Fact & Opinion 8

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

Fact:
With the loss today against Virginia Tech, the University of Maryland Football team fell to 2-8 overall, and 1-5 in the ACC.

Opinion:
I am excited that Jamarr Robinson is getting some playing-time, not because I believe he is the answer, but because at-least he will not be a total unknown heading into 2010. The Terps are going to lose their next two games against FSU, and Boston College and end this miserable season at 2-10, 1-7.

Athletic Director Debbie Yow has to decide immediately if Coach Friedgen will return for next-season, or if she will buy the remainder of his contract.

Buying out the remainder of his contract will not be easy for a program that is financially strapped. Even if Maryland is capable of buying out his contract, it has to argued internally what benefit would occur by handing the program over to Offensive Coordinator James Franklin.

If the team finishes 2-10, with the offense as one of the major problems, how does promoting Franklin change things for the better?

If the University of Maryland decides to buy out Coach Friedgen’s contract, they need to find another million dollars, and show Coach Franklin the door.

While I think program change might be appropriate, I am not totally against Friedgen’s return next year. There were plenty of people hurling dirt onto Gary Williams’ grave last February. Since then, the basketball team advanced to the 2nd-round of the NCAA’s, Williams has signed a talented class for 2010, and he now has a team capable of doing damage this year.

The ingredients exist for a quick turn around of fortunes for the football team as well. The reason that this 2009 season is so disappointing is not just the losses, it is looking at the roster and seeing that there collectively is talent that is not producing. While that lack of development ultimately falls on Friedgen’s shoulders, I still believe the talent exists for the Terps to rise back up and win 8 or so games in 2010.

Fact:
There is a 3 page thread with 55 responses, and nearly 1,700 page views on InsideMDsports (www.insidemdsports.com) debating the merits (and possibilities) of Brian Billick as the next Head Coach of Maryland.

Opinion:
In May, at the WNST King of Baltimore Sports Talk competition at Padonia Station, I asked Coach Brian Billick of his thoughts of returning to the college ranks. His response was lukewarm at-best. Since then, I have blogged several-times about I continue to think he is the hire Maryland needs.

Next-year will be Coach Billick’s 3rd year out of the league. With Cowher, Gruden, Shanahan, and Holmgren all considered ‘prettier’ NFL coaching candidates, it will be hard for Billick to get back into the NFL next year.

If you were to make a program change, and find the money necessary to buy out both Friedgen, and Franklin; Billick would be the right man to pursue. Unlike hiring Franklin, who has his fingers all over the lack of results for this season, hiring Billick could awaken donors.

Fact:
Adam Warwas of The National Sports Review (http://nationalsportsreview.com/sports/us/NFL/2009/11/13/the-gridiron-gab%E2%80%99s-first-2010-nfl-mock-draft/) posted a NFL Mock Draft this week which had Terp OT Bruce Campbell in the Top 10 overall.

Opinion:
It is not surprising that with Campbell’s size, strength, and athleticism that he is considered a potential 1st-round pick. The draft is less about results, and more about how a player projects going forward. Campbell has everything you would want. Still, his results have been inconsistent (in large part to injuries). If Campbell is a legit 1st round pick, you could not blame him for leaving. Though if I were Campbell part of me would want to return for another season at College Park, to right the wrongs of this pathetic year.

Fact:
Florida Marlins 2nd baseman Dan Uggla stated Friday that he would resist moving from 2nd-base.

Opinion:
That pronouncement makes his chances of becoming an Oriole go from unlikely, to non-existent.

Even if he was open to moving to 3rd, it would only make sense for Baltimore if the price was as cheap as a 2nd-tier pitching prospect like Steven Johnson.

Fact:
Brandon Snyder has finished his time in the Arizona Fall League, and Josh Bell will be done shortly.

Snyder finished with a 1.056 OPS in 65 at-bats. Among his 23 overall hits, were 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 3 homers. He walked 13 times, while striking out 11 times, and had 18 rbi.

Combining these numbers with his AA, and AAA 2009 production, Snyder finished this year with:

528 at-bats, 148 games, 157 hits, 42 doubles, 4 triples, 15 homers, 106 rbi, 64 walks, 120 k’s, and an OPS around .845.

Bell has an .867 OPS in 75 at-bats in the AFL. Among his 24 overall hits, are 6 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 homer. He has walked 9 times, while striking out 15 times, and has 15 rbi.

Combining these numbers with his AA production at both Bowie, and Chattanooga, Bell has the following cumulative 2009 numbers:

523 at-bats, 146 games, 156 hits, 41 doubles, 3 triples, 23 homers, 91 rbi, 70 walks, 113 k’s, and an OPS around .880.

Opinion:
I continue to believe they will both be starting for the O’s by June 1st, but also think that they could be the best options for the team on Opening Day. While I want to (and expect to) see major improvement in the results of the 2010 Orioles, it is still a developmental year. 2011 is the year I want to contend.

Snyder may or may not be the long-term answer at 1st, but giving him all of 2010 to go through adjustments and seeing where his production ends is attractive to me. With 500 Major League at-bats, you would have a strong gauge of Snyder’s ability to help you going forward.

With Bell, I do believe he is the long-term answer at 3rd. I think with his pronounced splits as a left-handed, and right-handed hitter, there are legitimate reasons to want him to get additional Minor League at-bats. However, he is a good defensive 3rd-baseman, athletic, and would only have to be replacing Mora’s minimal 2009 production. I like the idea of him having an entire Major League season to adjust, and be in better position to produce regularly for you in 2011.

Fact:
Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun had an interesting article this week, about the O’s possible off-season agenda.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-orioles-gm-meetings-1111,0,2392879.story

Opinion:
The most interesting piece of information to me was that the O’s were in fact considering the return or Erik Bedard.

It will be interesting to hear about the true health of his shoulder, and his presumed availability to pitch in 2010.

Fact:
There are 9 teams in the AFC that have a record equal to, or better than the Ravens.

Opinion:
If the Ravens can get to 10-6, they will have an opportunity to make the playoffs. I can see wins at Cleveland, at Oakland, and wins over Detroit and Chicago at home. The Ravens should also be able to split with Pittsburgh in the home and home division match-up. Until proven otherwise, I have no confidence in the Ravens ability to beat Peyton Manning. If that all holds true, then at Green Bay on Monday night 12/7 might prove to be the key to the season.

If you told the Ravens today that you could guarantee a post-season birth, even if it meant 3 road wins to advance to the Super Bowl, I am sure every Raven would agree to that deal. For the Ravens to advance to the playoffs (and have success if they get there), they have again reclaim the identity of a team that can pound the rock, and stop the run.

Fact:
Two weeks ago, the Cleveland Browns fired a former Ravens executive from their General Manager position, for the 2nd-time in a year. After firing Phil Savage earlier this year, the Browns fired George Kokinis after less than a year in the position.

Opinion:
While Kokinis obviously did not get a fair opportunity to lay his imprint on the organization, his dismissal again raises red-flags for me. While Ozzie Newsome is taking a lot of criticism for some of his off-season decisions, the fact remains he has been considered among the leagues best executives for years.

If Newsome were ever to quickly bolt from Baltimore, the current Director of Player Personnel Eric DeCosta would be seen as the most-likely candidate to take over that position. Savage, Kokinis, and James ‘Shack’ Harris were all held in the same, or higher-esteem as DeCosta, and had numerous issues during their initial stint as a GM. Why not bring one of these men back into the organization (Harris is currently with Detroit), and make them the choice to succeed Newsome? The obvious benefit being they would not be handling the GM responsibilities for the first-time, and they could build off of their prior experience.

Fact:
In the Terps basketball opener last-night, Maryland had 7 players score at-least 9 points.

Opinion:
I am looking forward to the next two games against Fairfield, and New Hampshire to see if Jordan Williams, and James Padgett can take steps towards being consistent performers.

Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, I think there is legitimate reason to believe they will be able to regularly help. The reason for that is, is that their strengths are going to remain strengths regardless of opposition. At 6’10 260 lbs, Williams is going to be able to eat up space against anyone. In the flex-offense, with Vasquez, Hayes, and Bowie handling the ball; Williams is going to get a lot of looks from point blank range. If you have hands, and you can finish, you can flourish as a big in this offense.

Padgett’s ability to jump out of the gym (and get back up and off the floor quickly) is going to remain in his arsenal against anyone. He has the ability to use both hands, and finish around the rim.

If these two show some consistency these next couple of games, the 2nd-round match-up against Vanderbilt/Cincinnati at the Maui Classic is going to be a lot of fun to watch as a measuring stick.

I think it is going to become apparent quickly, that there are not 25 better teams in the country.