Iggy's Raven's Report - 12 November 2009

Commentary | Schedule | Relevant Football Links | Predictions

Commentary

Personal Thoughts:
Ravens: It's official. We are not a good team. Good teams do not collapse on 3rd down to good quarterbacks. We are a .500 team. We have issues. We thought they were fixed. They aren't. Nevermind the fact that the officials, once again, gave the game to the other team with bovine fecal matter calls (and non-calls). We need to learn to live with that and accept it as how things are going to continue. We are not going to make the playoffs. We can beat the teams we are supposed to beat, and lose to the teams with good quarterbacks... and that's the way it is.

On to the game. Secondary is not fixed, and as long as Cincy has Cedric Benson, we are screwed. Our front line is better than that, but he makes us look like crap. We just can't stop the better teams from scoring. Offensively, we are still trying to be a run-first team. That is not who we are, so we are screwed since they continue to push that strategy. Special teams wasn't a major factor, other than, say, oh, missing a freakin' 38 yard field goal. That miss pretty much sank us, despite having 6+ minutes left, and replacement kickers are being tried out as I type. That miss changed it from a 1 score game, to a 2 score game, and Cincinnati only had to eat time.

Next up is Cleveland, and oh look! They are coming off a bye week. Imagine that! This marks the 3rd straight week that we play a team coming off their bye week, (and the 3rd straight week that the Team that must not be named plays an opponent that we just played) Monday night in Cleveland, but we should be able to take care of them, raise our hopes (falsely) just in time for Indy and the TTMNBN in the 2 following weeks. 8-8. Get used to seeing it. Its not that our future is not in our own hands (which it still is), it's just the path to the post season is obstructed by incredible challenges that we have yet to prove we can handle. From my ancient Murphy's Laws poster: "The Race is not always to the fastest, nor the battle to strongest, but that's the way to bet."

Orioles: Mark Hendrickson, Danys Baez, Melvin Mora and Chad Moeller all filed for free agency. Players with 6+ years of MLB experience can file within 15 days of the the end of the World Series. Their "home" teams have until the end of those 15 days to negotiate exclusively with those players. Mora had his $8M option rejected, but could be back for less money (not likely). Hendrickson is local (York, PA), and would like to resign, but the Orioles have not responded. Baez is a risk returning from Tommy John Surgery, and there are questions to his continued effectiveness, which waned as the season drew on. Moeller is likely to be brought back as a back-up and mentor to Wieter's since his handling of pitchers is among his strengths.

In addition, left-hander Rich Hill, outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Guillermo Rodriguez refused their outright assignment to Triple-A Norfolk and elected to file for free agency on Tuesday after they were taken off the 40-man roster.

Adam Jones snared his first Gold Glove, and the Orioles first in 10 years, and first Orioles Outfielder Gold Glove since 1975.

The Orioles claimed righty Armando Gabino from the Minnesota Twins waiver wire. His MLB experience is minimal, but has done well in the minors, going 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA for AAA Rochester.

Crystal Palace Baltimore F.C. (Home games at UMBC): No new news.

Alouettes: The Als (15-3) closed out the regular season with a 42-17 thumping of the Argos (3-15). The Als will have the week off, and play the winner of the East Conference Semi-final match between B.C. (8-10) and Hamilton (9-9).

Blast: The Baltimore Blast will open their 2009-10 at home against the Rockford Rampage on Friday, November 13 at 1st Mariner Arena.

The National Indoor Soccer League announced that the league has changed its name to the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).

Baltimore Blast President and General Manager Kevin Healey announced that the team has signed six players for the upcoming 2009-10 season, including forward Lucio Gonzaga who won a championship with the Blast in 2008, and forward Rod Dyachenko and defender Michael Dello-Russo who played in Major League Soccer. Forwards Max Ferdinand and Adriano Dos Santos and defender Logan Alexander will also join the defending champions.

I am gauging interest in a field trip to see the Blast play this season. Please email me if you are interested, and I will negotiate the arrangements. Thanks.

Mariners (See website for more details): The Baltimore Mariners all-time leading receiver and the team's top receiver in 2009, Jamaal Stokes, has agreed to return to the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) squad. The 2010 season will mark Stokes third with the 1st Mariner Arena based team.

Former Maryland Terps starting quarterback Joel Statham has signed with the Baltimore Mariners of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA). Statham, a native of Chatsworth, Georgia is one of four quarterbacks signed by the Mariners this off-season, including last season's starter E.J. Nemeth.

Offensive lineman Kheon Hendricks, who protected Quarterback Joe Flacco for two seasons at the University of Delaware and who was a three-sport star at Pikesville, Maryland's Woodlawn High School, has signed a contract with the Baltimore Mariners.

What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, nevermind. No one is reading this anyway, so I will just butcher things up however I please, and you won't know the difference. Send an email to iggy at tealdragon.net. Thanks!

Schedule

2009 Preseason
Date	Opponent		Time	Result
Thursday, August 13	Washington Redskins		1-0-0	W 23-0
Monday, August 24	New York Jets		2-0-0	W 24-23
Saturday, August 29	@Carolina Panthers		3-0-0	W 17-13
Thursday, September 3	@Atlanta Falcons		4-0-0	W 20-3
2009 Regular Season
Date	Opponent	Record	Time	Result
Sunday, September 13	Kansas City Chiefs	1-0-0	1:00 PM	W 38-24
Sunday, September 20	@San Diego Chargers	2-0-0	4:15 PM	W 31-26
Sunday, September 27	Cleveland Browns	3-0-0	1:00 PM	W 34-3
Sunday, October 4	@New England Patriots	3-1-0	1:00 PM	L 27-21
Sunday, October 11	Cincinnati Bengals	3-2-0	1:00 PM	L 17-14
Sunday, October 18	@Minnesota Vikings	3-3-0	1:00 PM	L 33-31
Sunday, November 1	Denver Broncos	4-3-0	1:00 PM	W 30-7
Sunday, November 8	@Cincinnati Bengals	4-4-0	1:00 PM	L 17-7
Monday, November 16	@Cleveland Browns	14-7 Overall 6-4 Road	8:30 PM
Sunday, November 22	Indianapolis Colts	2-7 Overall 2-3 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, November 29	Pittsburgh Steelers	10-18 Overall 6-8 Home	8:20 PM
Monday, December 7	@Green Bay Packers	1-2 Overall 0-2 Road	8:30 PM
Sunday, December 13	Detroit Lions	1-1 Overall 1-0 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, December 20	Chicago Bears	1-2 Overall 1-0 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, December 27	@Pittsburgh Steelers	10-18 Overall 4-10 Road	1:00 PM
Sunday, January 3	@Oakland Raiders	5-1 Overall 1-1 Road	4:15 PM

Relevant Football Links

NFL: Tie Breaking Procedures

Iggy's Predictions

Week 8
- Ravens over Bengals (+2½). This time, it will be different. It's personal. We stink. All my research pointed to us losing, but I wouldn't accept that. I'm still in denial.
- Arizona (+3½) over Bears. This one could go either way, depending on which Arizona plays which Chicago. Cards on top again. Bears heading in the other direction.
- Green over Tampa (+10½). These two are in different classes. Now, remind me. Which one was in which class?
- Indy over Houston (+9½). Although Houston has done well the last couple of weeks, they will face a big set back this week. Houston almost pulled this one off!
- Jax over KC (+6½). Both teams stink. KC stinks more. 2 late TDs made this one look closer than it really was.
- Pats over Fins (+10½), but take the points. I could have gone the other way if this game was in Miami. Fins also made this very interesting
- Falcons over skins (+10½), but take the points. Skins tend to keep it close. They almost covered...
- Saints over Panthers (+13½), but take the points. Panthers have been doing decently lately, but not good enough to come close to winning. Saint had to dig out of an early hole
- Seattle over Lions (+10½). Lions really are that bad again. Seahawks covered at the very end.
- Chargers (+4½) over Giants. Giants are in a death spiral What a nail biter.
- Niners over Tennessee (+3½). Tennessee is really struggling, and the Niners are better than their record. Where did this TN come from? Can they beat Buffalo next week?
- Eagles over Dallas (+3½). I am just not impressed with Dallas this season. With Philly, it appears to be all or nothing.
- Team that must not be named over Denver (+3½). They can thank us now for softening them up for 'em. Any questions?
- This Week: 9-4 Straight Up; 6-7 Against the Spread
- Season: 84-45 Straight Up; 65-64 Against the Spread
Week 9
- Niners over Bears (+3½). Bears are weak, and SF is home in prime time.
- Atlanta over Carolina (+1½). Atlanta hasn't lost yet when favored.
- Tennessee over Buffalo (+6½), but take the points. Tennessee wins at home, but by less than a score.
- Cincy (+7½) over Team that must not be named. Cincinnati is that good, and for once, we won't have softened up their opponent enough that the TTMNBN wins.
- Denver over wershington (+3½). Opening line was 6½, and I still would have gone with Denver.
- Minnesota over Detroit (+16½), but take the points. It's hard to give up that many points, but the odds will make it close... real close.
- Jets over Jax (+6½), but take the points. Jets started out stronger, but have been showing weaknesses. No doubt Jets will win, but by how much?
- Saints over Lambs (+13½). Saints toyed with Carolina last week by spotting them 14 points, but then again, they didn't cover the same number of points. St. Louis is worse than the Panthers though.
- Dolphins over Bucs (+9½). The battle of South Florida won't last very long.
- Oakland over KC (+1½). Heads Oakland, Tails KC.... it's Heads.
- Dallas over Green Bay (+2½). Dallas has been pulling it together. This should be a good game.
- SD over Philly (+2½). If Philly doesn't blow out their opponents, they lose. They won't blow out SD.
- Zona over Seattle (+8½). Cards already dispensed with the hawks pretty easily in Seattle earlier this season. In the desert, it should be even easier.
- Indy over N'england (+2½). My rationale was very solid... go with the home team?!?
- BALTIMORE over Cleveland (+10½), but take the points. Prime time will have the brownies a little pumped, although the Ravens should be on a mission.
MLB
- Damn Yankees. I ended up 4-3 on predicting the series.

Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net