dc.

Goofy but whatever. I don't like the new M and Maryland writing they've used the last few years. I love the greater use of the flag and all the colors of it; I even like the addition of the turtle design to all kinds of things (the white helmets with turtle design were very cool). But that new M just doesn't do it for me.

Still not sure how anyone can blame the O's when mlb rules dictated they couldn't move the game. I'm sure everyone would expect the NFL to change its rules about when and where teams play to accommodate another sport. Of wait, they wouldn't even consider a move to Wednesday or Friday for this game. Side note: didn't think O's had anything to do with 01.

Nice catch. In an incredible turn, my uncle placed second in the White Marlin Open for his Blue Marlin catch (over 700lb!!) . He's actually placed 2nd and 3rd a few times now. Then, a week later, his wife won the Tuna competition in OC for a "poor girls open" - a charity tournament of some kind. Here's the uncle & cousins with their haul: http://www.whitemarlinopen.com/catches/catch_photos/?catch_id=4729

Well, except that first series against them this year... but that was when we were at our worst point in the season. I believe we could do better. But I really want no part of facing Scherzer-Sanchez-Verlander-etc etc etc...

I just don't get it with Beane, though... all those years of Moneyball and to my eye he totally abandoned it this year (or, at the trade deadline at least). Cespedes wasn't exactly a Moneyball kind of player - but the metrics on Hammel and Samardzija also had to tell you they couldn't sustain the team. And the metrics also had to tell you that the A's bats were not as strong as they looked. I was just reading Grantland's Power Rankings (they still have the O's at #4 behind the Angels, Nats and A's, by the way). But the O's were the feature team this week in the top bracket and the writer, as is usual, spent the entire time talking about how lucky the Orioles pitchers are relative to their skill. They are oddly good when men are on base, for example. (Though, not an astounding recording-setting or league best with men on, as with our one-run games feat a few years ago). Anyway, the entire thing was about how the team was lucky and playing outside of its reality and norms... In many ways I am fine with that, especially because I don't entirely disagree with it. You look at our rotation and it's hard to believe we have a 9 game division lead. But I haven't seen similar articles on most of the other division leaders. That's what bothers me. Where's the article on the A's bats playing so far over their heads? No, there was none. Midyear we got articles on how they were simply the most dominant team in baseball, no questions asked. No one bothered to point out the dramatic difference between Avg and OBP most of their players were putting up... the astounding difference between Avg and Avg wRISP. No one wanted to look at the splits on guys like Josh Donaldson who has 100% mirrored last year - monster first half that falls apart in late May. Anyway.. it sounds silly but the thing I trust most in this O's team is their ability to rise to the occasion. We may not have the perfect skill set of any team out there - far from it, really. But when their blood gets pumping and they get into it, they respond. My hope/gut feeling is that we don't see too many dead bat nights in the playoffs because our guys will be too pumped ... (though, hardly mattered in 2012)

I don't want to play the Tigers. The last three years we've been very good against west cost teams - even on the west coast. I would like to play any of them - except the Angels, given how hot they are right now - but that wouldn't be a division matchup anyway.

They were actually even worse since the trade than I realized. I think 12-18. Ouch. And shut out several times too.

Right. I just meant, it's not exactly a good thing when many of your players are around for an arrest at someone's house. As for "speedy" trials... most are held up by the defense seeking to get witnesses, etc in order and see out all of the prosecutors evidence.

The real "to make matters worse" might be that multiple reports say that there were several 49ers player there when it occurred. Not a comment that they were involved or even knew it was happening... but still just not good.

If there was a social, political, etc fight for equality regarding any of those issues they'd be worth talking about.

But that's life. Right now being gay is news because of how unaccepted it is. How many players get attention just for the team they players for? Or players and coaches get attention for words, not actions? Or attention for arrests or tweets or public outings? The media plays any story it can get for any reason. Where the outrage at all the other non-sport sport stories?

Until "being gay" isn't news, it will be news. But so long as people get upset that he kisses his boyfriend on TV, there will be a story. As long as players have to have news conferences to share that they are gay because it's so unheard of, it will be news. Deal with it. Sam was hardly the first late round pick to get media attention, though he certainly got more than most. But if we're honest he also had a stellar career in college that afforded him the stage to make his announcement as well. How many other major division/conference defensive players of the year are picked so late? I'm tired of people who are tired of this being a news item. We know these networks are in it for clicks and ratings. Johnny M, Yankees, Pats, Kobe, Lebron, Cowboys... They run the same five stories. But we act pages and surprised about it with the Sam story? Those upset at Sam are making this a story.

Crav, you'd love this... First team to have a magic number on ESPN standings (19)... Largely because the yanks are so far behind but we do have the second best record in mlb now. Athletics are really failing. Under 500 in August by 3 or 4 games.

Anyone see the one with the high school girl who just had her wisdom teeth removed? She can barely speak, mumbles about something and how her mouth is bleeding... Then takes her water and accidentally (or consciously but all messed up) simply pours it on her stomach. Just totally misses her head.

Well, your kaboom statement was past tense at least... ;)

I'm here and loving it. Just not been able to watch the games recently. Why do you think I'm hiding?

Oh, easily a third baseman and not a shortstop. No question on that now. With Tulo, though, I just meant that he could be a guy who missed 20-40 games a season regularly but puts up incredible numbers when he's active. A career that would make yearly awards and HOF difficult. A career that would frustrate fans, especially when he starts missing the post season. But not necessarily a short career in terms of years.

Well it is the other knee this year but the report today said exact same injury as last year. But maybe Cleetz is right and there was a fixable issue in both. I don't know about short career because if he can produce when healthy he'll be OK - but could well be a Troy Tulowitzki.

He's only missed about 40, Crav. Prior to his return we were about a 500 club in April and May. This last two weeks we've been doing OK but primarily against bad opponents... Don't think we'll be so lucky to continue that against decent teams.

Yahoo (and MASN via Yahoo) are reporting Manny will have knee surgery this week and is done for the season. They didn't say anything about playoffs (I suppose it's implied - but with more than a month, I've heard crazier things). I would assume he is out, of course but just saying. Big blow. We need his bat and his defense, obviously. I think they have been holding it together without him for the last few weeks, but can't do it forever. Major bummer. Something tells me his knees are going to be a career-long issue for Machado. 22 years old and both knees have had surgery already. Doesn't bode well for the future.

Both had potential. Strop was lights out for his first full season of play. Arrietta is playing way over his head this year but maybe he's just an nl guy.

Crav... would you be saying the same about the reputation of a football player you didn't care for? "James Harrison HAD a nasty reputation for being a thug and not caring on the field... but that all changed and this was a different guy." While sure he may have changed, most people don't just magically lose their 'hothead' tempers. That's all that is really being discussed here.

No one is justifying the looting. And I have no explanation for why people do it except opportunity of course. Of if the thousands protesting, how many do you think are looting? Not many. Anyone see the video of the cop pointing his rifle at journalists saying I'll fn kill you. Crazy stuff. He's been suspended at least. As has frequently been reported you don't ask if you don't intend to shoot. He was leading a rowdy but peaceful protest march...

Yeah I'm not saying I disagree. I just meant that some players will probably leave regardless of the scholarship guarantee for the chance to play. Actually helps UMD

Yeah I'm not sure I see innovation or gimmick. If the whole story is scripted, why does it have to be the same actor(s)? It's cool to think about but I'm not sure I see the purpose or meaning in it.