Connolly's Corner Sports Bar

Your hitter with the World Series on the line

2008-05-14T01:55:27Z

If you guys keep this up, I think I can retire early and let someone else get behind the bar. In two days, we’ve had two suggestions (one from my son, one from patron Joe) and we’ve had great response. All I’ve had to do is make a few silly jokes and keep the conversation going. I could get used to this. I am going to piggyback yesterday’s discussion about the one pitcher you’d want to start Game 7 of the World Series. Looks like Bob Gibson gets the majority of votes for an all-time answer, and Josh Beckett, who struggled against the Orioles yesterday, is the current guy who received the most support. Today, let’s go back to that moment in your backyard or back alley. It’s a tied score, bases loaded, two outs, bottom of the ninth inning. You step to the plate and who are you? Or if you don’t want to play that game, then think this way: If you could choose any player at any time to send up in that situation, whom would you summon? Reggie Jackson, Babe Ruth and Kirk Gibson are obvious ones. And I know Frank Robinson will get some love around here. It has to be someone clutch, someone cool, someone you know will do whatever he can to get that run home. Daily Think Special: Which hitter would you send up to the plate with the World Series Game 7 on the line? Give me one current and one former player.

Your pitcher with a World Series on the line

2008-05-13T00:24:51Z

I have to say yesterday may have been one of my favorites since the bar opened. Just awesome dialogue about your most obscure Orioles moment. In one day, we had references to Larry Sheets, Pete LaCock (the son of Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall, by the way), the heckling of Darrr-rrrryl, hitting on Hooters girls, and taking a pop fly off the noggin. Just to name a few. Find that kind of diversity on The Onion. Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of the death of one of my best friends, one of my old college roommates. And I definitely needed a laugh or two. And my regulars -- and some newbies -- sure came through. Toby Keith is right after all. I love this bar. Absolutely great stuff, people. Patron Joe suggested that one, and it was a beauty. We are in the process of setting up a way that will allow you to send me some of your own daily think special ideas whenever you want. Stay tuned for that. My 9-year-old son wanted to get into the action, so this one is coming from him, though I tweaked it a little bit. I know, technically, I could lose my license if a third-grader was found in the bar. But lucky for me today just happens to be “Bring your real child to cyber-fake-work day.” What luck, huh? Anyway, my son, Alex, wants to know, ‘Who is the best pitcher of all time in a World Series?’ We’ll go with that one, but tweak it some. You know, dads can’t totally give in to their sons. Next thing you know he’ll want a Porsche and a night out on the town with TriHill and a gaggle of Hooters girls. This one is a two-parter for today. And for those of you who get easily confused when we bring up math, that means we want you to answer both questions in one statement. Daily Think Special: If your team were in the seventh game of the World Series, -- could be the Orioles, could be anyone -- who would you want on the mound to start that game? Go with your gut. Who is the guy that will give you his best on the biggest stage, even if you haven’t seen it before? Give me someone who is retired (or dead) and also someone who is currently pitching.

Your obscure O's moment

2008-05-12T04:30:27Z

I left the all-Springsteen station and the KC barbecue behind and am headed home to the bar. At least I hope am. I am writing this before I get on the plane. By the way, I checked out Oklahoma Joe’s in KC and it was awesome, even though it is based out of a gas station. I kid you not. But I knew it’d be good when I got there and there was a line of about 30 people waiting. The bbq (got a pork/beef combo) sandwich was great, but the fries were even better. That’s just the kind of important little nugget you get here at Connolly’s. So the next time you’re in KC and drive by a gas station with a line of people streaming out the door, you must stop and go in. We’re a bar, we’re a music forum, and now we’re “Cheap Eats for the Fat Guy (and Gal).” Anyway, I’m always open to bar talk suggestions, and we got a good one from patron Joe that we’re going to use today. Sit back, grab a cold one and tell me your favorite obscure Orioles memory. It can be something that happened in a game that you’ll never forget or can be something that happened to you at a game. I don’t want to hear about a World Series moment, or the Orioles-Brewers finale in 1982, etc. Something a little less mainstream. Here’s one from my personal vault: It happened when I was about 10 or 11. It was about an hour or so before game time, I sneaked on top of the Orioles’ home dugout at Memorial Stadium when the “stay out of my yard, ya darn kids” ushers weren’t watching. I leaned over the dugout and I saw one player inside. The guy was stretching right below me. Couldn’t see his face. Just his hat and hands. So I lowered my autograph book and asked for his signature. He laughed, said, “Sure” and grabbed the dangling book. At about that time, an usher spotted me and screamed, but I told him I’d get down as soon as I got my book back. The Oriole handed it back up, I took it and then took off, so the old usher wouldn’t lecture me. I ran all the way back to my bleacher seat, dreaming of who signed the book. Palmer, maybe? Dempsey? Lowenstein? Well I got to my seat, thrust open the book, and there was the sweeping, bold, legible signature. Wayne Krenchicki. OK, so he was a little used infielder and not a future Hall of Famer. But, hey, it makes for a good obscure story. Daily Think Special: What’s your best obscure O’s story?

Other Hall of Fame worthy types

2008-05-10T04:50:06Z

Two days left in Kansas City for me, and the Orioles are a juggernaut again, winning their 11th straight against the Royals. I’ll be glad to head home, but I’ll miss my rental car. When it comes to satellite radio, I am an XM guy because of the baseball package. But I have Sirius in my rental and I stumbled onto E Street Radio, an all Springsteen station. If I would have had that in college, I’m not sure I would have met my wife. I’m not sure I would have left my dorm room. Just awesome music: Old Springsteen, live tunes, rare tracks. And yesterday one of my new favorite artists, Jesse Malin, had an hourlong segment in which he picked his favorite Springsteen and Springsteen-related songs. Great stuff. Might have to get that station for the bar. Anyway, there was some good discussion yesterday about which pitchers deserve to be in the Orioles Hall of Fame, and Connolly’s regular Rich brought up a Hall for non-uniformed Orioles personnel. Well, the club and the Orioles Advocates do something like that, too. It’s called the Herb Armstrong Award, named for the longtime Orioles official. There have been 14 winners (one each year) and they are honored at the annual O’s Hall of Fame luncheon and given a plaque. This year’s recipient is the club’s traveling secretary and all-around good guy Phil Itzoe. There is also a separate fan award, which was established this year. It’s named, appropriately, for Wild Bill Hagy, who is posthumously the first recipient. We’re going to throw out some names missing for the Armstrong Award today. It goes to someone who has represented the Orioles for at least five years and made a significant contribution to “the ballclub, the community or the sport of baseball.” Here is the list: Itzoe, broadcasters/announcers Chuck Thompson, Rex Barney and Bill O’Donnell, trainers Ralph Salvon and Eddie Weidner, umpire attendant Ernie Tyler, owner Jerold Hoffberger and club execs Harry Dalton, Lee MacPhail, Frank Cashen, Jack Dunn III, Hank Peters and Bob Brown. A great list, but there are some that could be added. Longtime groundskeeper Pat Santarone, who just died this week, is an obvious one. So is Richie Bancells, the O’s current head athletic trainer who is one of only three to hold the position (the other two have won the award). No scouts are in, so a guy like Jim Russo or Deacon Jones should get consideration. And then there is Jon Miller, who was an Orioles play-by-play announcer from 1983-1996, and one of the best ever. But his was a bitter departure and I’m not sure the franchise would give him such an award – though I would. Daily Think Special: Which non-uniform Orioles personnel who hasn’t yet been honored should be among the elite winners of the Armstrong?

Hall of Fame O's pitchers

2008-05-09T04:29:54Z

Hope Rich, Rob, Martha and the crew behaved themselves last night while I was away. Please take down the Eider Torres and Luis Hernandez statues and replace them with a smiling one of Freddie “Boom Boom” Bynum. It’s a good move to give Bynum a chance to start at shortstop, and for the media’s sake I hope he sticks. The guy is a great quote. No question, I am keeping that life-size Daniel Cabrera cutout by the entrance for a while longer. It’s a good luck charm and it scares away the riff-raff. Well, this the bottom end of our first two-parter discussion at Connolly’s. There was some spirited debate yesterday as to which old Orioles hitters should be added to the club’s Hall of Fame. Now it is the pitchers' turn. I’ve thought about this one and I just don’t see someone who has been unfairly left out on the pitching side. Ray Miller, one of baseball’s best pitching coaches and an Orioles legend, should be in – but he only became eligible last year. Assuming he really is retired for good, it’s surely a matter of time before his inclusion. But as for those who actually threw the ball, the Orioles Advocates and their voters (which also includes media members and club personnel) have been pretty complete here. Again, the requirement is that an eligible candidate must have spent at least three years in an Orioles uniform and been removed from their specific career (player, manager, coach) for at least a season. Here are the ones who are currently in from the pitching ledger: Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, Milt Pappas, Jim Palmer, Steve Barber, Stu Miller, Dick Hall, Scott McGregor, Hal Brown, Mike Flanagan, Tippy Martinez, Eddie Watt, Mike Boddicker, Dennis Martinez, Hoyt Wilhelm and this year’s inductee, Gregg Olson. Anyone missing? Maybe Tim Stoddard? Or Mark Williamson? Daily Think Special: Which former Orioles pitcher who is not in the club’s Hall of Fame deserves the honor?

Which hitter should be in the O's HOF?

2008-05-08T03:52:10Z

Well, I made it to Kansas City and for the next few days I’ll be all about Orioles baseball. And so will our bar conversation. We had a great discussion last week about the best second baseman in Orioles history, and in doing a little research, I learned that the only second-sackers in the club’s Hall of Fame are Davey Johnson and Bobby Grich. That means Rich Dauer, a big part of the franchise’s last two World Series teams, and Robbie Alomar, the most talented player during the club’s last playoff run, aren’t among the 45 that are in. To be eligible for regular election into the O’s HOF, which was established in 1977, a player, manager or coach must have spent at least three seasons with the Orioles and be at least one year removed from that capacity. Once it has been 15 years since the candidate played, coached or managed, he is eligible for the veterans’ committee vote. Alomar, for instance, is relatively fresh on the regular ballot – and he was among the finalists this year when Gregg Olson, the club’s all-time saves leader, got the nod. It’s still early for Robbie, and remember, he only played three seasons in Baltimore. Dauer, however, is a different story, He’s now on the veterans’ committee ballot, and to me, he deserves inclusion with many of his 1979-83 teammates. There are other guys out there, in my opinion, who deserve induction. I’ll let you all debate who they are. Let’s make this a two-parter. Concentrate on hitters today and we’ll talk about pitchers tomorrow. Here is the list of hitters currently in the O’s Hall of Fame: Brooks, Frank, Boog, Gus Triandos, Luis Aparicio, Mark Belanger, Paul Blair, Ken Singleton, Al Bumbry, Jim Gentile, Gene Woodling, Don Buford, Rick Dempsey, Grich and Davey, Lee May, Eddie Murray, Cal Jr., Brady Anderson, Doug DeCinces, Chris Hoiles and B.J. Surhoff. In addition, Earl Weaver, Hank Bauer, Paul Richards, George Bamberger, Bill Hunter, Cal Sr., and Elrod Hendricks are in as managers/coaches. For the record, the Orioles Hall of Fame was conceived and administered by the volunteer Oriole Advocates in conjunction with the club. Roughly 80 advocates, Orioles personnel and media members vote in the regular election and about 25 selected members are on the veterans’ committee. The Advocates do a great job, and this isn’t a criticism of them. But there have been a lot of great/important Orioles over the years. And it’s fun to argue who should be among the elite. Daily Think Special: Which Oriole position player is most egregiously absent from the club’s Hall of Fame? Remember, he had to spend three seasons with the team and be removed from his playing career for at least a year.

A night on the town -- branching out of Baltimore

2008-05-06T22:22:17Z

Welcome everyone. I’m flying to the Show Me State (was the Touch Me State taken?) today and will spend a few days with the Orioles and those pesky Kansas City Royals starting Thursday. Was hoping to witness the tearful reunion between the Orioles and John Bale, but a hotel room wall and Bale’s fist got in the way. So you can put the hankies away for now. While I am in KC eating Gates B-B-Q, the bar will stay open, of course. You people barely need me. OK, some of you may need help to the door at closing time, but besides that this place runs itself. When we switched up the mood yesterday, regular Jack suggested we get some Toby Keith in the jukebox. Since I was somewhat unfamiliar, I did an Internet search and I found this video, which I think was shot on location at Connolly’s before the renovation, of course. Speaking of music, I just bought the most recent Drive-By Truckers CD (I hear it's more country and less rock than in the past. And that scares me) and will be listening to it on my iPod on the plane. It’s my own act of protest because the Truckers will be 60 miles north of Baltimore (at the Dragonfly in Harrisburg on Thursday) and 60 miles south (at the 930 Club in DC Friday and Saturday) while I am in Missouri. Not fair. I know a couple of my Sun sports colleagues are making one of the shows in DC. If you can, go see the Truckers. You won’t be disappointed. They are awesome live. I have seen them a couple times and hung out briefly with them once (the guys are huge baseball fans. Their former guitarist, Jason Isbell, told me I had the world’s greatest job. I guess he forgot momentarily that he’s a rock star). If you have no clue who the Truckers are, here’s a link to their site. Anyway, we had a good convo yesterday about which Baltimore sports celeb you’d like to join for a night out on the town. Lots of great thoughts and potential for amazing stories. And very few of the choices were of the lascivious nature although I knew some people (Jen, Terpfan, Markus) wouldn’t be able to help themselves. It is a bar, after all. We’re used to that behavior. Let’s take another stab at this subject, but go a little more globally. You still get to hang out with a sports celeb of the past or present, but this time, no Baltimore connection. It can be a former player, announcer, owner, front-office type, so long as there is no obvious Orioles/Ravens/Colts/Bullets/Balmer connection. Mine would probably be Jackie Robinson or Shoeless Joe Jackson, though since I am going to KC, I’d also heavily consider the late Buck O’Neil, a tremendous man and an unbelievable storyteller. Daily Think Special: If you could have a night out -- dinner, drinks, take in a ballgame, whatever -- with any member of the sporting world, living or dead, who would it be? Remember, no Baltimore connection (Babe Ruth, Johnny U., Brooks are out). What would you talk about? Where would you go?

Dinner and drinks with a Baltimore sports celebrity

2008-05-06T03:07:05Z

Thanks for indulging me yesterday with the sensitive topic of sports tragedies that affected you the most. I got a chance to play Dr. Phil without the annoying catchphrases, grating accent and condescending attitude. And it was cool. After all, what good’s a bartender if he doesn’t hear the occasional personal story? But let’s draw the Dr. Phil line there. I don’t want to know about your marital woes. So it’s a new day at Connolly’s and we’re switching up the music (happy, beer-drinking stuff, a little Buffett or Barenaked Ladies maybe. Other suggestions are welcome). And we’re definitely switching up the tone. It’s what us Irish Catholics do. We go from mourning death to celebrating life in a nanosecond. The only common denominator is the drink in front of us I’m pouring Guinness and Smithwick’s along with the staples (Natty Boh, Yuengling, and every cheap beer you ever once stole from your dad’s fridge) for this one. The challenge today is to pick the one sports personality with Baltimore connections that you’d most like to spend an evening with out on the town. The food, drinks and cab fare is on me. It can be an old Colt, old or current Oriole or Raven, old Bullet, Skipjack, someone who grew up around here, whatever. Alive or dead (although the presumption is that he/she is alive on the night out. Let’s not get too Weekend at Bernie’s here). It can even be an announcer or writer -- someone associated with sports that has/had a Balmer connection. My first two thoughts were Art Donovan or Babe Ruth. How much fun would that be? But I’m going a little personal -- there’s a dash of Dr. Phil left in me. The best storyteller I have ever been around consistently was Elrod Hendricks. And I never got the chance to hear one last story. So I’m painting the town orange and black with Ellie. Guaranteed laughs there. Daily Think Special: If you could have a night drinking, eating and hanging out with one current or former sports celeb with Baltimore ties, who would it be? Why? Where would you go?

Sports tragedy that hit you the hardest

2008-05-05T01:34:28Z

Hey everybody. Get settled in and grab a beer. We got a tough but hopefully interesting one today. I had a good, long weekend with two separate parties for my youngest daughter who turned 1 Saturday. If you saw a pink-and-yellow-faced baby crawling 65-mph in the passing lane of I-83, don’t worry. That was Gracie and she’s fine. She was just letting off some steam after a three-day sugar/cake-icing bender. We all have our own vices at Connolly’s. I could stick with the jokes today, but I’ve decided to get a little maudlin. I’ll put on a couple old REM CDs (only heard a couple tracks so far on the new one – which sounds like it rocks. Any reviews out there from patrons?), some Johnny Cash and a few Counting Crows tunes about rain (aren’t they all) on the jukebox as we discuss this one. I am just about finished the book, “My Guy Barbaro,” by jockey Edgar Prado and my old Sun colleague John Eisenberg (if you are a horse racing fan or were a Barbaro fan, you’ve got to pick it up). I’ll hit on the book some time later this week. But while reading the Barbaro book and then seeing the sad end to Eight Belles on Saturday at the Kentucky Derby, it got me thinking about what sports death or tragedy hit me hardest. I was stuck in a blizzard when Orioles rookie pitcher Steve Bechler died in Feb. 2003, but I spent much of the next month in Florida writing stories about his collapse and the link to ephedra-based drugs. I had only spoken to Bechler twice prior to his death, but it’s tough to cover a story like that and not be affected on some level. The sports story that hit me most, however, was when I was a teenager and a rabid UM basketball fan in June 1986. The news of Len Bias’ death was tough enough. Then to learn that it was caused by cocaine use was like a double punch in the gut. I’m sure I’m not alone on that one. Are there any others that made you feel like that one did? Tomorrow, I promise we’ll get a little more joyous. Meanwhile, I’ll dim the lights and will keep your glass from emptying. Daily Think Special: What tragedy in the world of sports will you never forget and why? AP photo: Len Bias

Catch the greatest backstop

2008-05-03T02:01:59Z

Because we have had such good receipts the past few days, we decided to keep the bar open today. But I have an unbelievably busy weekend planned. (We’re going to Home Depot to pick out wallpaper, maybe we’ll hit Bed Bath and Beyond. I don’t know if we’ll have time.) Seriously, my youngest daughter turns 1 today and, as any of you out there with kids know, a 1-year-old’s birthday is like Mardi Gras -- the celebration lasts for days. So I’m making myself scarce, but come on in, grab a beer and pass the peanuts with your fellow Connolly’s regulars. I’ll let you know how the pony rides go. We had such a great debate yesterday on who was the greatest second baseman in Orioles history, I thought I’d try another position. I’m pretty sure this one is going to be lopsided because the Rick Dempsey lovers out there will make themselves known (and Demper really was the spirit of those great late 70s/early 80s teams). But don’t forget about three-time all-star Gus Triandos, two-time all-star Andy Etchebarren and fan favorites Chris Hoiles, Mickey Tettleton and the incomparable Elrod Hendricks, my favorite guy to ever wear shin guards -- and he wore them everywhere, it seemed. Daily Think Question: Who should be the catcher on the all-time Orioles team? Sun photo by Richard Stacks (Gus Triandos, 1959)

Who is second-to-none at second base?

2008-05-02T02:09:53Z

Had a late night last night, poring over the bar receipts from a banner day. An Orioles afternoon game and a discussion about which Oriole would best have your back in a bar fight made it one of Connolly’s busiest so far. So I just chilled out, counted my money and listened to the bar’s kick-butt jukebox mix that features songwriters (Springsteen, Cash, Buffett, Lovett, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Jack Johnson), alt-country (Old 97s, Wilco, Ryan Adams, Drive By Truckers) to old-guy alternative/Irish punk (Clash, Talking Heads, Fuel, Live, Green Day, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys). The jukebox is always open for your suggestions -- we got some Motown and enough bad 80s heavy metal to make a 30/40-something wistful. Speaking of the good old days, I was in a gas station line after an Orioles-Yankees game last month with some drunk, 20-something Yankees fan in a Bernie Williams jersey. That’s right, Bernie Williams. You’d think if you have enough money to get hammered on $6 beers at the park, you could at least update your sports wardrobe. Anyway, this moron decided, for shock value, to loudly proclaim Alex Rodriguez as the greatest third baseman ever. I was trying to bite my tongue, when the clown bellowed, “That’s right Baltimore. He’s a better third baseman than your precious Cal Ripken.” I snickered. Because we all know around here that Brooks was the greatest third baseman. Cal’s not even in the argument. We save Cal for the greatest shortstop debate. It’s obvious those two hold the “greatest” title for the left side of the infield in Orioles history. And as good as Boog was, Eddie Murray wins the first-base debate. Those three are slam dunks. But then I started thinking, who would this moron put up against Robinson Cano? Daily Think Special: Who do you consider the best second baseman in Orioles history? Davey Johnson? Bobby Grich? Rich Dauer? Robbie Alomar? Can Brian Roberts be in the conversation? Lots of good ones, but who deserves to be turning the DP with Cal and firing the ball to Eddie on the infield of Orioles’ greatness? Sun photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. (Roberto Alomar, 1998)

Butt-kicking, back-getting O's

2008-05-01T03:38:46Z

It’s a businessman’s special at the ballpark this afternoon. At Connolly’s, it’s just business as usual: Sketchy food, good conversation and the occasional overflowing toilet. Because of the Orioles’ day game, we’re expecting a big crowd in here today. In fact, there’s a 50-50 chance we might outdraw Camden Yards. Regardless, we promise to give you the actual attendance here. We won’t count reservations that don’t show. After reading yesterday’s comments about the toughest Oriole, I think we have a pretty strong split between Cal Ripken Jr. and Frank Robinson. But I give a free shot to Winston for best post of the day. Cal Ripken Sr. was one tough hombre. Some of the stories I have heard about him are unbelievable. Brady Anderson still deserves an honorable mention, and not just for playing through an appendicitis. Brady once recounted the day he was hit by a bus full of fans on its way to Camden Yards for my buddy, the king of all blogs, Roch Kubatko. Here’s what Rocco sent me from an interview he had with Brady about that one. Apparently the bus turned into Brady, who was rollerblading to the stadium, and Anderson literally went under the bus. “It hurt pretty bad. I came into the weight room and took off my pants, and I was bleeding all over the place.” Mike Bordick was the only player who saw that Anderson was hurt. “He said, ‘Dude, what happened to you,’” Anderson recalled. “I said, ‘Not much. A bus full of people just hit me. How are you?’” “He fell down, he was laughing so hard. I told him not to say anything, and I had a great game. Two doubles, an assist and a catch at the wall.” I also agree with those who targeted Alan Mills as a tough guy. But I’m going to twist things around for today, and maybe Millsy would be more appropriate as the answer to today’s deep, thought-provoking question. Daily Think Special: If you’re in a bar fight -- and at Connolly’s we don’t condone that kind of behavior -- which current or former Oriole would you want to have your back? Choose anyone in their prime. It’s probably best if they are big, a little crazy (like former closer Randall K. Myers) and have a mean streak. Tough, like Ripken, is one thing. Kicking butt and asking questions later is a whole different skill set.

The toughest Oriole and some Olson Golden

2008-04-30T03:43:39Z

Welcome back all. We’ve got a 2-for-1 Molson Golden special going today in honor of Orioles rookie lefty Garrett Olson and his second career win last night. The kid walked five, and that’s not going to get it done consistently in the majors, but you have to give him credit for his poise. He’s had a career minor league ERA under 3.00 in his three-plus seasons. He just needs to show he can do it in The Show. For what it is worth, I think he can, so long as he goes after hitters. With Adam Loewen shelved for several weeks, Olson’s going to get a shot. It'll be interesting to see what happens when he faces a team a little more patient than the Rays. We had some great comments yesterday about various subjects, and I am setting up a special double shot for one of our early season regulars, Rich, who brought up the story about Mike Flanagan pitching inside to Ron Kittle in the 1983 ALCS. Rich talked about Flanagan’s toughness. One of his old teammates told me that they thought they might have to duct tape his arm to his shoulder at times, but he still went out and pitched. And that made me think. Was Flanagan the toughest Oriole? Obviously, Cal Ripken Jr. is in the discussion, because you can’t play 2,632 consecutive games and not be ridiculously tough. But are there others who can compete with the Iron Man? Cal’s buddy, Brady Anderson, once played a game a few hours after he roller-bladed into and under a bus on his way to Camden Yards. He also was supposed to have an appendectomy during the 1996 season, ignored his appendicitis and it went away. Seriously. Chris Hoiles stood at home plate and took hit after hit like a Tractor Man would. And Frank Robinson’s toughness was legendary, no question. Daily Think Special: Who was the toughest Oriole? Who should at least be in the discussion? Handout photo

Has Cabrera turned the corner?

2008-04-29T02:57:31Z

Sorry we closed early yesterday. The health inspectors came in and had us hopping. The rumors of unsanitary conditions in the kitchen are completely unfounded. But, to be safe, I’d stick with the pretzels and peanuts, at least until Thursday. Anyway, watching Daniel Cabrera pitch on TV Monday at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field reminded me of his big-league debut there almost four years ago -- May 13, 2004. The Orioles needed a spot starter for the first game of a doubleheader and called Cabrera, then 22, up from Double-A Bowie, where he had pitched five games and hadn’t yet recorded a win. The previous year he had been at Delmarva, and had skipped over Frederick to go to Bowie. He was almost a complete mystery. All we knew was that he was huge, threw hard and spoke almost no English. We also knew that the previous offseason, before he was fired, ex-GM Syd Thrift made sure Cabrera was on the 40-man roster because he was afraid he’d be snagged in the Rule 5 draft. So that day the kid was jumping Triple-A and making a start against a White Sox offense that included Carlos Lee, Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko. In the press box before the game, the four beat writers informally wrote down what we thought Cabrera’s line would be that day. I don’t think any of us had him getting out of the fifth. I know none of us came close to predicting that he would allow just two hits through six shutout innings and lead the Orioles to a 1-0 win. It was an impressive showing, but what stuck with me was Cabrera’s post-game interview in the tunnel outside the clubhouse with bullpen catcher Rudy Arias acting as his interpreter. We lobbed the standard questions and then someone asked if Cabrera had been intimidated at first facing guys like Thomas and Konerko. Cabrera listened to the question in Spanish and asked for it again. Then he quickly shook his head and responded. Arias listened, smiled and then translated something to the effect of, “He says he doesn’t care about who’s hitting. He feels he can get anyone out.” We walked away thinking, ‘Could this kid be for real?' He stayed in the big leagues, won 12 games and finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2004. He hasn’t won that many games in a season since, and last year he led the league in losses. One writer friend of mine said if he were a GM of a team, he wouldn't take Cabrera for free. That he isn’t worth the heartache or rotation spot. But O’s manager Dave Trembley said he believed Cabrera would be a different pitcher this season, and, for the most part, he has looked it. He had allowed just five walks in his last three games heading into Monday. Against Chicago, though, he walked seven in 6 1/3 innings, but made key pitches and escaped with two earned runs allowed. It was the new Cabrera and the old Cabrera butting heads. And you still have to wonder who is going to win that battle in the end. Daily Think Special: Has Daniel Cabrera turned the corner and learned how to pitch? Can the light stay on consistently? If he turns in another rough year, should the team cut its losses? Or if he turns in a great year, should they trade him when his value is high? What’s your prediction for his win-loss record and ERA in 2008? Bonus Think Special: Didn’t get as much response to one of yesterday’s questions as I would have liked, so like the leftover chili, we are serving it again. If you were putting together a baseball card of the three best prospects the Orioles have signed and developed since 1954 and you couldn’t use the four (Brooks, Palmer, Ripken and Eddie) who went on to the Hall of Fame from the Orioles system, who would you include? Mine are Boog Powell, Dennis Martinez and a tossup between Mike Mussina and Dave McNally. AP photo

NFL draft musings and O's future (and ex-future) stars

2008-04-28T12:51:31Z

First, quick thoughts on this weekend’s draft. I watched a ton of it. Not sure exactly why, but I think Chris Berman’s voice dulls my senses and leaves me in a helpless trance. He’s TV’s version of a frontal lobotomy. My friend had to throw my TV through my back window and carry me away from Nurse Ratched once Saturday’s second round ended. Quick thoughts on the Ravens: They had to get a quarterback, and it’s nice to see them be aggressive. I have no problem with Joe Flacco being a small-school player. What I’m wary of is any guy whose stock leaps dramatically when the football season is done. Workout wonders often end up as busts. That said, Ozzie Newsome and company deserve the benefit of the doubt. And most everyone who has seen Flacco play says he’s the real deal. So I am definitely willing to keep an open mind. Quick thoughts on two players I covered a few years ago, Penn State linebacker Dan Connor and cornerback Justin King. Both dropped into Day 2. Connor reminds me of Zach Thomas (fifth round in 1996). He may not have all the eye-popping attributes gurus want, but he’s a heck of a football player and he’ll have a long career in the NFL. He would have been an excellent value with the Ravens first pick in the third round (No. 71), but they went with Tavares Gooden, and they‘ve done OK with linebackers from The U. Connor went to the Panthers at No. 74. But I really felt the Ravens needed to take a chance on King late in the third. He’s one of the best athletes I’ve covered, and though he seemed to lose focus last year and was burned way too often, put him on an intense defense like the Ravens and he would have flourished. I know they traded for Fabian Washington, but you can’t have too many quality corners. And King would have been worth the risk at pick 99 (he went at 101 to the Rams) We can still talk some Ravens today, but now that the draft is done, I’m going back to baseball, too. During our talk about prospects last week, one bar patron sent this link. It’s an old Topps card that features “Future Stars,” and Cal Ripken is in the middle of this one. I have two topics of discussion for you regarding this. Daily Think Special: If you were putting together one of these cards today for the Orioles, who are the three guys you would feature? Adam Jones, since he is a classified rookie, works. And you figure Matt Wieters should be there, too. Who is the third? Or do you knock Jones out and come up with two more? Bonus Think Special (since it is a dreary Monday): What if you were putting together one for the modern history of the organization? Since the Orioles signed and developed Brooks, Ripken, Palmer and Eddie, those four would have to duke it out for the three spots. But if we eliminate the Hall of Famers developed by the O’s who’d be next? Give me a card of the best three players developed by the club (excluding the Hall of Famers) since 1954. I’ll start you up with one: Paul Blair.