Iggy’s Baltimore Sports Report – December 2, 2015

News and Personal Thoughts:
GoogleDoc ticket sharing status: Despite the time change for the Seattle game, seats are still available, as well as seats for the Pittsburgh game. Check it out at Ravens Roost 4 Ticket Exchange.


Ravens:
As Matt Schaub continued his decent into the record book for the infamous (4 straight games with a pick 6), while the Ravens clocked in with their own record, becoming only the 2nd team in NFL history to win a game on a block-six. I gave up researching it, but it appears the only other time was when Arizona beat Dallas in OT in 2008 with a 3 yard blocked punt return for a TD. If that is the case, it would make the Ravens the ONLY team to have won a game on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown… Ironically, the game on Monday marked the 3rd worst late season Monday night match-up in the programs history, with a combined 5 wins between the 2 teams, but yet posted one of the most improbable finishes you will ever see… Given all the excitement, [Iggy get’s on his soapbox] will Baltimore EVER get any respect? Every game this season, I have had to listen to the announcers talk about how the “other” team has to get back into the game, hold on to the lead, or whatever. They NEVER talk about what Baltimore needs to do. ESPN, CBS, and FOX all do the same thing. Even with the spectacular ending, the post game press focused on what went wrong for Cleveland and how Cleveland lost the game. It is annoying and frustrating as my finger hovers above the mute button every game. It’s been 20 years since we re-acquired a team, but they don’t care how we lost our team similar to how Cleveland lost theirs, or that we had to steal a team because the NFL wouldn’t give us a team back. These people need to get over it. Do I have to wait another 20 year until these announcers and critics are dead or retired, and a new batch are dispensed who don’t remember the Baltimore Colts? [Iggy get’s off his soap box] … Now, with Schaub’s challenges, and the known ineptitude of Clausen, the Ravens are now entertaining other options at QB while ex-Raven Tyrod Taylor remains the starter in Buffalo… Last, but not least, it is amazing what one win can do. The Ravens went from discussions of a high first round draft pick to “In the Hunt.” At 2 games back with 5 games left, there are lots of teams to hurdle to make the post season, but not impossible. In the end, we made our bed, and now we have to sleep in it. Our journey to the promised land is a pipe dream at this point, and all they can do is win and hope, but then again, that is what they have had to do all season which is what got us here. Just remember, with 11 straight games (also an NFL record) decided by 8 points or less, we are just a few ball bounces (or bad calls) from being 11-0, or 0-11. In the end, .500 will suit us. Anything more is an over-achievement, while anything less was probably deserved given the circumstances.

Orioles:
Chris Davis is as good as gone. The Orioles acquired 1B-OF Mark Trumbo from Seattle for local boy Steve Clevenger. This is a sure sign that the Orioles are virtually ending the pursuit for Davis, unwilling to put up the 6 year, $175M contract that he will probably end up with. Trumbo is a power hitting, strike out machine, averaging 1 K per game played, along with 31 HRs and 95 RBI’s per 162 games played. His career batting average is in the .260s, and his on-base percentage is exceptionally low for a team that already struggles in this arena. Generally speaking, I grade this as a poor 1 year rental (which is what he has left on his contract). Steve Pearce will probably be back as a utility and back up, but the Chris Davis sweepstakes are probably going elsewhere. With a payroll now near $100M, the O’s will need to divert remaining money on suring up the starting rotation, and possibly bringing back Darren O’Day, with whom the O’s just entered the market for. Personally, I think the Orioles are dealing in desperation, knowing that they have probably lost Davis.

Alouettes
Edmonton defeats Ottaws for the 103rd Grey Cup.

Blast (MASL):
The Blasts improved to 4-0 with an 11-1 win this past weekend to keep a 1.5 game lead in their division. They are still 1 of 2 remaining undefeated teams (Missouri 7-0)

Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
Nothing new to report: The Bayhawks open the season on April 23 in Atlanta, before 3 straight home games.

Capitals (See website for more details):
The Caps are now 17-5-1, still 1 point behind the Rangers, and still 4th best record in the NHL.

Wizards (See website for more details):
The Wizards broke a 4 game losing streak to up their record to 7-8, but then lost again tonight to drop 2 back under .500 at 7-9.

Mystics (See website for more details):
Nothing to Report.

D.C.United (See website for more details):
Portland and Columbus both both held on enough to survive leg 2 of the 2 game aggregate series and wil lface off for the MLS Cup.


What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, never mind. No one is reading this anyway so you probably won’t know the difference. Send an email to iggy at tealdragon.net. Thanks!


Relevant Football Links


Iggy’s Predictions


“Past performance does not guarantee future success, but it sure is the way to bet!”

  • NFL, Week 12
    • Detroit (+0.5) over Philly. Hard to go against Lions on Turkey day. Detroit got Medieval on them… while Stafford sat on my fantasy bench.
    • Panthers (+1.5) over Dallas. Romo is back, but that is not enough for Dallas against Carolina. Carolina improves to 11-0
    • Packers over Bears (+8.5). Pack are back on track with win last week. Packers continue their funk, lose to the bears.
    • Chefs over Bills (+3.5), but take the points. Both fighting for a wild card. Close game, but those points weren’t enough.
    • Bengals over Lambs (+8.5). Bengals need this to keep comfortable division lead, and end losing streak. Lamb stew?
    • Houston over Saints (+3.5). Saints are done. Confirmed. Saints are done.
    • Indy over Tampa (+3.5), but take the points. Colts are 0-5 as the favorite this year. Colts double them up 25-12.
    • Jags over Chargers (+3.5). Not sure the Chargers can improve much over last weeks drubbing. Chargers win.
    • Jets over Fins (+3.5). Late November, and Miami is going North for a game? That means they are going South fast. Fins are ripe for Ravens game now.
    • Vikings (+2.5) over Atlanta. Atlanta has been horrible lately (2-6 as favorite), but they keep favoring them. Why? Atlanta was 5-0 at one point, weren’t they?
    • Giants over Skins (+1.5). Taking the Road team again in NFC Match-up. (*%)(&%Skins!
    • Titans (+1.5) over Raiders. Raiders 0-3 as favorite, Titans 5-3 as underdog. Oakland wins to get back into the thick of things.
    • Cardinals over Niners (+10.5). 12.5 wasn’t enough points last week, and Cards are better than Seattle. Niners cover this time.
    • steelers (+4.5) over Seahawks. As much as steeler fans whine about their injuries, they are still in the 5 seed. GLAD TO BE WRONG
    • Pats over Broncos (+5.5), but take the points. Pats to win, but not by much. Broncos end Patriots bid for perfection.
    • Browns over Ravens (+2.5). Just how many starters from week 1 are left? Not enough! GLAD TO BE WRONG AGAIN!
    • This Week: 9-7 SU (Straight Up), 7-9 ATS (Against the Spread)
    • This Season: 106-70 SU, 92-84 ATS
  • NFL, Week 13
    • Green Bay over Detroit (+3.5), but take the points. With the play of GB lately, taking Detroit might not be bad. Pack have failed to win last 5 as favorites, while Lions have won their last 3 as underdogs.
    • Ravens (+5.5) over Miami. Even with Schaub at QB, I think we can take them.
    • Buffalo over Houston (+3.5). Went with the Home team.
    • Bengals over Browns (+7.5). Manziel still benched, McCown out for the season.
    • Bears over Niners (+6.5). Heads or tails? I waffled more than IHOP on this one.
    • Jags (+2.5) over Titans. I really think the Jags are turning a corner… or was that the Titans were turning a corner?
    • Vikings (+.5) over Seattle. Vikings are destined for something this year. Just not sure what.
    • Giants over Jets (+1.5). So who is really the home team?
    • Cards over Rams (+5.5). Cards division to lose. Not this season.
    • Tampa over Atlanta (+2.5). Atlanta might not win another one this season.
    • Broncos over Chargers (+4.5), but take the points. Tough division matchup that I expect to be close.
    • Raiders (+3.5) over KC. Raiders are 5-2 as the underdogs.
    • Carolina over Saints (+7.5). Mismatch.
    • Patriots over Eagles (+9.5). Line dropped by 3 points when Gronk was declared out.
    • steelers over Colts (+6.5), but take the points. Colts are 5-0 as the underdog.
    • skins over Cowboys (+4.5). With Romo out, Dallas can’t win jack.

Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net