Five for Friday: Greatest Triple Crown winners in history

In anticipation of the 2013 Preakness, Baltimore Sun blogger and reporter Matt Vensel in this week's Five for Friday lists the five greatest Triple Crown winners in horse racing history.

Broken tackles an issue for Ravens defense in 2012

The Ravens could have as many as seven or eight new starters on defense when the 2013 season begins. You can produce a number of statistics that suggest why they may have felt compelled to overhaul their defense.

Five Baltimore Orioles stats that stand out this week

Each Wednesday, blogger Matt Vensel will highlight five statistics that really mean something for the Orioles.

Flags a hidden impact of Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones

The impact of Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones was obvious every time that one of the speedy outside wide receivers ran past flat-footed defenders and under a long, arching throw from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

Ravens trying to get a grip on the Pistol offense?

Unless you are a football junkie, you probably don’t know or don’t care that the Kansas City Chiefs hired Chris Ault, the man who invented the Pistol offense and coached Colin Kaepernick at Nevada, to a consulting gig.

Talking Orioles with Roar From 34's Matt Taylor

The Baltimore sports scene is blessed with a bunch of talented bloggers who bring their unique perspective to the conversation. Each week, I hope to chat with one of them in a regular feature called Blogger on Blogger. This week, I exchanged emails with Matt Taylor, who blogs about the Orioles for Roar From 34.

The Sun Remembers May 12-18

May 15, 2004: In sultry heat and on a bone-dry track, Smarty Jones wins the Preakness by a record 111/2 lengths before an announced record crowd of 112,668 at Pimlico Race Course. The victory gives Smarty Jones two legs up in his quest to win the Triple Crown. He'll fail.

Five for Friday: Best closers in Orioles history

If Orioles closer Jim Johnson converts his next save opportunity, he will stretch his regular-season save streak to 35 consecutive successful save opportunities and move him out of a tie with Randy Myers for the longest streak in franchise history. With all of his success over the past season and a half, Johnson has entered our conversation about the best closers in Orioles history. In this week's Five for Friday, blogger and reporter Matt Vensel listed his five top O's closers (in chronological order).

Ravens could use two tight ends more often in 2013

The Ravens offense will be different without wide receiver Anquan Boldin, whose strong hands and bulky frame allowed him to snatch the majority of the passes in his area and, in turn, endear himself to Joe Flacco.

Right Back @ You: Selig and Vensel on the Orioles

Baltimore Sun blogger Matt Vensel and Orioles editor Dave Selig answer reader questions in this video mailbag.

A.Q. Shipley adds to Ravens' competition at center

The Ravens on Thursday morning added another young body to the competition to replace retired center Matt Birk, trading a conditional 2014 draft pick to the Indianapolis Colts for 26-year-old center A.Q. Shipley.

Flacco vs. Roethlisberger is finally worth debating

I clicked onto the Ravens website this morning and saw “Flacco vs. Big Ben” splashed across my screen.

Minor leaguer steals home on Jake Arrieta [VIDEO]

Right-hander Jake Arrieta, who was sent down after four excruciatingly erratic starts with the Orioles, pitched well in his first two starts for Triple-A Norfolk. Last night, his third start with the Tides did not go quite as well.

Five Baltimore Orioles stats that stand out this week

Each Wednesday, blogger Matt Vensel will highlight five statistics that really mean something for the Orioles.

RGIII getting married, but can he top Joe Flacco's wedding pictures?

The DC Sports Bog is reporting that Robert Griffin III will get married to Rebecca Liddicoat on July 6 in Virginia, and found the information on The Knot, where the couple registered. A corresponding registry at Bed, Bath and Beyond has the same date, according to the DC Sports Bog, a blog for the Washington Post.

Looking at veteran wide receivers left in free agency

On Monday night, Eric DeCosta was in our house for once. The Ravens assistant general manager visited our offices down on Calvert Street to speak and answer reader questions in our latest Baltimore Sun Sports Forum.

Talking fantasy football with blogger Dan Ciarrocchi

The Baltimore sports scene is blessed with a bunch of talented bloggers who bring their unique perspective to the conversation. Each week, I hope to chat with one of them in a regular feature called Blogger on Blogger. This week, I exchanged emails with Dan Ciarrocchi, a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association who writes about fantasy football for Pro Football Focus and the Redskins for Hogs Haven, an SB Nation website.

Michael Oher will still be under siege at right tackle

Even if Bryant McKinnie does not prove to be an upgrade over Michael Oher, his return to the Ravens and the left tackle position should at least strengthen the Ravens at left guard and right tackle, where Oher will likely play.

Do the Ravens need competition for Sam Koch?

Sunday afternoon, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked if he planned to bring in another punter to press incumbent Sam Koch, who has been Baltimore’s primary punter since the Ravens drafted him back in 2006.

Manny Machado keeps wowing the rest of baseball

Can we go a little over the top here? OK, here goes: maybe we'll remember this just-concluded 7-4 Orioles road trip to the West Coast as the time where the legend of Manny Machado really took off.

Which four Ravens made Pro Football Focus' top 101?

The NFL Network has started to slowly reveal its list of the top 100 players of the 2012 season. But knowing how little thought some players give while filling out their ballots, I have a hard time taking that list seriously.

The Sun Remembers: May 5-11

May 6, 1998: "It's like going in and telling your wife that you're not coming back," Carl Runk says after announcing his retirement as Towson men's lacrosse coach to the team. Runk, 62, led the Tigers for 31 years, winning the 1974 Division II national championship and reaching the Division I title game in 1991.

Five for Friday: Intriguing Ravens' undrafted free agents

In this week's Five for Friday, Matt Vensel lists the five undrafted rookie free agents who intrigue him the most.

Is it too soon for Manny Machado All-Star talk?

Manny Machado probably couldn’t have asked for a much better start to his first full season in the majors.

RB@Y: Baltimore sports grab bag with Kevin Cowherd

Blogger and reporter Matt Vensel and columnist Kevin Cowherd answer reader questions on the Ravens, the Orioles and Cowherd's athletic prowess in high school.

Leadership is a theme in Ravens' 2013 draft class

I couldn’t help but notice a trend with Baltimore’s 2013 draft class, especially because Ravens officials made a point to mention to reporters that both of their second-day picks were “red-star” players on their draft board.

Adam Jones' adventures in the O's outfield continues

It’s not the bubble-gum chewing – let’s get that out of the way first. He’s been chewing gum and blowing bubbles during games since he was a little kid.

Aaron Mellette looking to make big leap to the NFL

The Ravens waited until the seventh round to draft Elon wide receiver Aaron Mellette on Saturday evening.

Roberto Alomar says Orioles 'are on the right track'

A couple of hours after it was announced that Roberto Alomar would be inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame, the former Orioles second baseman hopped on a conference call at noon Wednesday to talk about the honor.

Five Baltimore Orioles stats that stand out this week

Each Wednesday, blogger Matt Vensel will highlight five statistics that really mean something for the Orioles.