1. Manny Machado named Gold Glove finalist.
It’s been a while since we’ve gotten some good Orioles news, so we were stoked to hear that third baseman Manny Machado was named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award. In his category, Machado is up against the Rangers’ Adrian Beltre and Rays’ Evan Longoria—some pretty stiff competition. This, of course, isn’t Machado’s first rodeo, as he won both the Gold and Platinum gloves in 2013, but didn’t qualify last year due to the games he missed after his knee injury. Though ironically Machado committed a career-high 21 errors this season, he did lead the AL third basemen in with a 3.09 range factor (the average number of putouts and assists per inning). Suspiciously absent from the GG list this year is centerfielder (and four-time winner) Adam Jones, who unfortunately had to compete with studs like the Angels’ Mike Trout, Blue Jays’ Kevin Pillar, and Tampa Bays’ Kevin Kiermaier. Winners will be announced November 10 and we think Machado, who tends to make impossible plays look easy, has a pretty good shot.
2. Steve Smith Sr. gives refs a bad Yelp review.
Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. loves the Internet. We’ve commented in this column before about how his tweets go viral and, in that same vein, he mentioned new technology after Monday night’s 26-18 loss against the Arizona Cardinals, which was filled with debatable calls. Addressing media in the locker room, Smith said, “Well, everybody has that app Yelp and you have reviews. Two stars, that’s what I would review this one on my Yelp. Two stars.” The receiver was referring to calls that went against the Ravens that night, like an illegal formation after John Urschel declared himself eligible. Needless to say, if the refs were a restaurant, they’d need some help drumming up business.
3. Justin Tucker shows off for Rick Reilly.
We could have already told ESPN this, but keeping up with Justin Tucker and his high-energy collection of talents is nearly impossible. Famed sports writer Rick Reilly learned that first-hand when he joined the kicker in Baltimore. Tucker feverishly showed off his operatic voice, his impressions of George W. Bush and Christopher Walken, his acoustic guitar skills, and the fact that he can kick anything (including a beach ball and a loaf of challah bread) through the uprights. In the video, his wife Amanda admits that his talent stops at folding laundry. But we were most impressed at the end when Tucker surprised us with an uncanny impersonation of former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.
4. Melo Trimble named to Sports Illustrated‘s All-American team.
Terps point guard Melo Trimble made Sports Illustrated‘s second All-American team, which is a prestigious preseason ranking of college basketball players. Trimble was the youngest player selected to be on his “team” and SI had this to say about the sophomore: “The local star recruit wasted little time justifying the hype, averaging 16.2 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 41.2 percent from three and 86.3 percent from the line. For a follow-up, he’ll be asked to helm a Maryland team with the highest expectations the program has seen since its 2002 national title.” We’re not sure about you, but that makes us awfully excited for the start of Maryland basketball season, which begins on November 13 against St. Mary’s.
5. Michael Phelps is a human selfie-stick.
Not that this should surprise everyone, but local Olympian Michael Phelps does not need any props to take that perfect self-portrait on Instagram. This was clearly evident when he posted a photo of him and fiance Nicole Johnson while they were vacationing in Cabo. His arm almost looks super-human, adding to Phelps’ gold-studded list of accomplishments the title of human selfie-stick.