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Ravens looking to extend Lewis

The Baltimore Ravens have no intentions of letting Pro-Bowl LB Ray Lewis hit free agency. Team owner, Steve Bisciotti said the team has begun “open dialogue” with Lewis and his agents. Not surprisingly, this is the first time the Ravens have let Lewis even reach the final year of his contract. Could this have an impact on negotiations?

I highly doubt it. If by some freak chance Lewis does hit free agency except the Ravens will do whatever possible to keep him. “If he becomes a free agent next year, I think the Ravens would probably outbid other teams,” Bisciotti said . “We know Ray’s value more than the other teams. We know the leadership he brings to the team. We know the commitment and the effort he gives to winning.”

This statement is so true, the team itself and the city of Baltimore absolutely love this guy and he’s the heart and soul of both. If Lewis was to leave, they’d have a revolt on their hands from the fans. I think anyone who knows someone from the Baltimore area can tell you, their fans LOVE Ray, a lot of them will tell you he’s the reason they are a fan of them.

Lewis is now 32, and scheduled to make $6.5 million this season. Many critics around the league have argued that he’s just not as good of a defensive player as he used to be. Lewis only had 2 sacks, 2 interceptions (one returned for a TD) but did log 121 tackles. His best days, the days of contending for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, may be behind him but he’s still one of the better linebackers in the NFL. He’ll command a decent amount of money but I doubt this contract winds up long term.

My guess, he’s back in Baltimore in 2009.

Chad Cordero injury update

Semi-good news for all you Chad Cordero fantasy owners, the Washington Nationals closer won’t be going on the Disabled List, yet. The reason for him not entering the game last night was due to shoulder tendinitis. Cordero actually received a cortisone shot yesterday and didn’t enter the game because his shoulder was still feeling strange. The team has shut him down for today and tomorrow, but he will play catch Wednesday afternoon. “Right now, it doesn’t really feel bad,” Cordero said. “I’m not really going to know until I throw on Wednesday, so hopefully everything will be all right.”

If he happens to go on the DL, Manager Manny Acta will consider recalling Justin Maxwell from AA-Harrisburg. “His name was brought up yesterday when we were considering all those things,” Acta said. “The way he played at the end of the year last year and the way he played at spring training - and also you have to take into consideration the roster situation. He’s a 40-man guy. But that wouldn’t be the only reason he would be called up. We feel comfortable with this kid.”

Remember the team doesn’t plan on placing him on the DL just yet. “Right now we’re not even considering the DL yet,” Acta said. “He’s going to be examined today, and we’re going to give him today off, plus we have the day off tomorrow, and then we’re going to check on him on Wednesday.”

In other Nats injury news, Elijah Dukes was placed on the DL with a strained hamstring. Unfortunately for the bench, the team called up a pitcher, Chris Schroder since Cordero is unavailable.

Yankees Postponed

The Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees game has been postponed to Tuesday, April 1st at 7:05pm. A VERY rare Opening Day Night Game in New York. Probable pitchers remain the same.

Yankees game delayed

Today’s Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees to open up the last season at THE Stadium has been officially delayed. ESPN estimates start time of about 2pm, still subject to change as there should be a consistent light rain all day long.

Thoughts on Nats walk-off opener

What a first game in a new ballpark, a walk-off homerun, following a blown save to avoid extra innings. WOW. I’m going to give you my thoughts on tonight’s opener, the Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals. Being that I did play-by-play for the game tonight at work, I was able to keep a detailed list of FIRSTS for Nationals Park, so I’ll also post those for you.

First, the National Anthem - I didn’t even think about it first cause I put the chick on mute. But one of the guys at work said doesn’t this chick sound like Miss Piggy. I un-hit the Mute button and man he wasn’t joking. So actually it was a pretty entertaining anthem after thinking it was Miss Piggy singing it.

The first pitch - George Bush remember the advice Derek Jeter gave him a few years back. Go up on the mound, take the rubber and fire a fastball. None of that stand in front boring lets see if I reach toss. The pitch was a little high, but hey he risked embarrassment by taking the mound, well done.

Here’s the list of FIRSTS for the ballpark.
1st Win - Jon Rauch
1st Loss - Peter Moylan
1st Blown Save - Jon Rauch
1st Homerun - Chipper Jones
1st Hit - Cristian Guzman
1st Run - Cristian Guzman
1st RBI - Nick Johnson’
1st Double - Nick Johnson
1st Extra-Base Hit - Nick Johnson
1st Walk (Hitter) - Yunel Escobar
1st Walk (Pitcher) - Odalis Perez
1st Strikeout (Batter) - Kelly Johnson
1st Strikeout (Pitcher) - Odalis Perez
1st Error - Tim Hudson
1st Passed Ball - Paul LoDuca
1st Pick-Off / Caught Stealing - Kelly Johnson by Odalis Perez
1st Injury - Elijah Dukes

Now to thoughts on the game.
Tim Hudson - Amazing start after a horrible beginning. Hudson got knocked around in the first inning throwing 29 pitches, giving up 2 runs, 3 hits but struck out two. It truly looked like it was going to be a long night. Well Hudson went 7 innings and after that first inning no Nationals player reached base. In fact, no Nationals player touched a base again till the walk-off homerun in the 9th.

Odalis Perez - Solid start. I honestly expected for him to get hammered and thought he was one of the worst Opening Day pitchers EVER! What did he do, went 5 innings giving up 1 run, a Chipper Jones homer, 4 hits a walk and 2 strikeouts.

Chipper Jones - Homerun. What can you say Chipper Jones showing early season power has to be a good sign for you Braves fans.

Mark Teixeira - Double to start rally in the 9th inning. Boy was this ball absolutely crushed to right center off the 14-foot high wall. I don’t feel the ball was as close to going out as Joe Morgan thought. They were going absolutely crazy on ESPN that, that ball just missed going out of the park, but I don’t think it was high enough it was MAYBE half way up the ball. Regardless, that ball was still crushed.

Nick Johnson - Looked good coming back from his broken leg that cost him the entire 2007 season. I’ll tell you that was pretty impressive on how he ran in that first inning on Jeff Francoeur TWICE!. Johnson has never been a fast runner but he took Francoeur to town both times, and he’s got the best arm in the National League. Nobody ever tests this guy! Johnson turned a single into a double, then scored from second. Both times I thought he was dead in the water but he beat the throw. Great hustle from a guy not worried about his previous injury.

Jon Rauch - Came in to close out the game for an injured Chad Cordero and instantly blows a save. Granted, he did get some help from the amazing defensive skills of one Paul LoDuca. I must say LoDuca, is a BUM!!!

Ryan Zimmerman - 0-3 going into the ninth with a strikeout and two groundouts. Two outs, 2-2 tie and he hit a bomb to left-center field to win the Nats Opener. In RFK, that ball is most likely a double here in the new ballpark it’s a game winner.

Injuries - Elijah Dukes left the game in the 6th inning with a tight right hamstring. Dukes has experienced problems with that hammy the past 2 weeks in camp. He might get tomorrow off against the Phillies. Chad Cordero felt stiffness warming up for his save opportunity. Peter Gammons just reported stiffness not where thou, so one can only speculate.

The Ballpark - very nice from what we saw on TV. Nice views of the city which it seems every new stadium has now. From the looks of it, there will be a lot more homeruns this year, fairly deep power alleys and straight away center but nonetheless more homers. The ball had some carry to it at times, and once the heat and humidity hit the DC area in the summer that ball is going to be hopping out of there.

Raiders pass rush

The Oakland Raiders have made numerous off-season additions and they don’t appear to be slowing down yet, even with being dangerously close to the salary cap. The team has signed two defensive lineman over the past couple days and were pretty close to acquiring a third. Out of all the moves they’ve made, these may have been the most beneficial as the Raiders were horrendous at stopping the run last year. Let’s look at the moves.

The first came Friday when the team signed former Detroit Lions’ defensive end Kalimba Edwards. The deal is worth $5 million over 2 years. Edwards was a former 2nd round pick by the Lions but to many fans was considered a huge bust even with 26 sacks over 6 years. Edwards should occupy the role formerly occupied by Chris Clemons who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, which would be a pass-rush specialist to replace Derrick Burgess on the passing downs. There’s also a chance he could jump ahead of Jay Richardson as a starter.

Second move came Sunday as the team signed Akbar Gbaja-Biamila (the brother of KGB in Green Bay), to a 2-year deal. He’s no guarantee to make the team but if he does he’ll be a defensive reserve and also play special teams.

The almost move was the team almost brought back one-time raider Grady Jackson. Jackson now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars. If this move would of happened, Tommy Kelly would of stayed at the defensive end position and Jackson would occupy the middle. Now thou it looks like the team doesn’t want to add another lineman through free agency, even thou Jackson could still really help them out.

If the team decides to add another lineman it would come thru the draft. And I wouldn’t put it pass them to still select LSU DT Glenn Dorsey if he falls to the #4 pick.

Orioles release Gibbons

No surpise here. Only surprise to me is that the Baltimore Orioles didn’t till Major League Baseball made a decision on the new drug rules. It was inevitable that Gibbons would be cut, the question was just when. Doing so before Opening Day means the Orioles do not have to carry him on their roster. Instead, the 25th man will be Scott Moore a much more useful guy off the bench.

The Orioles are stuck paying him the rest of his $11.9 million but this is a good move for them. Gibbons will most likely be forced to retire now. What team would actually want this guy on their team? He hasn’t hit the ball effectively in 2-years since baseball started drug testing and he’s always hurt. At least Baltimore did something right this off-season.

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