You know what an MVP looks like, and to be named first team All-Pro but somehow not win the MVP is laughable today.”

It’s possible that Jackson doesn’t even care. He’s gone on record numerous times to tell the world that he wants a Super Bowl. In his very first interview after being drafted by the Ravens, he said, “They’re gonna get a Super Bowl out of me.” And look, he’s won the highest award twice already. Winning a third is great, but he’s been there and done that. But to allow Jackson to come up empty-handed after the season he had is not okay. It’s wrong. And Jackson deserved the recognition that his historic season gave us.

Jackson has become a victim of his own success. And the MVP voters proved that to be true on Thursday night.

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Lamar Jackson is the league’s MVP.

He is the first quarterback in NFL history with over 4,000 passing yards and over 800 rushing yards.

Lamar Jackson is the league’s MVP.

He is the first quarterback in NFL history to have at least 40 passing touchdowns and four or fewer interceptions in a season.

Lamar Jackson is the league MVP.

He has the 4th best quarterback passer rating in a single season in NFL history (119.6).

Lamar Jackson is the league MVP.

He is the first reigning MVP to throw 40 touchdown passes a year after winning the award.

Lamar Jackson is the league MVP.

The Ravens are the first team in NFL history with over 4,000 passing yards and over 3,000 rushing yards. Jackson is responsible for nearly 27% of the rushing yards.

Lamar Jackson is the league MVP.

They say it becomes a trend when you continue to say and/or do something. If I type it enough times, it’s possible it can become true. Currently, Jackson is not the favorite for the MVP award (Bills’ Josh Allen is the current favorite on multiple betting sites). But men lie, women lie, numbers don’t lie. Lamar Jackson is the league MVP.

Let me be honest for a second. I love Josh Allen. I think he’s a phenomenal quarterback who deserves his flowers. Allen has done more with less in 2024 and ended up with a better record than Jackson and the Ravens. It’s commendable. It should be acknowledged. However, it is not the only metric that should matter when having MVP conversations. 

The Bills play six games in the AFC East, where three out of four teams are .500 or below. As a result, they secured their division win by Week 13. The Ravens’ AFC North consists of three teams that are above .500, two playoff teams and one team that didn’t make it but was on the outside trying to get in the final minutes of the regular season. While overcoming an 0-2 start at the beginning of the season, the Ravens secured their consecutive AFC North title in the final week of the regular season.

In comparison, the Ravens had the toughest strength of schedule for playoff teams and had the best strength of victory in 2024. This is all while the Ravens replaced three-fifths of their offensive line, had a new defensive coordinator and a new scheme, and rotated players during the new transition. So while the Bills have done more with less, they had a more favorable schedule that helped them reach their goal of winning the division in a shorter time.

Not enough to sway you? Let’s go to head-to-head stats. Lamar is ahead of Allen in every important category, including completion percentage, passing TDs, total TDs, interceptions, and QB rating, except for rushing TDs and overall record, which can be argued that this is a team stat and not a QB stat. 

Now why would I mention team stats vs QB stats? Because the Bills have won a game DESPITE Allen’s play this season. Follow me.

Against the Ravens, Texans, and Colts, Allen had a total of TWO touchdowns and an average quarterback rating of 63.6. In layman’s terms, this is mediocre football. The Bills were 1-2 in those games, beating the lowly Colts who did not make the playoffs while losing to the Texans and Ravens, both teams that have won their respective divisions.

In the last few weeks, analysts, pundits, and the like have worked hard to try and get you to believe that Allen deserves this award. Frank Schwab at Yahoo Sports asked if Jackson had done enough in their 35-10 win over the Browns to clinch the division. While the Browns were missing plenty of players and had a carousel of guys at quarterback, the Ravens covered the 20-point spread and Jackson had two passing touchdowns. Jerry Brewer from The Washington Post wrote that Allen “deserves the crown”, despite not leading Jackson in any major individual category minus rushing TDs. Other analysts have even added Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow into the MVP conversation, despite not making the playoffs in 2024. Even Tony Romo added his two cents when he said the quiet part out loud, saying that Allen could, “get the edge only because Lamar has two”.

We’ve seen this story before. Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets was denied a third consecutive MVP because of voter fatigue. A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces was denied a consecutive MVP for the same reason. And while Joel Embiid and Breanna Stewart were absolutely in the MVP conversation, neither were as dominant as their counterparts.

If the MVP award is going to be an award for guys you feel sorry for, then say it out loud. Say that you are tired of Jackson being dominant and want someone else to have a chance to win. But to simply say weeks in advance that the MVP race was “over” and should be “unanimous”  in Allen’s favor, as ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky and FS1’s Emmanuel Acho said, is not only biased but disingenuous in every way imaginable.

The Ravens are preparing for their wild-card playoff game at home against the Steelers this Saturday. And while I’m sure Jackson has the Super Bowl on his mind, it’s the principle of it all. A team that many thought would take a step back in 2024 due to all the changes has ended up winning their division, hosting a playoff game, and holding the honor of being one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history.

Lamar Jackson is the league’s MVP.

Lamar Jackson deserves his MV3.

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The Baltimore Ravens currently hold a seven-four record and are second in the AFC North. But the four losses aren’t because the opposing teams were better. It’s because the Ravens, while being a good football team, are not a smart football team.

The Ravens have self-inflicted wounds and those wounds are responsible for each of their losses. From bad special teams to bad defense, they have been the main party responsible for losing games. As former New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick recently said, the only team that can beat the Ravens is the Ravens. It’s going to affect this season if they don’t figure it out soon.

Here’s what we know: this team is undisciplined. At times they appear to be poorly coached. They are still in search of an offensive identity. They lack a consistent pass rush. And they are dealing with a kicker issue and we are well into the second half of the NFL season. 

Currently, the Ravens lead the league in penalties, and the team behind them has 10 fewer. The offense continues to deal with illegal formation penalties week after week, and as a result, has negated positive offensive plays and essentially stopped offensive drives. This is a coaching problem. Being over 11 weeks into the season, there is no excuse for having the same issues over and over. 

The Ravens also have a Derrick Henry problem. Henry was brought in this past offseason to bring the running game over the top and make this offense a real threat. And while we have seen Henry’s brilliance multiple times this season, he somehow goes missing in games. In the Ravens’ four losses, Henry has gotten the ball 13, 18, 11 and 13 times, disrespectfully. The Ravens didn’t have Henry in the game for the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he was absent when the Ravens went for a two-point conversion. This is malpractice. On average, Henry should get 20 carries a game at a minimum. He forces defenses, to be honest. And at times, creates conflict. And while it is easy for us to blame offensive coordinator Todd Monken, let me remind you that quarterback Lamar Jackson has been given full autonomy at the line of scrimmage. How many of these run plays have been called in the huddle, only for Jackson to change the play to a pass play?

The team also has a Justin Tucker problem. It is no secret that the kicker has struggled this season, missing six kicks thus far. Tucker is three of seven for kicks over 50 yards and missed two kicks in the Steelers game last Sunday that essentially cost them the game, as the Ravens lost by only two points. While the NFL as a whole is struggling to make kicks, the expectations have always been high for the future Hall of Famer. This is as uncharacteristic as it gets, and it could potentially cost the Ravens other games moving forward.

The defense is…. what it is at this point? Defensive coordinator Zach Orr has put players in conflict with his complex defensive game plan. While they have good players on every level, the defense is too exotic at times, and puts players out of position. While they played extremely well against the Steelers by not giving up a touchdown, they continue to struggle in pass rush and pass defense. The defense doesn’t have a consistent pass rusher or the option to move Nnamdi Madubuike around to wreak havoc due to a lack of depth at the interior line position. The Ravens’ refusal to allow defensive backs to travel with a specific receiver put a huge target on Brandon Stephens’s back, as offenses attack him often, knowing he plays one side of the field. 

Now, I stand ten toes down on what I said. The Ravens are a good team but not a smart team. I say that because, while all of these issues are a recipe for disaster, the Ravens are too talented to ever be out of it. If the Ravens finally smarten up, they have a clear path to New Orleans.

Things they need to do:

First, get the penalties under control. Twelve penalties against the Steelers for over 100 yards is egregious, no matter how you spin it. It is hurting the team. Coaching needs to work overtime with the players to figure out how to mitigate the penalties. If the overtime isn’t enough, then overtime some more!

Second, RUN DERRICK HENRY! You didn’t bring him to Baltimore to have him watch the game on the sideline. Henry is at his best in the third and fouth quarters when defenses start to get tired. USE HIM! He is the best weapon for this team! I’m talking to you, Todd Monken (and maybe Lamar, too). 

Third, simplify the defense some. The players will continue to say it’s a communication problem, but to me, if you are confused about the coverage then maybe it’s because the coverage itself is confusing. Make it simpler for them. Blitz more. Stunt more. This will help the secondary more, and thus help them get off the field more.

The Tucker situation is one I don’t have an answer to. Some believe it is the place holder’s situation, while others place the blame more on Tucker. I’m sure the Ravens are trying to figure out what to do, but it may be time to bring in a kicker and put him on the practice squad for insurance purposes. While you’re not going to get rid of Tucker in-season, you need to have a guy in tow, competing with him, in case the problems continue.

The Ravens are a good team. It is now time for them to figure out how to be a smart team. Their season depends on it.

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