Soccer Dad

Roberts rule of disorder

The Atlanta Braves were apparently interested in a deal with the Orioles.

According to several industry sources, the Orioles have had serious discussions about a deal that would send second baseman Brian Roberts and pitching prospect Hayden Penn to the Atlanta Braves for power-hitting first baseman Adam LaRoche and second baseman Marcus Giles.

However the Orioles - or more specifically Peter Angelos - nixed the deal. Peter Schmuck sees Angelos's meddling as typical of the Orioles' (mis)management over the past decade and gives another (astonishing) example of this problem.

The Orioles are back at odds with the Maryland Stadium Authority over the installation of a new video scoreboard at Oriole Park, and the team might go to arbitration to prevent the authority from purchasing the Mitsubishi DiamondVision screen without club approval.

That might seem reasonable enough, considering the Orioles' stadium lease calls for the team to be consulted on such matters, except that there were three Orioles officials on the committee that unanimously approved the selection.

Don't laugh, because this isn't funny anymore. This is the way Angelos has been doing business for most of the past decade, and he is probably the only person inside or outside his organization who doesn't realize how much his disjointed management style has hurt the team, the fans and every merchant who is trying to make a living in the area around the stadium.

On the surface the deal actually looks like a good one for the Orioles. Penn could come back to haunt them. (Of course, this deal more sense than Maine for Benson. You keep the young talent to see if it develops or to trade for a talent upgrade; not for a league average guy.) But once again Angelos gets involved. Ever since he vetoed Pat Gillick's proposed trades in 1996 and the Orioles made it to the playoffs he's become convinced that he knows what he's doing.

Previously I had quoted Sun Columnist Dan Connolly about dealing with the O's

Each winter we hear it from agents and other teams: "The Orioles were interested, but they didn't get back to us." Or, "They just weren't as aggressive as the others." Or the real killer, "They are very difficult to deal with." As an outstanding attorney, Angelos has made a career of being cautious and deliberate. No one ever forces his hand. It's not a bad business strategy, either. But there comes a time when you should move swiftly so you don't alienate others.

A great example of what not to do sat in the opposing dugout last night.

Ryan set a negotiating deadline for the end of spring training last year, the sides exchanged initial figures that were less than $5 million apart and then the Orioles never countered again. Instead of paying $15 million in March, he left for $47 million in November.

Baseball Musings rightly asks

Since he pays the bills, he has the right to make the decision. But why hire people to do a job if you're not going to listen to them?

There's a reason that the Orioles are once again positioned to end up in fourth place by some 20 games. And he's at the top of the organization. Fans (and the media) have been patient for much too long. The Orioles play in a stadium built with the taxpayers' money. He is failing in his obligation to the public to provide a competitive team.

UPDATE: Included in this week's Carnival of the Insanities.

Blogdigger tags: Baltimore Orioles, Peter Angelos, Baseball.