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.

Bryant McKinnie won't need to be NFL's best tackle

Ravens offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie raised eyebrows -- well, he at least raised mine -- last week when he said that his goal for the season is to be “the best left tackle in the league.”

Orioles getting by without much pop at second base

When it comes to second basemen, few teams are getting less offensive production in 2013 than the Orioles.

Live Ravens chat with reporter Matt Vensel at noon

Baltimore Sun reporter and blogger Matt Vensel takes your Ravens questions in Tuesday's live chat.

Manny Machado is keeping number-crunchers busy

With 19 days remaining until Manny Machado’s 21st birthday, Elias Sports Bureau and its number-crunching competitors are running out of time to come up with age-20 stats for the Orioles’ prodigious third baseman.

The Ravens are sitting pretty after spring workouts

After last week’s three-day mandatory minicamp, Ravens players and coaches have gone their separate ways.

Another start, another opportunity for Jake Arrieta

Jake Arrieta is getting the start tonight in Detroit and another chance to prove he belongs in the major leagues.

Orioles fans came up big for Red Sox series

Take a bow, Orioles fans. You deserve it for what you're doing for this team.

The Sun Remembers: June 16-22

June 22, 1996: Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Orioles hit three home runs to defeat the Kansas City Royals, 5-3. Rafael Palmeiro, Bobby Bonilla and Mark Smith connect for the second-place Birds (39-31).

Five for Friday: Ravens who impressed most at minicamp

The Ravens wrapped up spring workouts with this week's three-day mandatory minicamp, their tired players letting out a loud cheer Thursday when school was let out for the summer. It looked to be a productive spring for the team, and several players stood out in a positive way, particularly during minicamp. In this week's Five for Friday, blogger and reporter Matt Vensel lists the five Ravens players who impressed most this week.

Rookie Matt Elam stands out from minicamp crowd

There is a lot to take in when 80 or more players are competing at different stations at a three-day mandatory minicamp, though some of my colleagues in the media may argue that there really isn't much worth watching.

LaMarr Woodley won't recant Joe Flacco comment

Remember a couple of summers ago when Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said on national television that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco would never win a Super Bowl “in this lifetime?”

Right Back @ You: Vensel and Zrebiec talk Ravens

Orioles put struggling Strop in a tough situation

The Orioles are stuck with a struggling Pedro Strop for now.

Stats show Graham was among the NFL's best CBs

Corey Graham was the most effective Ravens cornerback after injuries to Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith pushed him into the starting lineup in 2012. In fact, Graham was actually one of the NFL’s most effective, too.

Ex-Towson guard Gary Neal an unlikely hero for Spurs

If you were going to guess the two San Antonio Spurs that outscored LeBron James in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, it would be easy, right?

Haloti Ngata stuck in the middle is ideal for Ravens

The difference between lining up over left tackle and the left shoulder of the left guard may not seem vast, but Haloti Ngata admits he felt lost in space when asked to play the five-technique defensive end position in 2012.

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.

Talking Terps with Dave Tucker of Testudo Times

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 Dave Tucker, who blogs about the Terps for Testudo Times.

How many Orioles are headed to the All-Star Game?

It appears the Midsummer Classic is finally back to being must-watch television for baseball fans in Baltimore.

Thoughts on JaMarcus and the Ravens (potentially)

Could JaMarcus Russell, he of purple drank fame, soon be vying for a chance to throw passes in purple?

Where did the Ravens rank in rookie snap counts?

Last season, the Ravens got meaningful contributions from a few rookies, including second-round draft picks Courtney Upshaw and Kelechi Osemele. But where did they rank in terms of snaps played by first-year players?

Inconsistent O's starters show signs of improvement

The Baltimore bats haven’t exactly been completely muted by opposing pitchers, but there have been some quiet nights the past couple of weeks for the Orioles, who boast one of the best offenses in the major leagues.

Dr. J documentary to bring back memories of greatness

Julius Erving, the great "Dr. J," had the biggest hand of any athlete I've ever shook hands with. If you care about these things, Michael Jordan was No. 2 on that list. And John Unitas, the iconic Baltimore Colts quarterback, was No. 3.

The Sun Remembers: June 9-15

June 12, 1993: A 10-game winning streak, their longest in six years, lifts the Orioles over .500 for the first time. Paul Carey gets three hits as the Birds score four runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 5-1.

Patience paying off for Orioles slugger Chris Davis

We are all aware of the kind of damage Chris Davis is capable of when a pitcher puts a pitch in the strike zone.

Five for Friday: Worst Super Bowl hangovers

On Wednesday, the Ravens visited the White House, and Friday night, they will get their Super Bowl rings -- an exciting celebratory week for the NFL champions. The party will then be over, though, and the Ravens must avoid a Super Bowl hangover in the coming months. The majority of Super Bowl champions (32 of 46) were able to make it back to the playoffs, and a handful of teams have repeated. But for some, the following season turned out to be a major headache. In this week's Five for Friday, Matt Vensel lists five of the worst Super Bowl hangovers.

Right Back @ You: Vensel and Wilson on the Ravens

LFL's Baltimore Charm open home schedule Saturday

During the week, one is a chemical engineer. One is a nutritional consultant. Another is a police sergeant in Baltimore City. But on weekends, they play for the Baltimore Charm of the Legends Football League (formerly the Lingerie Football League).

Ravens safeties Huff, Elam could be interchangeable

During his 11 years in Baltimore, Ed Reed stalked center field for the Ravens. His ability to read quarterbacks, cover lots of ground quickly, and pick off passes made him the most feared single-high safety in NFL history.