Nationals game has technical difficulties, Nationals fans blame Peter Angelos

MASN was trending nationwide Saturday night on Twitter. That's not significant in itself: It trailed, among other topics, "Good Deeds," an unremarkable 2012 film, and "The Devil Wears Prada," a more remarkable 2006 film, if only because it is a movie starring Adrien Grenier that doesn't reek.

With Chris Davis on the bench, his alter-ego action figure takes over Camden Yards

Superheros have tragic flaws. On the day Chris Davis was to become immortalized as one at Camden Yards, his was a team-worst .196 batting average and persistent flu bug.

Former Raven Cary Williams said Patriots are 'cheaters'

Former Ravens cornerback Cary Williams didn’t leave his disdain for the New England Patriots here in Baltimore when he drove up I-95 and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Former Maryland LB Darin Drakeford trying out for Jets, source says

Former Maryland linebacker Darin Drakeford is trying out for the New York Jets today, according to a source.

Five players the Orioles will regret not trading for come October

We almost did this week's Five for Friday on five teams that improved more than the Orioles did at the trade deadline, but that would have been hard to narrow down to just five. Andrew Miller is a solid acquisition, but Oakland and Detroit -- teams the Orioles have proven they can keep up with this year -- made huge moves and probably solidified their spots as the two top teams in the league. This week's Five for Friday presents five players the Orioles could have acquired yesterday to bolster their chances in the American League. -- Jon Meoli

Coffee Companion (8/31): Injury bug hits Ravens on eve of Rice comments

Today is going to be crazy, with Ray Rice on the podium, but yesterday was kind of wild too. Here's what happened, courtesy of the Coffee Companion, where we recap the previous day's sports headlines.

Baseball Hall of Fame rule changes could hurt Mike Mussina 

The Baseball Hall of Fame reduced the number of years a player can remain on the ballot from 15 years to 10 last weekend.

Coffee Companion (7/30): Machado walks off in 12th

I just saw a commercial for pulled pork pizza from Papa John's. Can anyone confirm whether that is worth eating? I feel like it's a great idea, but the execution needs to be there. In return for your assistance, I will compile the day's local sports headlines in the Coffee Companion, as I do most days but did not do yesterday.

Worst trades in Baltimore sports history

[Editor's note: With baseball's non-waiver trade deadline arriving Thursday afternoon, The Baltimore Sun has ranked the 10 best and 10 worst deals in Baltimore sports history. The best trades can be found here.] What were the Ravens thinking? That was the overwhelming reaction of fans after the team sent Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers in March 2013 for a sixth-round choice in the NFL draft. A game and gutsy wide receiver, Boldin was the Ravens' favorite target in 2012 and caught six passes (one a touchdown) in their Super Bowl victory over the 49ers. His reward? A proposed pay cut, which Boldin nixed. So on the trading block he went. Albeit a move to help the team stay under the salary cap, it ranks in hindsight as one of the worst deals in Baltimore sports history. Minus Boldin, the Ravens' offense sputtered last year and the team missed the playoffs. Worse, Ravens fans watched as the 11-year veteran carried the 49ers to the NFC championship game, where his five receptions -- including a touchdown -- led San Francisco in a losing cause. Still, the Boldin trade isn't nearly the most one-sided in Baltimore's long sports history. Here are the 10 worst trades made by area teams, as ranked by The Baltimore Sun. (Text by Mike Klingaman.)

Best trades in Baltimore sports history

[Editor's note: With baseball's non-waiver trade deadline approaching Thursday afternoon, The Baltimore Sun has ranked the 10 best and 10 worst deals in Baltimore sports history. The worst trades will appear tomorrow.] Having made dozens of trades in more than 25 years as a baseball executive, Andy MacPhail is resigned to this fact: "One moment you can be a genius and the next, an idiot." Like most of his peers, MacPhail has been called both. But after engineering a deal, the man who served as the Orioles president of baseball operations from 2007 to 2011 said he seldom looks back. "You're not impervious to criticism, but you can't waste energy worrying what fans think," he said. "A trade that looks good initially may not be, over time. And there will always be people to pass judgment five years after the fact." It has been more than six years since MacPhail traded Orioles starting pitcher Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners for five players, including four-time All-Star outfielder Adam Jones and pitcher Chris Tillman, an All-Star in 2013. It was one of the most successful deals in Baltimore sports history, along with the one MacPhail swung with the Texas Rangers for slugger Chris Davis less than three years later. Looking back at the Jones trade, MacPhail said: "There was so much uncertainty about that trade. As well-known as Adam was, he still hadn't done it at the major league level. All you can do is look in the mirror and know that you've crossed all your t's and dotted your i's and gotten as much information to ensure that a trade will work out. Either way, you've got to live with it." Here are the 10 best trades in Baltimore sports history, as selected by The Baltimore Sun. (Text by Mike Klingaman.)

Steve Smith, Joe Flacco getting on same page with Starbucks bets 

Sports Illustrated's Peter King, who is touring NFL training camp sites in a neat little RV with his MMQB crew, had an interesting nugget from Ravens camp in his column this morning.

Coffee Companion (7/28): Ravens get in rhythm ahead of stadium practice

My Coffee Companion right now as I write this Coffee Companion is The Godfather. I think it's fair to say that mine is better than yours, especially if yours is reading this Coffee Companion. All I do is recap the previous day's sports headlines. Francis Ford Coppola made a masterpiece.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith apologizes on Twitter after Ray Rice comments 

Five for Friday: Positions where depth is an issue for Ravens 

A healthy squad for the Ravens means we get a full view of the team's roster, and thus, depth at the start of training camp. With different units rotating in and out of practice, it's clear to see where the Ravens would experience the biggest downgrade if second- or third-teamers were suddenly forced into the lineup. This week's Five for Friday hits on five positions where the Ravens might not feel wonderful about their depth entering training camp. -- Jon Meoli, The Baltimore Sun

Coffee Companion (7/24): Ray Rice suspension loomed large over first day of camp

Well, that was a weird first day of camp. A typically exciting occasion was played under clouds overhead, literally and figuratively, and the action on the field was almost an afterthought. I expect that, and the lack of oppressive heat, will change soon enough. Learn about everything that went down in the Coffee Companion, where we recap the previous day's sports headlines.

Kevin Gausman topped Toronto's top young arm in donut-eating contest

Kevin Gausman’s predilection for miniature powdered donuts was part of his legend long before he arrived in Baltimore. He ate them regularly before every game, and Adam Jones famously filled his locker with them during his first spring training.

What they're saying about Ray Rice's two-game suspension 

The Internet — that living, breathing mob of opinion that builds on itself and creates consensus in a matter of moments — was true to form Thursday morning, and didn't leave much nuance in relation to Ravens running back Ray Rice's two-game suspension.

It's not hard to understand Browns fan's passion, however misguided 

When I was growing up, my grandpops sometimes took me for lunch at John Unitas’ Golden Arm restaurant out on York Road.

Coffee Companion (7/24): Orioles lose, veterans arrive for Ravens camp

Your regular blogger got stuck in traffic this morning on his way to Ravens Training Camp, so he didn't have time to read about what happened in the local sports world yesterday. Lucky for you, that's why we write the Coffee Companion, which recaps the previous day's headlines.

Urination on Art Modell's grave 'disappointing and disrespectful,' cemetery says 

Baltimore County police are investigating an incident in which a man in a Cleveland Browns jersey videotaped himself urinating on former Ravens owner Art Modell’s grave, a spokeswoman said.

Orioles' midseason top 10 prospects 

With the MLB trade deadline approaching (and Ravens training camp, which will pull me away from minor league parks for the rest of the summer), now is as good a time as any to provide you with a snapshot of the Orioles minor league system. This list was compiled with multiple looks at each player, plus conversations with industry sources who have seen the Orioles system. Players are ranked not only on their potential, but the realistic impact they can have at the major league level.

Coffee Companion (7/23): Orioles win out west again

One of the problems with West Coast games is not knowing what happened before the morning. I thought I was in some kind of twilight zone with another 4-2 win, but they did it again. Read that and the rest of the morning headlines in the Coffee Companion, where we recap the daily sports headlines.

Bud Norris fired up after Mike Trout strikeout 

Coffee Companion (7/22): Jones homers twice for Orioles

I'm proud to say that I fell asleep before the Orioles game started last night. What did I miss? Well, I'm glad I get to find out every morning writing the Coffee Companion, where we recap the previous day's sports headlines.

Ex-Terp Darrius Heyward-Bey excited about Steelers opportunity

Since former Maryland standout wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders, he's had to start over a few times.

Orioles look to replicate past success out west

The Orioles' series loss in Oakland this week kicked off the season's most treacherous road trip in disappointing fashion.

John Harbaugh voices over commercial featuring mini statue of himself 

There hasn’t been much to laugh at regarding the Ravens this offseason (unless you practice schadenfreude or are a Steelers fan, or perhaps both), but I didn’t expect it to be coach John Harbaugh who gave us something to chuckle at heading into training camp.

Lil John Harbaugh statue video

Coffee Companion (7/21): Ravens prepare to open training camp

It's a pretty tough bid to have the Orioles go to the West Coast right after the break. We know they're playing, but it's not the same as sitting down at 7 and watching them every night. Oh well. At least it was a nice weekend. Here's the Coffee Companion, where we recap the previous day's sports headlines.

Dominant storylines of Ravens training camp

It's finally here. (Can we say "finally"?) I guess the week without baseball has stoked this Blitz blogger's need for sports so badly that I mean it when I say training camp is finally here. The boys can strap up and hit each other, meaning John Harbaugh won't be able to say he can't judge the defense yet. But that's not the only question that can be answered. With just a handful of days left before the Ravens begin training camp for the 2014 season, this week's Five for Friday features five dominant storylines you won't stop hearing about this summer. -- Jon Meoli