Fact & Opinion

Former Baltimore Sun Columnist John Eisenberg used to have a great semi-regular Column, he titled Fact/Opinion… with apologies to him, here would be my submission.

Fact:
University of Maryland Football Head Coach Ralph Friedgen signed a recruiting class ranked in the Top 25-30 depending on the source you use.

Opinion:
Going into the 2008 season there were a lot of expectations for the Terps, and they under-achieved. Based on that, I thought there was an outside chance that Coach Friedgen would have stepped down after the Humanitarian Bowl vs Nevada. He did not, and I believe this recruiting class has reenergized him.

Even with Heyward-Bey going to the NFL, the Terps are going to return a lot of skill position talent. The defensive line is going to be improved as well. The question will be, how productive can the offensive-line be?

Fact:
Darrius Heyward-Bey is currently projected as a late 1st round pick in most Mock NFL Drafts.

Opinion:
When he gets to the combine, and shows his world class speed.. He is going to vault-up the draft-boards.

Fact:
The Terps (Basketball) are 3-5 in the ACC, and in 9th place.

Opinion:
If they can win 8 games in the conference, combined with wins against Big 10 teams Michigan State, and Michigan – they can go to the NCAAT.

To do that, it is imperative that they win their next two games… @Georgia Tech on Sunday night, and home against VaTech on Valentine’s Day.

That gets MD to 5-5… with winnable road games @NCST, and @UVA… and I do believe they can win one of their four games against Clemson, Duke, UNC, and Wake.

Fact:
Vasquez was 2nd-team All-ACC as a Sophomore, where he averaged 17ppg, 6.8 asst, 5.7 boards. He is currently averaging the following:
16ppg, 5.7 boards, 4.8 assists, 2.7 turnovers, 1.4 steals, 89.5% from the FT line, 38% from the floor, and 29.8% from 3.

Opinion:
He plays hard, and scouts will love his love for the game. Even though he is not the strongest, he is excellent in the lane, and very solid posting-up.

If he was projected as a sure-fire 1st round pick, that would have a guaranteed 3 year contract – you would tell him to leave.

I can not see him leaving for the NBA, and being drafted before the 2nd round. I expect him to return to College Park for his Senior season.

With Vasquez likely to return, MD should have Sweet 16 aspirations for the 2009-10 season.

You are only going to lose Neal, and Jordan Williams, and James Padgett can help address the most glaring need for this team.

2009-10
1 Bowie, Hayes
2 Vasquez, Tucker
3 Mosley, Kim
4 Milbourne, Padgett, Gregory, Burney
5 Williams, Dupree, Goins

If Burney were to leave, and ‘Born Ready’ Lance Stephenson wants to join the Terps… expectations can be raised even higher.

Fact:
In ACC play, Milbourne is averaging 13 ppg, and 6 rebounds per game.

Opinion:
Milbourne is extremely athletic, has a good jumper to 18 feet… plays hard, strong at the line… he has improved every-year, and I look forward to seeing the player he becomes his Senior year.

Fact:
Troy Patton missed all of the 2008 season with a Left Labrum Tear.

2007 Numbers at age 21:
AA – 6-2, 2.99 ERA, 102.1 IP, 96 hits, 68 k’s, 33 walks
AAA – 4-2, 4.59 ERA, 49 IP, 44 hits, 25k’s, 11 walks
MLB – 0-2, 3.55 ERA, 12.2 IP, 10 hits, 8k’s, 4 walks

MacPhail was the Anita Marks / Scott Garceau show yesterday, and said he thought Patton had the chance to surprise in Spring Training.

Opinion:

The Labrum tear will further sap some of the velocity, from a guy that never threw particularly hard. He can still be effective though, because he was regarded as someone that changed speeds well, and knew how to pitch.

I believe he should spend nearly all of 2009 at Norfolk…. I think he will look rusty early, and there will be reactionary commentary that completely writing him off.

Will enter 2010 with a chance at the O’s 5th starter role, or long-relief.

If he totally surprises, and looks ready to contribute at the ML level this Spring, that is a huge gain to the staff.

Fact:
In 2007 with the Cubs, Rich Hill was 11-8, with a 3.92 ERA, in 195 innings, allowing 170 hits, with 183 k’s, 63 walks, and a .695 OPS against.

Opinion:
If Guthrie avoids any significant decline, Uehara can give you 140-150 innings at a 4.50 ERA, and Hill can approximate his 2007 numbers…. The O’s can have an interesting Summer.

Fact:
Kelly Gregg missed the entire 2008 Ravens season with microfracture surgery on his left-knee.

Opinion:
The Ravens belief in his ability to return ( in conjunction with Dwan Edwards ) will be a consideration in the base-defense the team, and new Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison runs in 2009.

If you run a base 4-3, with him next to Ngata, Ngata will have a chance to take his game to a whole other-level.

Fact:
Ravens Center Jason Brown is a Free Agent.

Opinion:
If the Ravens believed that Chris Chester could handle the Center position, they would let Brown leave, and insert Yanda back into his RG position.