With the usual apologies to former Baltimore Sun Columnist (and current CSNBaltimore.com contributor) John Eisenberg, here is another submission of my version of ‘Fact & Opinion.’

Fact: The Baltimore Ravens have lost Ben Grubbs, Cory Redding, Jarret Johnson, Haruki Nakamura, and Tom Zbikowski to Free Agency.

Opinion: I’m not particularly concerned about losing any of them. I believe football teams are built on the lines, but the Ravens extended Yanda with large dollars last year. It would have been a mistake to give another Guard a similar contract. Redding played well last year, and I had hoped he might get a chance to return, but 3 yrs $10.5M for him seems absurd to me. I’ll be excited about watching McPhee get those every down snaps. Johnson was a great Raven, and it was clear that the people who had covered Johnson in the locker-room had a lot of respect for him as an individual. The Ravens may miss his experience, and run-stopping, but Kruger has fresher legs and a chance to be a lot more disruptive off the edge opposite of Suggs. What these signings did do though is limit Baltimore’s depth. That will have to be replenished in the Draft.

Fact: Maryland’s Mark Turgeon said that the Terps could not afford the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).

Opinion: While some additional practices and games might have been good for the MD players who return next year, I’m not depressed about the Terps season being over. It gives the MD Coaching staff extra time to hit the recruiting trail.

Opinion 2: If the Terps could not afford the expense of the CBI, this is just further evidence that MD’s Athletic Department is not in any position to fire Coach Edsall and hire a known replacement as you continue to hear many Terp fans want.

Fact: Nebraska is hiring a new Basketball Coach, and Maryland Asst. (and former Nebraska Asst.) Scott Spinelli has been mentioned (http://redoutaroundtheworld.com/article/20120317/BIGRED/703179834).

Opinion: I’d like to see Coach Turgeon be able to get through his first couple years at Maryland with his staff in-tact. We’ve heard nothing but good things about Spinelli since he was hired, this would be a loss.

Fact: After adding Charles Mitchell, the Terrapins have one additional scholarship to offer for the Class of ’12.

Opinion: If Maryland can avoid Stoglin making a poor decision to turn pro, or Len deciding to return to the Ukraine; the Terrapins have the ingredients necessary to expect to be Top 4 in the ACC, and Top 20-25 Nationally next year.

Fact: The Terrapins will play Kentucky next November.

Opinion: That game can be the equivalent of Maryland vs. Georgetown in ’93.

Fact: Testudo Times released two good pieces this week looking at the football position battles for the Terps Offense and Defense going into Spring:
Defense: http://www.testudotimes.com/2012/3/14/2871924/looking-at-marylands-spring-football-position-battles-defense
Offense: http://www.testudotimes.com/2012/3/13/2868726/maryland-football-spring-football-position-battles-offense

Opinion: There is enough athletic talent that the Terps should be improved. I like the potential of the D-line. The O-line still looks thin. It is a fairly challenging schedule for the Terps. Temple has been improving (and obviously beat-up MD last yr), UConn has a solid program (and will want to beat Edsall), and WVU is a rival (who has had MD’s number in recent yrs). BC and Clemson are typically tough road games, no matter what type of teams they have. Georgia Tech and their triple option is always hard to prepare for, and UNC has recruited well in recent years.

With O’Brien’s departure, the biggest question for me this Spring, is seeing what improvement Brown has made as a passer. He is going to make plays with his legs. He has to prove he can keep teams honest by making plays with his arm.

Fact: Brian Matusz has pitched 10 innings so far in Spring Training, allowing 11 hits, 3 er, 0 bb’s, with 13 k’s.

Opinion: Hard to imagine anything more encouraging than this.

Fact: I went into Spring Training looking at the O’s roster as:

Britton, Chen, Arrieta, Hammel, Hunter (With order TBD.)
Johnson, Lindstrom, Gregg, Strop, Ayala, Wada, and 1 of 3 out of Simon, Patton, Eveland

With Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen, O’Day, and Berken to AAA.

Markakis RF
Reimold LF
Jones CF
Wieters C
Reynolds 3rd
Hardy SS
Davis 1st
Betemit DH
Andino 2nd

Teagarden, Antonelli, Chavez, and Flaherty or Miller

Opinion: With less than 3 weeks until Opening Day, I’m still looking at things pretty similarly.

Matusz could force his way onto the roster, and probably will if he puts together a few more outings similar to his last couple times out. If that happens (and Britton or Hunter do not start the year on the DL), I can see the O’s being more aggressive about moving Gregg off the team, moving Hunter to the pen, and thus clearing a rotation spot for Matusz.

On Thursday, Britton threw 2 innings and 31 pitches in a Minor League ST game. There should be enough time for him build up his arm enough to come North.

On Friday, Hunter threw 4 innings and 60 pitches in a Minor League ST game. That certainly puts him on pace to come North and being available for either the ‘pen or the rotation if desired.

Today, Wada is expected to go an inning or two (30 pitches) vs. Atlanta. Without any set-backs, his spot in the bullpen is secure.

The news this Spring about Tillman has also been encouraging, but he seems destined to head back to AAA regardless. If he excels there, he will again earn a chance come-up to the bigs at some point.

The battle between Flaherty or Miller is heating up. It is even more interesting if Chavez is also competing for a spot.

Tegarden’s back injuries are putting his Opening Day roster spot in question, with Paulino getting the nod here if Teagarden does not recover.

Since he signed with the Birds, I’ve been discounting Nick Johnson’s chances of making the Major League roster. After a strong ’09 (.831 OPS, 34 xbh’s, 457 ab’s), he played just 24 games in the bigs in ’10, and did not reach the bigs in ’11. Johnson had a .648 OPS in 184 ab’s for AAA Columbus last year. So far this Spring, Johnson is 6 of 21 (2 double, 4 walks). He is also apparently looking good defensively. Could Johnson force Betemit to the bench, and move Davis to DH? I still think it is unlikely, but I guess it is plausible.

EDIT: Britton has now had had that set-back, as he is still sore. (MLB.com: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120318&content_id=27388880&notebook_id=27404854&vkey=notebook_bal&c_id=bal)

So, Matusz replaces Britton in the rotation. Hunter stays in the rotation, and Gregg likely is still on the roster to begin the year.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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