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:
Braxton Dupree has left the University of Maryland.
Opinion:
I am some-what surprised by this. During the year, it appeared likely for this to occur. However, recent reports out of College Park were that Dupree was telling people he wanted to stay, and playing well in pick-up. There are even reports that Dupree got the best of Jordan Williams, and James Padgett before the Charm City Classic. During his two years at MD, Dupree rarely resembled the player that as a Top 65 National recruit his Senior year at Calvert Hall. If Dave Neal can have the Senior year he had, I believe it is possible that Dupree could have contributed his Junior and Senior years. Dupree could be a big addition for any of the local schools.
For MD, this opens up a 3rd scholarship for the 2009 class, even if/when Vasquez returns.
Fact:
Per Zagsblog, Xavier Henry (and his brother CJ) will announce tomorrow their intention to verbal to Kansas.
http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/04/22/source-henrys-to-kansas/
Opinion:
I believe Kansas was the front-runner for Lance Stephenson. With X.Henry signed, Stephenson is extremely unlikely to become a Jayhawk. Stephenson wants to be a 1 and done player, and head to the NBA… a proposition that would be difficult with him sharing the ball with Henry.
Expect a decision from Stephenson shortly.
Fact:
It was originally announced by Comcast Sportsnet today, that they would be televising a press-conference for Vasquez tomorrow night.
That was later retracted.
Vasquez averaged 17.5 ppg, 5 asst, 5.4 boards, 2.8 turnovers, 1.4 steals, 86.7% from the FT line, 40.5% from the floor, and 32.7% from 3.
Most NBA Mock Drafts have him as a 2nd round pick.
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. (Though you have to wonder if he has the strength to post-up in the pros)
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 expect that Vasquez makes a statement in the next couple of days, it will be either that he is entering the draft without an agent, or that based on the feed-back received, he is returning to MD for his Senior season.
If he goes to the NBA Pre-Draft camps, it is going to take a major effort for him to raise his draft-stock.
If he was willing to go to Europe, he would have already stated he was definitively leaving.
With Vasquez likely to return, MD should have Sweet 16 aspirations for the 2009-10 season.
The Terps have lost Neal, and Dupree… and added Jordan Williams, and James Padgett.
2009-10
1 Bowie, Hayes
2 Vasquez, Tucker
3 Mosley, Kim
4 Milbourne, Padgett, Gregory, Burney
5 Williams, Goins
If Lance Stephenson wants to join the Terps… expectations can be raised even higher…
It should be noted that it is also possible that Burney will take a medical and leave the program after breaking both feet during his time at MD.
Fact:
WNST Owner Nestor Aparicio had a pre-draft discussion with former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick, and Ravens Director of Player Personnel Eric DeCosta Monday, April 13th.
During that discussion, Mr. DeCosta stated the following:
“We have looked back at the past 10 drafts, at teams selecting in our general range… graded the selections of all picks… and wideouts have the highest percentages of failures.”
Opinion:
Ok… so what does that mean? As a franchise, the Ravens have consistently taken who they have graded as the best available talent on their board.Does that mean that if the Ravens hold on to their pick at 26th… and one of those receivers (also Percy Harvin) are available… that they will move away from their board, and look to positions that have higher-rates of success?
DeCosta made the additional point that he believes you can obtain receivers at later points in the draft that can produce. Ok, fair enough point… certainly are numerous examples of that. I have not done the research on this, so I put this out there as a legitimate question… If wideouts selected in the mid 20’s overall in the 1st round have the highest degree of failure … would not receivers selected after those players have an even greater chance at ‘failure’? I think the answer is obviously yes… the retort would be that the risk is lower, with lower picks…
DeCosta was also in agreement with Billick that wideouts can take time to develop…. ok, again a fair enough point. If that is the case, that should be even more incentive to take a WR in 2009… when you consider Mason’s existing age, and contract status.
DeCosta said he used to be consumed with his draft-board… and that is no longer the case… that he wants ‘Raven’ players… I think the team has always targeted ‘Raven’ players… but the idea that they are working away from their board is interesting.
Lastly, it was clear that DeCosta believes Heyward-Bey will be a mid-1st round pick due to his athleticism… and that DeCosta questions his hands… it was clear that the team would love a chance to select Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew…. and that the team feels you have to address CB in the 1st round.After listening to that interview, I think Nestor was clearly right with what he has heard from the organization. They feel they can never have enough CB’s… even with Foxworth, Washington, Rolle, Carr, and Walker… with that in-mind, I think the Ravens will probably take the size and speed combination of Vontae Davis if he is available.If the Ravens have both Davis and Pettigrew available to them… it would be interesting to see who wins out.
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.
He is scheduled to pitch 60-65 pitches in a rehab outing at Frederick on Friday.
Opinion:
This is outstanding news…once he makes that outing, the Orioles can leave Hill in the Minors for a maximum of 30 days. I believe a more likely out-come would have Hill joining the Orioles around Saturday, May 9th.
Fact:
Brad Bergesen made his Major League debut for the Orioles last night.
Over 5.2 innings, Bergesen allowed 4 hits, 1 er, 2 walks, and had 4 k’s.
Opinion:
While his fast-ball consistently sat at 89, I was more impressed with his stuff than I expected to be. He had good movement on fastball, and slider… and hit as high as 94 on the OPACY gun.
Besides working quick, and showing poise; the most enjoyable aspect of Bergesen’s start was the knowledge that there are at-least 3 pitchers in the system held in higher-regard in Matusz, Tillman, and Arrieta… and 2 other pitchers in Hernandez, and Patton that are valued just as high.
Fact:
Matt Wieters was again out of the lineup for the Norfolk Tides today.
Opinion:
If Wieters can get back into the lineup tomorrow, and prove his health over 1 or 2 more games at Norfolk… you could see Wieters make his Major League debut this weekend.
If Wieters suffers any set-backs, and has to be put on the DL… the O’s could just decide to keep him in the Minors through mid-June to attempt to avoid him obtaining Super 2 status.
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.