The Loss Column — Baltimore Sports Blog and Community

Sorry to everyone who tried to access the site last night/this morning. Something weird was/is happening with my host and we had some ugly downtime. Things appear to be working for now, though, so hopefully it’s in the past. I’m waiting and seeing on that.

Stay tuned later today for the latest installment of the Sports Media Approval Ratings. It’s gonna be a doozy…

I believe I’ve sort of hinted around this in the comments, but here’s the official announcement: I’ll be in semi-exile at the Outer Banks for the next week. Internet access will be sporadically available and I’m sure I’ll check in and maybe put up a post or two, but for the most part I won’t be around nearly as much as normal.

The site will rest in the capable hands of Dan the Man, who will handle putting up some open threads, perhaps putting up a regular post or two if he feels like it, and generally steering the conversation and whatnot.

The only downside to this — besides the money I’ll be spending — is that I’m going to miss Wild Bill Hagy night. I will be there with you guys in spirit, though, and I sincerely hope there’s some kind of quasi-organized Loss Column presence. If there is, feel free to take/post some photos.

Have fun, folks…talk to you soon.

This might be a little fractured, but it’s all of the things (minus the stuff I’m certainly going to forget) that need to be addressed on this heat-of-a-thousand-suns Sunday morning.

First, the Dew Tour has been mentioned in the comments a couple of times and I’ve been meaning to get to that. The bad news is that I’ll be out of town (check yr email, DtM) and won’t be able to go this year. The good news, though, is that I’m sending photographer Andrew Nagl on behalf of the Loss Column. He’ll be taking some pics for the site and writing up a rundown of what it was like.

For anyone who’s thinking about going, do it! The Dew Tour was one of the best sporting events I’ve been to in years, and it’s impossible to understand the things these guys do until you see it in person. I recommend it without reservations and I’m bummed as hell that I won’t be able to make it.

Also, if you go, show the love for Bucky Lasek.

Second, I’ve seen a few new names in the comments lately and I want to say “welcome.” Here’s hoping everyone sticks around and helps make the community even stronger.

Third, I’ll be a guest tonight on a podcast produced by the folks at Drunk Jays Fans. The actual interview is tonight, and there’s a link right on their page to where you can get the audio. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Finally, could it be? Are we on the verge of sweeping said Jays on the road? I refuse to get excited about it because road sweeps are hard to come by. But, it’s nice to be in that position now and then.

It’ll be Radhames Liz looking to follow up a strong debut (and cement his rotation spot) against Roy Halladay.

Like I said, road sweeps are hard to come by.

EDIT: I knew I’d forget something, and I’m a true dumbass for this: rest in peace, Jim McKay.

McKay was before my time but his name towered over the world of sports broadcasting, much like Walter Cronkite’s does over the news. And McKay’s work at the Munich Games might forever stand as the best ever.

In a rush but here it is. Brian Burres — who desperately needs a solid start — leads the birds into Toronto against Shaun Marcum.

.500 remains in reach…

So a couple of days ago I mentioned something new I was going to be adding to the site. Here it is: the Baltimore Sports Media Approval Ratings.

Those of you who read Deadspin are already familiar with this concept. When I first saw it there I didn’t think much other than “great idea.” Then it got picked up with a local (DC) angle by Dan Steinberg at the DC Sports Bog. I saw it there a few times and thought, “why can’t we do that here?”

My only hesitation is that things like this tend to work best on sites with blazing traffic numbers. After all, if we get, like, ten votes per poll then it’s not going to be much fun. I don’t know what to expect in that regard, but I figure it’s at least worth a shot.

The first poll will go up Monday, featuring MASN’s own Amber Theoharis. It’ll be a simple “yea” or “nay” proposition, with open comments (as always) for discussion.

I’ll do at least two or three of these and we’ll see how it goes. My definition of success will be (a) we get a decent amount of votes, and (b) the comments are fun but respectful and clean. I think those are pretty reasonable expectations, right?

Give me your initial thoughts on the idea in the comments, if you’re so inclined.

Sorry for the lateness on this one — I just got home. Right now it’s 2-0 Boston in the first (ugh) as Daniel Cabrera takes on Josh Beckett.

As I said to the Ungers on Tuesday: if you’re going to be down to the Red Sox, better to get it out of the way in the first inning.

Go O’s…

I kind of took the weekend off from Loss Column-related matters so that I could attend to playing Wii and having a cookout. I think I needed the refresher.

It helped remind me that I can’t — shouldn’t — focus too exclusively on Orioles-related matters here. They’re the biggest thing going, but Baltimore sports is still about more than that. Even in May.

So, first, the good: major props to the Johns Hopkins men’s lacrosse team, which took down the hated Duke Blue Devils on Saturday in the semifinals of the NCAA Division I championships. Nobody seemed to think this was possible — every knowledgeable commentator I’ve read/heard ranks it as an impressive upset. That the Blue Jays subsequently lost to Syracuse in the finals does nothing to diminish the accomplishment. Whenever a team from Maryland takes down Duke — at any time, in any sport — it’s a victory for us all.

Not only that, but the Blue Jays’ baseball team is battling for a national title at this very moment. I’ll try to remember to dig up and post the results.

Now, on to Gary Williams and his Terps, who chose Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend (they’re pros, after all) to drop the news that troubled-but-talented recruit Tyree Evans has asked out of his commitment and won’t be attending College Park.

For those of you who haven’t followed the Evans story, the gist of it is: Gary wanted to bring him in despite a rather checkered past, and Debbie Yow wasn’t quite on board (or even aware). Know-it-all media types started getting angry, and the whole thing went to hell.

The reaction to Evans’ withdrawal has been predictable enough. Lots of “they never should have gone after him to begin with” and “this is a stain on the Maryland program” and yadda yadda. Lots of armchair moralizing, in other words, from the same people who call for firings when the team fails to make the field of 64.

But here’s the truth: Gary didn’t do anything wrong, and neither he nor the program should be raked over the coals.

Evans is a talented player — on this even his detractors agree — who would have helped breathe life into Maryland Basketball. His JuCo coach vouched for his commitment, and his legal troubles are all at least as old as 2006. The kid looked at Maryland and saw a chance to redeem himself, and Gary was willing to give it to him. Yes, it was a risk. Maybe even a bad idea. But a stain on the program? A shameful episode?

Nonsense.

The action’s in the comments as we look to take two of three on the road from the hated Janquis. Brian Burres — he of the surprising and admirable consistency — takes the mound against Ian Kennedy — he of the great hype and promise.

I’ll actually be settling in with a friend to watch all of this one, so I’m sure I’ll have plenty of thoughts (probably once it’s over).

This is a big one, after all. Let’s have at it.