Coffee Companion -- 5/24: Dan Klein, Ray Lewis and more

Each morning, Monday through Friday, I'll hook you up with reading material to skim through as you slug down coffee and slack off at the start of your workday -- that way I'll have an excuse to do the same at the start of mine.  

Running it back:

Orioles top pitching prospect Dan Klein is a fast riser, but whether he is a reliever or a starter hasn't been decided. ... Orioles second base prospect LJ Hoes was promoted from Single-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie on Monday. ... A select group of Ravens -- primarily offensive skill players -- will gather at Towson on Tuesday for the first of three straight days of conditioning drills. ... Shackleford wasn't the only big winner at the Preakness. ... Navy hired Penn State's Ed DeChellis as its men's basketball coach.  

Hitting the links:

1. Dan Klein has gotten off to a great start in the minors [MASN]

2. Here's a scout’s take on Adam Jones, Vlad Guerrero, Jeremy Guthrie, Nick Markakis and Chris Tillman [Orioles Insider]

3. A hypothetical lineup shuffle [Camden Chat]

4. Baltimore and Washington are worlds apart in sports rivalries [Washington Times]

5. Surveyed coaches, players think Ray Lewis' comments are far-fetched [CBS Sports]

6. Can Lewis help end the lockout? [ESPN]

7. Is Torrey Smith more than a vertical threat? [Ravens.com]

8. Ravens nemesis Hines Ward discovers a new fan base while "Dancing with the Stars" [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

9. The Derek Boogaard case hits home for Ravens center Matt Birk [Pioneer Press]

10. Mark Turgeon needs to build a wall around D.C. [ESPN]

11. Jay Bilas thinks Turgeon is one of the most underappreciated coaches in the country [ESPN]

12. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis on radio, blogs and Twitter [D.C. Sports Bog]

You said it:

"A mere amateur. Armadillos and wrestling and dead animals is all Beck can bring to the show? I give you -- drumroll, please -- Mr. Luke Scott! Yep, a bible and a gun in his locker. At the same time! A birther??! C'mon, this is all-star stuff." -- reader Fanger believes that Redskins cult hero John Beck has got nothing on Luke Scott

Video of the morning:

Cam Newton sings Justin Bieber

Send me your funny and/or interesting links, photos, YouTube videos, blogs, Tweets, comments, emails, ideas, etc. If I deem them to be worthy for the blog, I’ll give you a plug. You can reach me at [e-mail] and twitter.com/mattvensel.