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MANIFESTO - Your Letters: |
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Your Letters - This is a section just for YOU, the fans of the Baltimore Orioles! Send us your memories, opinions, stories and input about how you feel about the Orioles, Angelos...whatever you want. Let your voice be heard! It is a clean an open forum for disgruntled vent and opine. Send your heartfelt letters to nasty@wnst.net. Here's are some of the submissions we've received: |
Nestor,
First off, I wanted to say thank you for organizing the WNST “Free the Birds” rally. It was the best time that I’ve personally had at “the Yard” since the Orioles were in the playoffs during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. The crowd was great, as they cheered when we scored a run and they booed every time the Tigers got a hit or when the ump ‘missed a call’. For me, it brought back memories of what it was like to go to Memorial Stadium when I was a kid. I actually had chills go through me when the fans chanted O-R-I-O-L-E-S. I remembered the days of Earl Weaver, Wild Bill Hagy, and Doug DeCinces (my favorite all-time Oriole) while taking in the game. I honestly felt like a kid again.
I wanted to drop you this e-mail to let you know that I was fired from my part-time job with the Baltimore Orioles because I attended the WNST “Free the Birds” rally. I wasn’t working that day and I have always been an “Orioles’ fan first” and an “Orioles’ employee second”. I, like many Orioles’ fans, have been frustrated with the way the team has been run over the years and I, like you, was hoping to send a “peaceful message” to team management that fans still do care about this team. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Orioles and I only want…what all of us want…a winning team. I thought this rally was something that I HAD to be a part of. I did what I knew in my heart was right and I stood up for what I believed in…and they fired me for it.
There were many employees who wanted to attend the rally but I was one of five employees who actually did. Unfortunately I was the only one who lost their job (I don’t think the other four were seen at the event). The worse part was that I was never informed that I lost my job. I actually showed up to play our Orioles’ Championship softball game on Saturday (10/14) at Camden Yards and that was when I was told that I was no longer an employee of the team…and that I could not participate in the softball game.
No one ever called me into the office, they didn’t leave a message on my answering machine, or even drop me an e-mail. In fact, they sent me alternate directions (some roads were closed for the Marathon on Saturday) and a parking pass the day BEFORE the game. I drove over half an hour to get to Camden Yards and then after warming up for another half an hour (in plan view--mind you) I was approached and told that I could not participate in the game.
I was stunned. This was the one thing that I had been looking forward to all year and they took it away from me. I figured that if I were caught, I would face a suspension for my actions but I didn’t think it would turn out this way. I guess (in my mind) I likened it to a union strike where I (an employee of the team) could show my frustration with ownership and voice my opinion, which is my First Amendment right, but apparently “Uncle Pete” didn’t see it that way.
I can honestly say that if I had the choice to do it all over again, I would have made the same decision and I still would have attended the rally. The 1,000+ fans that showed up for the rally are the “true fans” that have been sorely missing from our park for far too long. The sad part is the ticket geeks in the front office felt that 2,153,250 fans was “an acceptable number” based on all the problems the team has had in the past year (Palmeiro, Sosa, Tejada, Segui, etc). The thing they don’t get is that the attendance is a lot worse then in appears. Those stats are inflated by Yankee and Red Sox fans who buy up our tickets every year and who help “pad” those numbers. As an employee it was embarrassing to work certain games as there were more fans rooting for the away team for alot of our home games.
All in all, I’m going to miss working the Orioles’ games. I have a degree in Sport Management and I wanted to move up through the Orioles' organization, but I think this firing will be my permanent ticket out of baseball, as the O’s HR department isn’t going to help me find a new baseball job any time soon. I am a former Dundalk high school graduate (class of 1988) and I work a full time job at Verizon Wireless in White Marsh (I actually helped you with Casey’s broken phone back in August). I am a huge fan of the station as I love the fact that everyone tells it how it is and no one holds back any punches. Job or no job, this was something that I was honored to be a part of and I wanted to thank for trying to fix the problems with our beloved Orioles. Let’s keep up the fight and cross our fingers.
Take care and God bless,
Terry B. Swayne |
I wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed "The Moon" with you reading your book. I've had people come up to me and say, "who cares about him growing up," or "He's must have a huge ego, thinking anyone wants to hear about his childhood." Maybe they are not as big of fans. Maybe it's because they are not our age (I'm a year older than you). They just don't get it. This isn't a story about you. It's my story too. It's a story about all of us. I have a story to match everyone you told. Almost all of them include my Dad. Similar to you, my Dad was my stepfather. My father died when I was two. My dad was a 48 year old police officer when he married my Mom and took in her three kids. I was four at the time, so their wasn't many stories about him playing ball with me, but many stories of watching games or going to them. I started going in 1975. We lost 5-2 to the Texas Rangers and Gaylord Perry. Brooks didn't play that night, and I was heartbroken. The 2nd time I went, Brooks didn't play, and we lost again. The third time, Brooks played, and we finally won. Being the biggest Brooks Robinson fan(and I am still today) nobody could tell me it was just coincidence, I knew better. I didn't go as much as you did, but when I went we had great seats. My Mom used to go, and still today, if she can't have the best she rather not have it. I remember 1976 seeing Hank Aaron play for the Brewers. That year I saw Jim Palmer lose a two hitter to Catfish Hunter, 2-0. Palmer gave up first inning single to Roy White and then a homer to Pinella right after that. Not another Yankee reached base. Hunter won his 20th game that day. (Palmer already had 20 or 21). The game started at 2:00, and I was at White Coffee Pot at Eastpoint Mall before 4:00. I was there for Thanks Brooks Day . In the upper deck that day, my Dad had a hard time getting tickets. In 1978 during batting practice Eddie Murray wouldn't sign an autograph because he said everybody would come over wanting one. He did talk to to me for about ten minutes. Asking me where I went to school, how many games I went to. To me, I've always been a fan of Eddie's. While I know he's not the a good media guy, I'm glad to say I did get to see a different side of him. July 4, 1977 I saw the Orioles beat Mark "The Bird" Fidrich, and fireworks after the game. I was there that rainy Saturday night in 1979 when it was announced that the Orioles had won the AL East. I was at game 2 of the World Series. My two memories there we my brother Joe was in Cuba serving in the Navy, and he saw me on TV. I also walked down 33rd Street to the Lake next to the John 3:16 guy with the rainbow hair. Boy did he stink. He must not have bathed in a week. I remember dying on the last day of the 1982 season. I was so sure we were going to beat the Brewers. October 1983. I was at the Philadelphia Road Pizza Hut. I just finished running a cross county meet for Overlea High School. Listening to the radio, and BAM, Tito Landrum hit the home run. We celebrated in the parking lot. Played some touch football with my teammates. I got home around 9:00 PM. My Mom was so pissed not knowing where I was. She must have yelled at me for 30 minutes, but I really don't remember because the O's were in the World Series, and it still must be one the the ten greatest days of my life. April 1989, right field bleachers, opening day. Steve Finley crashed into the wall catching a fly ball. I couldn't see it over the wall, but a remember the thud when Finley hit the wall, and the cheer afterwards. I knew then, that was going to be a special year. September 1991. I took my then-wife to see the last O's game I saw at Memorial Stadium. She was pregnant with my daughter, and I'm glad to know at least the soul of my only child was in that stadium once. I had two fun years in the open end end-zone watching the Ravens. I even got to take my Dad to a game before he pasted away. (The last thing my Dad did was watch the Raven-Titans game, the first Monday night game the Ravens ever played. He died sometime early the next morning.) I've been to Camden Yards many times. I normally have a good time. Not counting the last time I went last month, when I met Brooks Robinson, and actually spent the evening with him (I called Drew and you the next day.), I don't have one story to share. It's a nice place, but with no heart, no soul. Thanks for sharing your stories. It's good to know other people think and share the same feeling I have.
I was thinking. I'm almost 40. I have thousands of Orioles memories. If you are 20, you have two. Cal's 2131, and Jeffery Mayer robbing a home run in the ALCS. If you are under 13, you have nothing. I can't go on the 21st, but give me five minutes with that asbestos lawyer. George's speech to Steinbrenner on Seinfeld would be so mild compared to what I would have to say. I hate to think that I have about half my life yet to live, but all my baseball memories have already happened.
- Robert in East Baltimore |
I love the Orioles and I always will. However, Mr. Angelos is making it hard to keep doing it. Considering I'm relatively young compared to most people writing in, I unfortunately do not have the memories of the World Series teams that my father does. He had a great childhood regarding the birds.
He saw his first game at Memorial Stadium on June 5, 1963 when he was just seven. His father and uncle got some tickets on the third base line. That was also the day that Mickey Mantle broke his ankle in the chain link fence chasing down a fly ball. When they announced it over the PA system, the whole stadium cheered! He was also fortunate enough to go to two no-hitters (Tom Phoebus on Safety Patrol day in 1968, and Jim Palmer on a hot summer night in 1969).
He was the first one to give me the passion of the orange and black. Even though I don't remember it, he tells me of the few games he took me to on 33rd street in that final season. My first game was on bat night; July 26, 1991. We sat in the section 27 bleachers right behind Jose Canseco! He also tells me of the time that he had tickets way up in the upper deck. Even though I was only a baby, he said that I got really scared on the way up the stairs because of the steep angle.
I was fortunate enough to go to the first game at Camden Yards and see Cal Ripken tie Lou Gehrig on that September Night in 1995. Luckily the Orioles would have a few flashes of brilliance and have playoff years in '96 and '97. Besides for the two ALCS games that I saw in those years, the last really meaningful game that I went to was Cal Ripken's last in 2001.
Since then, the void has been filled by the Ravens. For the first two years, while the Ravens were still in Memorial Stadium, we had tickets in the bleachers. Those games were fun, but the team wasn't very good and the Orioles were. Boy have times changed! Ever since the Ravens moved to Camden Yards in 1998, the roles have switched and I have devoted much more time and attention to football than baseball.
Hopefully this rally/protest game will spark some sort of movement to get a different ownership group and return the city to it's equal dominance that my father was so lucky to grow up with in the Orioles and the Colts. All my friends and I are diehard fans of both teams. I can assure you that I will talk up this game at school and make sure that the same contingent that has been going to student nights for the past couple of years will come out and support the cause on the twenty-first of September.
- Jimmy in Towson |
"I am a longtime O's fan in Rochester who grew up watching Grich, Baylor, Bumbry, Ripeken and Murray in AAA. As you know the O's were the classiest organization in baseball and we we proud and fortunate to watch their prospects come through this town. Every year a new group of prospects would come through and ownership always respected the operation of the
community-owned Rochester Red Wings.
A highlight of the summer as a kid was when the O's would come to town for the annual exhibition against the Red Wings. While it was obvious that the players would rather have a day off than spend a night in Rochester, they were always giving of their time, signed autographs, and Baltimore ownership and management always said the right things to the local media about their fond memories of our city.
That all changed drastically with the arrival of the Peter Angelos regime. The hope of a great new chapter in the relationship starting with the arrival of Camden Yards and the building of a new stadium in Rochester quickly died as the talent pipeline quickly dried up. The dissaray in the organization worked it's way to the minor leagues as an annual change in scouts, managers and instructors killed the continuity of the "Oriole Way."
Worst of all was the way Angelos arrogantly dismissed our local organization and community, and our concerns. The Orioles would promise that things were improving, Rochester would re-sign a two year working agreement extension while holding our nose, only to find things getting worse. The Orioles came to town for the last exhibition game, and burned a lot of bridges. The players were dismissive of fans, some played the game while not even in uniform, Albert Belle was his usual psychotic self to fans and local media, and Angelos made more empty promises. The final straw was when Angelos came to town to see a game, made promises of signing minor league free agents in an effort to put a strong team in Rochester after a decade of losing has caused attendence to fall, then quickly ignored his promises in the off-season, after we had singned an extension of our working agreement.
The Orioles were thrown out of Rochester after much hand-wringing in the community, no one really wanted to do it. The Red Wings are still operated by the Silver family whose patriarch, Morrie Silver, saved baseball in Rochester and put together the original arrangement with the O's. There are still a lot of O's fans here, althought the numbers are dwindling, along with our memories of the past.
Today we are a AAA affiliate of the Twins, who really are the present-day O's of the 60's and 70's. They sign the best young talent, develop it, and stay to a budget, just like the Hank Peters O's. In just four years of being with the Twins we have seen Mauer, Morneau, Liriano, Rincon, Cuddyer and Bartlett all come through town. The O's did not produce that many young stars over the last 20 years of their relationship with Rochester.
I support your cause and hope to make it to the parade."
Tim Moore
Rochester, New York |
| "First thing first, I have to admit that I usually don't like what you say in your segment. In fact, I almost always change to another station. But your "The Moon" segment on the radio this morning was something I actually stayed interested in beyond the first five seconds. That being said, kudos and plaudits are due to you, because you made one of the most coherent proposals yet for a way O's fans can respond to the team, even in a small way, that has yet been aired in any form of media. WNST ought to take the media lead on your protest idea by giving the concept of a fan protest a widely-listened-to forum for publicizing. I'm not as jaded as you, so I think something this hare-brained, especially if it is well-executed, can work. Thank you for a little sanity in the midst of the nonsense." - Ken L. |
| "I cannot take it anymore. And I have an idea for a T-shirt. We need something simple.........a black T-shirt that simply says the word "No." on the front. And that can be our rallying cry at the game, "No, we don't have to take it. No, we are not going to take it. And no, we won't come back until something changes." You can go on and on with the ideas. Going to a game nowadays is like having the life sucked out of you. No, I won't continue to quietly watch my baseball team fall from grace." - Stacey |
| "I'm one of the dejected O's fans who grew up in Parkville during the 70's & 80's and had many hours of sports ecstasy back in the day when there were plenty of good times, efforts on the field, Oriole magic, hope, and most importantly, some front office competence." - Mike in Monkton |
"I HAVE LIVE IN BALTIMORE 72 OF MY 78 YEARS AND MOVED TO VEGAS IN 2000 BECAUSE OF SEVERAL FACTORS - ONE BEING THE STATE OF THE BASEBALL TEAM-IT WASN'T MY PRIMARY MOTIVE BUT WAS ON THE LIST.
I HAVE BEEN WRITING RICK MEASE FOR A YEAR TO SUPPORT A MOVEMENT TO BOYCOTT THE TEAM.
HE SAYS IT WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING EXCEPT WE WILL LOOK MORE LIKE THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS. I DON'T BUY IT. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MAN WOULD LET HIS PRODUCT DRAIN HIM DRY WITHOUT GETTING RID OF IT.
I HAVE LIVED THRU THE GREAT ORIOLE YEARS WHEN YOU NEVER KNEW WHO THE OWNER WAS UNTIL THEY GAVE OUT THE TROPHIES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
I USE TO DISLIKE STEINBRENNER IMMENSELY BECAUSE HE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF AN UNLEVEL PLAYING FIELD BUT I DON'T ANYMORE BECAUSE HE IS A MAN OF PASSION ABOUT HIS TEM AND I HAVE SEEN HIM CRY OVER IT. HE LIVES AND DIES OVER HIS TEAM.
I SINCERELY HOPE YOUR PROTEST TAKES ROOT AND I HAVE ALREADY E-MAILED MY FRIENDS TO PARTICIPATE. IF IT DOES WORK OUT I MAY JUST FLY IN TO SEE IT." - Vince in Las Vegas |
| "I think that your idea to protest the ownership of the Orioles is right on. I know that if you will actually do this I will be there and I am sure I can get a few friends to join me. I will help in anyway I can because I agree that something needs to be done. I remember being excited about the Orioles, I remember watching the last game at Memorial Stadium and shedding a few tears as they dug up home plate to move it to Camden yards. I remember when I could proudly hold my head high and say I am a Oriole fan and not be laughed at. So let me know if this is actually going to happen and what anyone can do to help organize it." - Matt |
| "Keep it up and maybe, just maybe, someday we'll have a baseball team again. I'm with ya! I love the Orioles too. I worked in the clubhouse for the Orioles in the "89 "Why Not" season. I love 'em. However, I will never financially support the Angelos owned O's again. I could go there and accept the losing but I can't accept the fact that it's the fault of an inept organization that made it this way and the end of the tunnel is nowhere in sight. I am glad you guys tell it as it is. Keep it up." - Pat in Baltimore |
| "By the way, I am in for a $8 donation, going to the game and wearing my Ed Reed jersey." - Andrew |
"I wrote your guys a few years ago asking for WNST to start this effort and today man,
you have my support.
Based on my embargo of Angelo's, my 3 year old son Collin has never been to O's game.
If you build it they will come, and September 21'st game will be my son's first and the most important.
Keep it going you have my support." - Kevin in Belair |
"I love the Orioles and the Ravens, but being only 20 the Orioles were my first love. I have season tickets to Ravens with my father, and we use to attend Orioles games all the time. I still go because I just love having a fun time at the yard, but it pains me to see this team and city going through this. Anything to get rid of P Angelos, I will do.
Last week, I was getting all emotional in the car during lunch listening to Randy Lotz on Bob's show. I was read to buy a dozen t-shirts and just start handing them out. I think your idea has more substance and is more likely to actually occur.
I just wanted to let you know, I'm with this idea. I know my friends, who love the Orioles/Baltimore just as much, would drive down from Penn St and other out of town colleges just to participate. I would love to see this come to fruition. I'd be there and so would as many people as I could bring. I just love the game of baseball and this city." - Dan |
"I was just listening to you talk about the proposed Oriole protest and wanted to let you know I'm in; I have about 10 buddies that will be down for the cause as well.
When I was listening to you on the air, I felt like you were picking the words right out of my brain. You know how bad it is...I almost feel bad that I named my nine month old son Brooks. I can't take this garbage anymore and I appreciate what you and the crew at 'NST are trying to do. Let me know what I can do to help take our Birds back." - Tony in Baltimore |
| "I know many of my friends would love to go to a ballgame, enjoy the environment of being at a ballgame, enjoy the sights, smells and sounds, and then have the ability to let Angelos know that it is a disgrace what he has done to the Oriole way." - Dr. Dave in Pikesville |
"Heard your campaign on radio. Normally I find these things do little good, I give you credit for one basic thing. To my knowledge there has really been no formal consensus of any message directly by the fans with regard to the is management. My feeling that the message that Angelos is taking from the lack of bodies in the stands is his interpretation or version of the impact of Washington baseball. I think he sees that as his main problem.
WRONG!!!
Your vision here will at least ( assuming your get support) will leave no doubt as to what the fans feel is the main reason for the lack of success. MANAGEMENT!!
I am a true and pure baseball fan. I think in the optimum situation there is room in the B/W area for 2 teams to be successful. This is predicated on both being run right. I think Washington is in the beginning stages of finally putting some stability towards a formula for success. It will take time.
The O's there are no more excuses. I understand clearly the connection that you make in your argument for the shortcomings/failure between the marketing of the O's, the business community, and the fans. I would love to hear you break down the team visa vie the current roster (coaches, Mgr. ,and GM), the prospects , and farm teams and issues of
talent or lack of with specifics.........What they need specifically to do to compete in the division beside turnover over the current ownership. I have my own version and obviously want to hear other opinions. Part of the reason is I happen to like some of the young talent that does happen to be there. Obviously not enough. - Bruce |
"Your column brings to light an idea a few of us had about 6 years ago. We kicked around the idea of a "march on the warehouse", something that could happen during a game. Beforehand, we'd contact the national media like ESPN who might enjoy and event like that, get a few Old Orioles and other notables to speak at the rally, and chant a few slogans-obscene or not. The march w/b something like the old antiwar rallies of the 60's maybe. We'd publicize the thing in as many places as possible to draw a crowd. But what killed it for us was a fear that things mite get out of hand and the organizers w/be held civilly or even criminally responsible.
I occasionally call WBAL as "Mike from York" and roam the Ballparkguys and Hangout message boards as mikezpen, savaging the Orioles organization and Angelos. You cannot possibly imagine how maniacally angry and suicidally depressed old-timers such as myself (have followed the O's since 1958) are.
Your assessment of the spineless, enabling Baltimore media is so phucking on target. They are as responsible for the fans' apathy as much as anything else, believe me. They should be raising hell; instead, they do nothing.
That's it. Just wanted to touch base so to speak. If you actually do something, maybe I can help. - Mike in York PA |
"Reading your latest moon article I couldn't help think of my 12 year old son. If they O's are on he has to watch the game. Maybe not all of it, but at least several innings. If we are in the car he says "Dad see if the ballgame is on". It reminds me of what you talk about when you were a child. I keep my feelings about the O's to myself so he can enjoy rooting for his team.
Here is a father son moment you will enjoy. A couple months ago the O's were playing the Yankees at the Bronx. Chris Ray comes in for the ninth inning and gets the side out. The last batter on a strikeout. My son and I yelled and screamed at the TV like it was the last out and we won the World Series.
It is sad to admit but I'm one of the indifferent people. Oh well, life starts again in a few weeks. - John |
"Although you'll NEVER catch me wearing purple and black (as a Steelers fan, I just can't do it), I am more than happy to come on down wearing all black (I'll leave the gold at home for this one) and protest the little troll.
I'm originally from Pittsburgh and still a Pirates fan (a suffering Pirates fan), but since moving first to Central PA and now to Edgewood, MD, I have been following the Orioles for years - I guess you can call them my American League team. Between the Pirates and the Orioles, I can't even look at box scores anymore - it's just way too painful!
I don't know if it will work, but at the very least I'll feel better after letting the old goat know how I feel about him screwing up what used to be a great franchise!
I'll see you at the game!" - Scott in Edgewood |
| "I love the idea of this Orioles protest game - I've been spreading the word to friends all day. Set it up and I'll be there. However, I like the idea of everyone wearing black better than black and purple because I think that this event should be concentrated solely on our displeasure w/ the Orioles and not our appreciation for the Ravens. The state of the Orioles for the last decade had been an enormous void in Baltimore and nothing gets that point across better than everyone wearing pure black. Just my thoughts - either way I will be there." - Matt |
"Finally, due to your idea the Orioles fans now have a worthwhile outlet to vent their anger over what has happen to our beloved, Baltimore Orioles. I have been an avid Orioles fan since 1955, thru thick and thin. I backed the Orioles and attended many, many of their games, and loved them to the point that when I died I wanted to have my ashes poured over the field and on home plate. Now I rarely attend the games and when I do its because my 11 year old wants to go to a game. (My son has never seen a winning team in his life)!
Now that "Pete the Pirate" has slowly choked the life out of this once wonderful organization, it is no longer any fun to attend games. Since this owner has taken over, I have given up my two full season ticket plans and subsequent 13 game plan. He has allowed the hated Yankees and the Boston Red Sox fans to embarrass our fans by selling, in mass, tickets to these out of Towner's to take over the stadium, all in the name of the mighty buck, and made a the Baltimore Orioles and their fans the laughing stock of baseball.
In 1996, after he forced manager of the year, Davy Johnson off the team, I wrote Pete a letter recommending that he sell the team then while they were on top, because I could see then that we were dealing with an owner that was clueless on how to run a baseball organization.
Now that he ruined the best organization in baseball, he claims that he is losing money but continues to tout that he is staying the course because he wants to bring a slightly better team to Baltimore, not a winner mind you, but a slightly more competitive team. What a joke. Remember it's all about the money. His tightly crafted, damaged control interviews on local TV lately leads me to believe he will sell the team in the near future, but not until TV rights conflict is resolved with Comcast so he can get as much money out of the team as possible.
Believe me he could care less about the Orioles, just how much money can he get out of them. God help us if he "Wills" this team to his kids, they are just as clueless but in a more repulsive way, we might never have a winning team again. There are so many things wrong I could go on and on, but you already know all of them, so I wouldn't waste your time.
I love your idea to attend/sponsor an unprecedented, protest game to put more pressure on the owner to finally agree to sell the team, but in my logical heart I don't believe it will impact him, as you know too well, he is a cold calculating, egomaniac psychopath. NEVERTHELESS COUNT ME IN; IT FINALLY MIGHT BE FUN TO ATTEND A GAME. E-MAIL ME WITH THE DETAILS." - Thom in Cross Keys |
"Incredible idea. I always appreciated your show, although I didn't always agree with you, and miss hearing you on the radio. I'll never forget the last meaningful orioles game I went to, sitting in the left field upper deck and watching Armando Benitez give up the game winning home run to Cleveland in '97.
This is a great idea and if anyone has the clout to pull it off it is you. I will be there and will be emailing 10 guys that used to have an oriole package plan together to make sure they no about this. Nobody has wanted to spend the money to do it the last two years because nobody wants to put a penny in Angelos's pocket. Good luck with the protest. - Pete |
I am in!
If this is going to happen, I will get 25 people there to protest including my friends, family and co-workers. And I will spam all the people that I know and encourage them to spam all the people they know to promote this thing. Let me know what I can do. - Dan |
“It is pretty simple. They have managed to take something that was incredibly special my entire life and now I find it hard to even root for them much less identify with even one player or prospect. The worst part of it all is that they have a great model and
blueprint in the Ravens for how it is supposed to be done but pettiness and arrogance stop them from working together” - Joe from Towson |
| “The Angelos manifesto looks pretty good....I think you've gotten pretty much all of the most egregious examples of Angelos' misdeeds, especially with respect to the actual baseball operations. I think it's really important to emphasize the fact that so many lifelong fans have been turned off from the Orioles in recent years, and I also think some of their shortcomings in dealing with fans need to be emphasized. They have some stupid policies that alienate fans-I'm sure that it's not Angelos who is formulating these policies, but he's ultimately responsible for what the organization does, and I'm sure he could change them if he so desired. For instance, my Dad has a 13-game plan in Section 42. Every game I've been to over the course of the last few years in these seats, there have been a bunch of empty seats all around us. In the later innings, some fans from other sections have moved into these empty seats (when they obviously weren't being occupied) and have been rudely asked to leave by ushers, who are often quite unpleasant. It just doesn't seem logical to me why fans can't move into these seats in later innings when there's only 20,000 people in the park, and even if the Orioles were going to enforce such a policy, there's no need for the consistent rudeness. Anyway, that's just one of the examples of the poor customer service and lack of responsiveness to fans and their concerns that I've witnessed over the last few years, and it seems like it's only getting worse over time.” - Mike from Randallstown |
“I am in total agreement with you on this Orioles thing. Stick to your guns on this.
I have been huge Oriole fan since the early sixties. I am 50 years old. I hate what has happened to baseball in general. I liked it when the players actually lived in the city that supported them and when they had a major allegiance to that.
I realize that it is never going to be that way again, but I agree with you that as long as they represent that team and the city that they are playing for that there should be accountability to the fans, city and media.
The player is adopted into this family for the time that they are here and should respect that.
I have attended spring training numerous times and I noticed a few years ago that most of the star players walk back into the dug out with their heads down, so as to not acknowledge the fans, who might happen to say something to them or ask for an autograph. It was not like that about 15 years ago. It just continually gets worse. The prima donnas think they are doing us a huge favor.
We need a Ripken formed ownership group. I would also be in favor of demolishing the entire league and starting over. Inflated salaries and no salary cap have caused all of this. it will only get worse and never better unless something is done.” - Rick in Hampstead |
“I hate to, but I have to agree that the current ownership of the Orioles has run this franchise into the ground. I won't go into the many ways they've done that, as they're well documented. Personally, I began to seriously lose interest when they got rid of Jon Miller. Listening to the hometown crap spewed by his replacements has caused me to stop listening at all. A few years ago, as the possibility of losing Mike Mussina loomed over the club like yet another dark cloud, I found myself on my way to a game with my wife. We made it to the light rail station, and we turned around and went home. The thought of sitting through a game with the team he was putting on the field was more than I could take.
I went home, put my unused tickets in an envelope, and wrote a letter to Mr. Angelos. I told him that he could have the tickets, and that if they got rid of Mussina I'd never come back. I never heard from him. I've not paid for a ticket since. I've gone for free when someone gives me tickets, but that's the extent of it. I was a 10 to 12 game fan, sometimes bringing my kids.
I have to admit that I got somewhat enthused when they finally got rid of Foghorn Leghorn Thrift. I think Flanagan and Beattie are on the right track, but they're still working under the restraints put on them by the ownership. Yes, they made big upgrades offensively, but with the resources they have, they could have also made a pitching upgrade or two. I'm not talking about a number one, but at least a number 3 or 4. In time, maybe they'll be back. If I see a real effort, not half an effort like this season, I'll go back myself. I'm not optimistic.
I hope that when and if they make it back, you'll join me back at the ballpark. The day may never come, but you never know. Until then, GO RAVENS! “ - Tony in Towson |
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