What to make of the NFL's ratings win over the World Series

What to make of the NFL's ratings win over the World Series
It's believed to be the first time it's ever happened, but on Sunday, an NFL regular season game beat a World Series game in the television ratings. The Steelers and Saints drew an 11.8 rating on NBC, while the Rangers vs. the Giants posted a 10.4 on Fox. No, it's not because the Simpsons or Cops are a lousy lead-in. You want to know why I think it happened? Three main reasons. Gambling, fantasy football and new October teams. I know the NFL is a ratings powerhouse and is now...

Important dates of the offseason

Important dates of the offseason
At this point in the fall, even ESPN's coverage of the World Series has waned, and it's officially time to start kindling the Hot Stoves, preparing for the Winter Meetings, and booking flights for trips to spring training. There are, however, a few remnants of last season still to come in the way of awards; and there are more than a few important offseason dates to mark on your calendars to help you through long winter months without baseball. Take a look at the important MLB dates and...

When will Jeremy Guthrie get some respect?

When will Jeremy Guthrie get some respect?
I can still remember it now. I wrote a column last winter that got some readers very stirred up. It brought me what felt like an avalanche of criticism. Some questioned my sanity, not to mention my intelligence about baseball. The comment I made was pretty simple. I wrote that, at his best, Jeremy Guthrie is in John Lackey's class as a pitcher. I'd like to remind you that I wrote that about a pitcher coming off a season where he led the league in losses and had an ERA of 5.04. But I...

Coaches impressed with Harper's first week in Arizona

Coaches impressed with Harper's first week in Arizona
Nationals hitting coordinator Rick Schu was in Scottsdale this week to coach and monitor Harper and the rest of the Nationals' Arizona prospects, and he recently gave me an update on the number one draft pick's progress. Harper is batting .375, 3-for-8, with a double and 2 RBI in his first two games. His slugging percentage is .500 and his OPS is .875 with no errors in the field. In his first game Wednesday, Harper went 1-for-4 with a bases loaded ground rule double. but Schu said Harper...

Exclusive one-on-one with Bryce Harper

Exclusive one-on-one with Bryce Harper
I had a chance to catch up again with the Nationals number one draft selection, Bryce Harper, as he embarks on his first game for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall league Wednesday. Harper said he is pretty excited to get the invite to play in the AFL. "I am really happy to be a part of the Arizona Fall league with the caliber of guys at this stage," Harper said. "To be able to go up there and play with Lombo, Norris and Burgess, all those good guys, it is incredible. I am...

Staff injections

Staff injections
There's a chill in the air this morning, which reminds me that winter is right around the corner. And my snow shovel is down in my laundry room, propped up against a wall and mocking me at every opportunity. I really need to buy gloves, but I'm not ready to concede that summer is over. I'll be playing tennis again and sitting outside with a grande skim latte. I just know it. I've officially grown tired of writing/talking/thinking about the Orioles' coaching staff, but the topic won't go...

The O's need to keep Izzy at short

The O's need to keep Izzy at short
When it comes to quantifying defense, we just don't have many stats that really provide the value of a player that offensive stats can provide. It is easy to see which player drives in a lot of runs and gets on base a lot, but which players keep runs from scoring? Which players create confidence and a real peace of mind for a young pitcher when they are playing behind him? Hard to put a stat on that. Despite the obvious offensive shortcomings, I think the O's should resign Cesar Izturis...

Are Orioles showing an ace with Guthrie?

Are Orioles showing an ace with Guthrie?
Roy Halladay throws a no-hitter last night and I saw exactly four pitches - all of them from Cincinnati's Edinson Volquez in the second inning. I have regrets. Not every team is blessed with a true No. 1 starter. Go over all the rosters and pick out the pitchers who actually fit the description, and not simply because somebody had to take the ball on Opening Day (Rodrigo Lopez did it in Baltimore and nobody's calling him an ace.) The Phillies happen to own three of them, but that's an...

Waiting for word on the coaching staff

Waiting for word on the coaching staff
If I appear to be typing more slowly this morning, it's because I'm feeling a little dizzy. I struck out at a bar last night and hit myself over the head with a beer bottle. We're still waiting to find out which coaches, if any, will return in 2011. Each one has met with manager Buck Showalter within the past week. "It's emotional for me," Showalter said. "You care. I'm just trying to be honest and sincere and paint a picture of what the timeframe is and what we're...

Solid first season for Arrieta ended on high note

Solid first season for Arrieta ended on high note
By the end of the 2010 season, Jake Arrieta was what we thought he was. One of the top pitching prospects in baseball. In his last three starts, which were against Boston, New York and Toronto, Arrieta went 2-0, 2.60. Over 17 1/3 innings, he walked just two and fanned 13. The reduced walk number was a key stat for Arrieta during his 18 Major League starts this season. Arrieta when he walked 2 or less: 5-0, 2.66 in 8 starts. Arrieta when walking 3 or more: 1-6, 6.70 in 10 starts. That,...

Comeback winners give hope to Strasburg, Zimmermann

Comeback winners give hope to Strasburg, Zimmermann
Major league baseball announced Tuesday that pitchers Tim Hudson and Francisco Liriano have each won the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Hudson won the National league honor and will start Game 3 of the NLDS between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants. Liriano helped guide the Minnesota Twins to the American League Central title with a 14-10 record and a 3.62 ERA. He will start game 1 of the ALDS versus the New York Yankees Wednesday night. Both players returned from...

Lannan, Dunn Appear on Bravo's Top Chef

Lannan, Dunn Appear on Bravo's Top Chef
Spoiler Alert! On Wednesday evening, the Nationals were featured on Bravo's hit reality television cooking show, Top Chef. The Emmy award winning show filmed its seventh season in Washington D.C. this past spring and John Lannan, Adam Dunn and Matt Capps participated in the episode, "Making Concessions." "I didn't realize this at the time but it's a huge show," Lannan said. "I think I'm going to get more attention for this than the game I pitched last night." In the episode, the...

Join us for monthly video chats with Guthrie and Jones

Join us for monthly video chats with Guthrie and Jones
Did you catch Jeremy Guthrie and Adam Jones live on MASNsports.com Friday afternoon? The O's teammates joined us for a couple of live chats today, and even though their lunch hour chats are over, there's plenty to pass along. Guthrie arrived early after biking to the Warehouse - would you have expected anything else? - and fell right in chatting with the MASNsports.com staff as we finalized our preparations for the first of today's two live chats. During Guthrie's half hour, he...

Is this heaven? No, it's NatsTown

Is this heaven? No, it's NatsTown
Katherine Connors, the laid-back beauty queen from Iowa, threw the ceremonial first pitch tonight at Nationals Park. Connors met with Miguel Batista before the game and the reliever provided some first pitch tips. Batista urged Miss Iowa to take a few steps toward home plate, instead of throwing from the mound. He also encouraged her to throw high to avoid bouncing the pitch. She listened. It was high and a little outside, but Batista managed to snag it. One of the most anticipated...

Getting to know Buck Showalter

Getting to know Buck Showalter
Full Name: William Nathaniel Showalter Birthdate: May 23, 1956 Birthplace: DeFuniak Springs, FL Playing Career: Showalter played college ball at Mississippi State University, graduating as an All-American in 1977. No doubt the .459 batting average helped him get drafted in the fifth round by the New York Yankees following college. After seven years as a first baseman in the Yankees' farm system, Showalter's playing career ended in 1983, never making it to the majors. Managerial...

A giveaway change

A giveaway change
Though Brooks Robinson Jersey night isn't scheduled until Saturday, July 17, there's been a change to the previously scheduled promo night at Camden Yards that's worth noting ahead of time. The Orioles PR department has announced that a vendor error will delay the arrival of the replica Brooks Robinson jerseys promised on the promotions schedule on July 17. But rather than simply giving fans a raincheck, the O's will compensate the inconvenience to fans by giving away Brooks Robinson...

T-Shirt Tuesdays: Who should be featured?

T-Shirt Tuesdays: Who should be featured?
The Orioles honored catcher Matt Wieters last night with the first T-Shirt Tuesday of the 2010 season. I have a feeling most O's fans were pleased with the choice in Wieters for the first round of T-Shirt Tuesdays, and more than 13,000 fans turned out to pick up their Wieters tees. But if you take a look at the O's Promotions schedule, you'll see that there are five more T-Shirt Tuesdays coming up this season. You'll also notice that none of the remaining names have been...

Fantasy Baseball w/ MASN & the Orioles Buzz

Fantasy Baseball w/ MASN & the Orioles Buzz
Camden Yards is buzzing with the finishing touches of offseason maintenance; Nicole Sherry's grounds crew are busy on the field, where the red clay has returned to the infield and crisp lines are visible in the Kentucky Blue Grass again; O's Productions has been testing the sound system throughout the ballpark; spring training is already five weeks old; and the Opening Day countdown has broken the two-week barrier. If all of that doesn't tell you baseball season is practically here, MASN...

Stammen stamping out his place in Nats rotation

Stammen stamping out his place in Nats rotation
Craig Stammen is one step closer to being named the fifth starter for the Nats rotation to begin the 2010 campaign. He has held his own in spring training and done a good job getting ready for the season. Saturday, Stammen pitched 5 innings and allowed only 2 earned runs. Stammen told me he is learning a lot during his side sessions with Steve McCatty. "I feel comfortable (on the mound) right now, back to where I was before the surgery. My fastball is good, I am throwing it for strikes, I...