David Steele // Points After

*Back in May, it was hard to get many people to buy into the idea that the Preakness' sharp decline in attendance and handle - despite the presence of Big Brown - was a bad omen. Magna Entertainment Corp.'s report of a huge deficit that quarter pretty much proves the point.

*Early favorites for Ravens Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Stover, Yamon Figurs and Fabian Washington.

*Good thing nobody in the Orioles' front office said, "Adam Jones is set in center field, so let's go see what we can get for Jay Payton."

*As seamlessly as Antwan Barnes fit into the defense in the exhibition opener, it wasn't such a seamless fit that the Ravens can live without Terrell Suggs.

*Steroids, nah, no big hurry. But don't get in Bud Selig's way when it's time to investigate whether Manny Ramirez ran out ground balls hard enough.