Welcome to the second edition of the BSR Weekend Discussion. Here, we’ll pose a question, and all readers are urged to comment with their opinions. If a commenter wants to change the topic a bit to address something else pertinent, that is perfectly fine. Think of this as a free-flowing discussion/thread, and be sure to continue to check back all weekend.
This weekend’s question: Are you concerned about the Ravens’ chances in 2011 after watching their performance in Thursday night’s game against the Eagles?
Bonus Question**: Do you think Andy MacPhail deserves a new contract with the Orioles?
**Don’t feel pressured to answer one or another, just wanted to throw this one in for the O’s fans who are getting a little bit tired of all the Ravens coverage that’s been forced down their throats recently.
Revisit last weekend’s discussion: The BSR Weekend Discussion (8/6/11)
I’ll start it off.
I think the Ravens will be fine, the first game of the preseason is hardly a good measure of a team’s success. I do think that the front office realized some gaping holes, however, and needs to work to address them. By getting Lee Evans today, the need for a complement to Anquan Boldin was addressed. Next, the team needs to pick up either more help on the offensive line, or a veteran backup quarterback.
As for MacPhail, I applaud his efforts with the O’s, and he pulled off a couple great deals (Bedard to Seattle, Tejada to Houston), but it’s time for him to leave. For whatever reason, his regime has not been able to get quality veteran talent into Baltimore (can’t fully be blamed on MacPhail), and they haven’t been able to get their talented young pitchers (Britton, Matusz, Tillman, Arrieta, Patton, etc.) to adjust to the MLB level quickly enough for the team have a strong pitching rotation. While I don’t think MacPhail returning would put the O’s in horrible shape, I think there are better options out there.
-E
It’s so tough to judge the season by a team’s performance in a preseason game. If I weren’t lazy on this Saturday morning, I would pull up some stat about a Super Bowl winning team in a recent season that had a bad preseason record. Trust me though it happens.
With that said, I think this game did expose some of the holes that the Ravens have. Torrey Smith looked over matched, but now Lee Evans will take some of the weight off his shoulders. The offensive line can’t pass block and they need some sort of solution. That’s what I’m most concerned with this season.
Gotta give the Ravens their due, they see a problem area, they address it. Evans is a definite upgrade over Mason. The o line should be the next area addressed.
As for Andy, it’s sad to think about starting over again, but it looks like it may be the right thing to do.
Is it strange that I hope Andy Mac returns? I know this season is a mess, but I would rather have the consistency than think that this team has to start from scratch AGAIN.
They are consistent , consistently bad…….
I have some serious concerns about Andy’s abilities to appropriately value, acquire and develop players in comparison to his AL East counterparts. I realize there is a strong argument to be made for the “devil we know” but at this point I’d be willing to take a stab for a younger more progressive GM with the type of pedigree we have seen in Toronto and Tampa.
I’m with Ross.