Tuesday Morning's Crab Cakes and Light Beer

The Swinging Bunt

The O’s vs. the Italians? That’s right… first game of Spring Training… against the WBC Italian team… with the O’s starting Justin Christian, Donnie Murphy, Scott Moore, Oscar Salazar, Craig Brazell, Lou Montanez, Nolan Reimold, and Justin Turner… yeeeeah. If Wieters and Brian Matusz weren’t going to be the battery, this could be the least anticipated 9 innings of baseball in the history of the world.

The A.L. East best division ever? Sports Illustrated and Inside Baseball’s Ted Keith offers his five bold predictions for the ‘09 season. The last of his calls is that “The A.L. East will have the best division race ever.” It’s a great piece, in total - 495 thrilling words about how teams will be playing big-series after big-series, jockeying for position all summer long before an exciting September race. Unfortunately for O’s fans, the home-team is not even mentioned one time throughout the entire entry! But hey, don’t worry Baltimore fans… Toronto didn’t get a line either.

Ex-O Benson signs with Texas. Kris Benson has inked a minor league contract with the Rangers. Quick bio here, the right-hander is now 34 and is coming off a minor league year in the Phillies organization. The last full season he played was here in Baltimore in ‘06 when he went 11-12 with a 4.82 ERA. Back in 1996 Benson was made the #1 overall selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the MLB First Year Player Draft. He is also married, to wife Anna, shown below… she craves attention… clearly:

Scanning the Blogosphere

Ravens Insider offers a “Cautionary tale on Ravens’ Ray Lewis.”

SI’s Truth and Rumors says both the New York Giants and Jets will both be chasing Ravens FA LB Bart Scott once the free agent signing period begins.

The Schmuck Stops Here has the latest from O’s Spring Training on LF Felix Pie, pitching coach Rick Kranitz.

Fanhouse has some quotes from Cal on the Steroid Era in baseball.

Bugs and Cranks says if everyone played an even schedule in MLB, the O’s would have the 15th best record.

Connolly’s Corner Sports Bar asks, “Are the next few weeks make or break for Gary Williams?” And also, “Who will surprise in Orioles’ camp?”

Terrapins Insider: “Vasquez Named ACC Player of the Week.”

Tracking the Terps has “Notes leading up to Duke,” more on the Carolina game, and how letting Greivis be Greivis has worked out pretty well for Maryland.

ESPN’s Bracketology has Maryland as the last team making the tournament giving them a #12 seed and taking on Washington.

The Big Lead says Darrius Heyward-Bey was the most impressive prospect at the NFL Combine.

D.C. Sports Blog has comments from NBC’s Mike Mulberry about how much he loves the Great 8.

Fanhouse’s Kevin Blackistone says, “No Star Shines like Alexander the Great.”

Face Off tells us after registering 4 goals and an assists in each of Loyola first two games, Greyhounds attackman Collin Finnerty has been honored.

Rumors and Rants has something Hoya hating Terps fans might like to see, “Georgetown Can Pack its Bags for the NIT.”

CMS Video of the Day

Here’s a video from three dudes from Baltimore performing their ballad, “Boo Teixeira (We’re gonna boo Teixeira) song.”

Learn it. Love it. Sing it. March 6. Opening Day.

Also, if you haven’t seen Nets G Devin Harris’ game winning acrobatic half court prayer to beat Philly from last night, you definitely have to check it out.