What the Jaire Alexander Signing Means
As I began to write this column, news broke that the Ravens signed former Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander to a one-year deal. Lamar Jackson and Alexander were college roomates, and both came out in the 2018 draft. This week, a reporter asked Jackson about whether he’d used that shared history to bring Alexander to Baltimore. Jackson’s response: “Go get him, Eric [DeCosta, the Ravens’ general manager].” But little did we know, Alexander was more than likely in the area already. As the news rolled out regarding the agreement, pictures of Alexander signing the contract had already been posted to the Ravens’ social media accounts. Typically, it takes a player a day or two to get to the team facilities, but the timing of the Ravens’ social media posts suggests that plans were in the works before Lamar was at the podium. There are a lot of sneaky people in the 21117, I tell ya!
What this signing says to me is that DeCosta wants to give this team the resources they need to score a Super Bowl win. DeCosta has had several solid wins this offseason, including re-signing offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, extending wide receiver Rashod Bateman, signing wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, drafting outside linebacker Mike Green in the second round of the NFL Draft when many saw him as a top 15 pick, and now, securing Alexander.
Some will argue that Alexander’s health is a major concern, and it is. He’s only played in 14 games the last two seasons, and has only played one entire season since 2021. His history poses a risk, and is largely the reason why the Packers let him walk. He missed so many games that the team basically moved on without him. But when Alexander is healthy, he’s one of the better corners of the entire league. He’s being added to an already loaded secondary that includes Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, and 2025 first-round pick Malaki Starks. DeCosta is doing what he can to make sure there are very few excuses as to why the Ravens aren’t Super Bowl champions. And if they don’t chip, it won’t be on him. The crazy part is, he may not even be done yet.
The Orioles Are…Back?
Don’t look now, but the Orioles are playing good baseball at this very moment. They’ve won 10 of their last 14 games as of June 18, and are getting healthy at the right time. Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser’s returns have helped ignite this once-stagnant offense, and the O’s now look like the team we thought we’d see at the beginning of the season. Gunnar Henderson is getting hot, and Ryan O’Hearn continues to be a force in this lineup. On May 31, the Orioles’ pitching staff had the fifth-worst ERA (earned run average). Since then, they have had the fifth-best ERA. How much of this improvement is about getting healthy vs. firing Hyde? Well, maybe both things can be true. While players had heartfelt responses to Hyde’s recent firing, they seem to have cleaned up quite well under interim manager Tony Mansolino. One of the first things Mansolino did that I felt was necessary was to announce that Jackson Holliday would be in the lineup essentially every day, barring a day off or an injury. The team seems to be more aggressive about stealing bases, as well as their at-bats, by swinging more at first pitches. Even Adley Rutschman has improved a bit with catching steals. (I want him out of that two-spot, though.) For now, this team is having fun and regaining its swagger. Is it too late to contend for a wild-card spot in the long run? Never say never. We’ve seen other teams fire their managers and make it to the World Series, so why not Baltimore? I’m not yet ready to drive around blasting the “Orioles Magic” song. But for now, things look promising. Which leads to my next question…
Should the Orioles Buy, Sell, or Squat?
The Orioles have some decisions to make in the next several weeks. Do they trade away valuable hitters like Cedric Mullins and Ryan O’Hearn to prepare for 2025 and beyond, or do they add to the roster in hopes of a big comeback? Or…do they let the cards fall where they may? I don’t think the last option is feasible for either side of the coin. You either have to make a push for now, which means you’re becoming buyers, or you have to sell, consider this season out of reach, and prepare yourself for the future. The current roster is responsible for a slow, bad start to the season. And while injuries have definitely played a role in that, the team still has its share of issues, even at full health. Charlie Morton has pitched better since his agonizing start and demotion, but this still doesn’t replace the loss of Corbin Burnes. Grayson Rodriguez may not return until the second half of the season, Cade Povich is dealing with an injury but never really consistently looked like an MLB starter, and the bullpen has been taxed often this year. Add the fact that Zach Eflin may be on the trading block as well, and the pitching picture looks very…blah. The Orioles are going to have to make some hard decisions, and winning games lately has just made things harder. As the saying goes, no pressure, no diamonds. Hopefully they’ll make the right decision.
Angel Reese Capitalizing Off the Trolls
One of my favorite stories of the week comes from Baltimore’s own Angel Reese. Last season, the Chicago Sky forward set the single-season record in rebounds. But critics and pundits mentioned that a good amount of those rebounds were in fact, her own missed shots. In came more of the same jokes this year, with social media users claiming that the rising star is mostly getting “Mebounds.” Reese heard the chatter and decided to trademark the term to monetize it. I absolutely love this for two reasons. 1. Reframing what was meant to be an insult as a tool for good publicity is genius. And 2. This shows people that posting mean-spirited jabs to gain internet clout is bad practice.
Bravo, Angel. And send me a shirt!