Right Off Russell

So it was only two innings for each, but they were 2 scoreless innings for each AND they each had 3 strikeouts to boot. So welcome to the roller- coaster that is Oriole pitching.

Here are Greg Zaun’s thoughts (MASNSports.com)

“It was pretty impressive. Fastballs to both sides of the plate, split finger was there, ahead or behind on the count. He commanded both sides to both hitters, righty and lefty. It looks like he’s pretty quick to the plate, so he’s going to control the running game as well.

“I expected him to have good command, but I also saw a bit of the competitive fire in him. He gave up that line-drive out to Baker, and the next pitch he reared back and he cut it loose. You could see there was some fire there. He wasn’t really happy with giving up that hard-hit ball.

“We were all kind of giggling about it in the dugout. That was pretty cool to see, especially the first time out. He’s definitely a competitor. He’s out there to win and to pitch well.”

As for Penn’s performance, pitching coach Rick Kranitz said (MASNSports.com)

“Hayden threw the ball real well. His breaking ball was very good. His fastball, I don’t know what his velocity was, but that’s good. He’s on the right track. That was good. Very encouraging.”

I think Uehara is a lock for the rotation, do you think Penn has a shot?

See ya Bart…… Have fun in NY. Have fun playing without Ray Ray and Suggs. Enjoy the money.

Now, back to business, how do the Ravens spend the money they have left under the cap?

Not so fast my friend!  Apparently the deal that would send Bart Scott to the Jest has not been finalized.  Mike Preston is reporting that:

There is speculation that the Ravens have offered Scott a five-year contract worth $42 million, and Scott also wants assurances that he will become the center piece of the defense in Baltimore, much like Ray Lewis was during the last decade.

Still not sure I like the amount of money being thrown at Scott as I am not convinced he is worth that much.  If the Ravens are willing to enter into a bidding war for Scott, then it appears they prefer to keep him to Ray Lewis.

Speaking of Ray Lewis….Earlier in the day Adam Schefter on his nfl.com blog reported that according to people close to Lewis, the Baltimore star was frustrated with the pace of negotiations with the Ravens and was ready to sever ties with the team.

Now Schefter is reporting this:

After speaking with Lewis, Woodson reported that Lewis never said he wouldn’t return to the Ravens. He is open to go back to Baltimore. Lewis never told DeMarcus Ware that his dream was to play for the Cowboys despite published reports.

It is entirely possible that Ray was upset with the Ravens and willing to leave, but after realizing that he is not in high demand, he is changing his tune about returning to Baltimore.  Ray needs to leave himself some options, so he is not in the position to eliminate any potential suitors.  The question is, if Ray’s expectations are not met financially by the Ravens or any other team, do the Ravens want to bring back an unhappy Ray Lewis?  Ray unhappy has been bad news in Charm City in the past.

The Ravens have reached a deal with free agent defensive back Dominique Foxworth. The team agreed to a 4-year $27.2 million deal with Foxworth, moving quickly after losing out on Bart Scott in free agency.  Foxworth played his highschool ball in Catonsville and went on to play at the University of Maryland.

Foxworth is a smaller corner with great speed in the mold of the Ravens other 2 starting db’s Fabian Washington and Samari Roole.  It would appear that the writing is on the wall for Rolle as the team is unlike to have signed Foxworth to such a lucrative deal if tehy did not intend to make him a starter.  Rolle is older and more expensive than Washington and will likely be cut by the Ravens.  Also, look for CB to still be a priority for the Ravens in the upcoming draft.

Foxworth Signs

Bart Scott and the Jets have agreed to a 5-year $40 million contract.  Considering the news of the passed week this is somewhat of a surprise, but after the season Scott seemed like he was the odd man out.  We knew signing Terrell Suggs was a priority and it appeared that Jason Brown adn Ray Lewis would be the other two free agent priorities for the Ravens.  What surprises me most is that the Ravens and Scott reportedly came so close to a deal last night, and then he is a Jet a day later.

Bart’s personality and toughness will be missed in Baltimore, but I am not sure he is worth $8 million per over 5 years.  It looks now that the Ravens will turn more of their focus on keeping Ray Lewis.  Here is the Sun article on Bart Scott.

Scott to Jets

The NFL free agency period began today without deals in place between the Ravens and either Bart Scott, Ray Lewis, or Jason Brown.  While Brown seems all but gone, the deal for Scott, that was apparently almost completed last night, never materialized making him a free agent.  The Sun is reporting that Scott’s preference is to stay with the Ravens and that he would give the team a shot to match any offer he receives from other clubs.

The Ravens seem set on not over paying for any of their services and have shown extraordinary restraint in their approach.  I thought the Ravens would show less restraint, especially when it came to re-signing the face of the franchise.  The Ravens typically do a good job at assigning value to a player, if they have to go beyond that value to get it done they will likely pass.  It is also believed that front office officials for the Ravens do not feel the market for Ray Lewis will be as high dollar as Ray-Ray thinks.

How the market develops for Lewis and Scott will be interesting to watch, but I believe the Ravens have a good shot at bring both back.  If faced with only signing one of the two, who is your preference?

In other news, the Ravens could bring in former Maryland standout DB Dom Foxworth.  If the Ravens do sign Foxworth, it would either indicate that the team plans on parting ways with CB Samari Rolle and then look to find a corner in the draft.  Or, they could sign Foxworth to run with Rolle and Fabian Washington.  My preference would be to draft a bigger, more physical corner to play alongside 2 of Washington/Rolle/Foxworth, who are all smaller cover corners.  Thoughts on this or other FA targets for the Ratbirds?

Today is the much anticipated public viewing of Koji Uehara when he starts for the O’s in the Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. In a quote from the USA Today article, Manager Dave Trembley  stated

“It’s a big day for major league baseball and for baseball fans throughout the world. Tomorrow is the first step in hopefully many more opportunities for something like this to happen. I know Koji is looking forward to it, we’re all looking forward to it. It’s going to be just a real fun thing to watch.”

Yes, Dave, this is going to be fun. Anytime, you bring someone over from Japan it is fun. Seriously, it might be a big day for the Orioles but not MLB. Just because the O’s took their time in acquiring talent from that side of the world, does not mean the rest of the league needs to stop and take homage.

While it may be fun, but really I am a bit nervous. I’m hoping that the O’s management actually saw something in this guy that nobody else did. They need for this guy to eat up innings.

How do you Uehara is going to fare this saeon?

As of this afternoon, The Sun reports that the Ravens and Bart Scott might be pretty close to signing that extension, both parties appear to be

… only $400,000 to $700,000 apart as far as completing a new deal.  Scott, though, isn’t sure if he is competing with Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis for a big contract.

Things are looking good.  Hopefully the Ravens have decided to keep the right personnel at the right prices.

What do you think?  Do you like who the team has prioritized?

I thought this deserved a post.  Some moral victories are just more enjoyable.

The last Ozzie Newsome talked to the press about his ability to re-sign linebackers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott, he didn’t have any answers.

“I can’t answer that question.  We’re making progress. We’re continuing to talk.”

In the meantime, that progress might have been greatly helped with word from the Sporting News is that the team has cut off talks with Center Jason Brown, meaning that the first “domino has fallen” according to Albert Breer.

According to an NFL source, the club has informed center Jason Brown that he is not in their plans for the 2009 season.

Brown, who turns 26 in June, is expected to garner immediate, strong interest from four or five clubs when the NFL’s free-agency period opens at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Brown started in ‘06 and ‘07 at guard for the Ravens, before moving to center to replace Mike Flynn last season.

The move to let Brown leave allows Baltimore to focus on its two free-agent linebackers, Bart Scott and Ray Lewis.

Negotiations are ongoing with both players — with the expectation that the Ravens will be able re-sign one, but not both — and are expected to run up to midnight, when the club will lose exclusive negotiating rights.