Yes I do have something, I have my memories of years past and the terrific players who graced our fair city.

I also have a deep, four decade old hatred of the NY Yankees in the pit of my stomach. It will remain there and continue to grow until the day I die !

To spend nearly 1/2 billion dollars for 3 players in this economy is the height of arrogance.

Thank you!!! Everyone is so busy whining about Tex that they fail to look at what we've got. We saved a bunch of money by not getting him, and we can use that money to sign our current studs long-term.

What I like the most is all the money the owner makes by cutting Every corner to maximize his profits.Can't wait to see this all-star lineup and no pitching staff in the beautiful new spring training site in Vero,oops.

Anything you say Pollyanna. Bah Humbug!

IF WE COULD GET ADAM DUNN AND 3 VETERAN STARTING PITCHERS TO GO WITH OUR YOUNG ONES EVERYTHING WILL BE OK.

Watching a young homegrown team compete with a monstrously exorbitant pennant buying evil empire will indeed be fun. I think baseball needs an "evil empire" -- as many of us like to call the Yankees (even on Xmas). The Yanks have plainly set themselves up as team trying to buy the pennant. And in the other corner...you have the Rays and, perhaps in a few years the Orioles: young, homegrown, farm-raised challengers.

This will be fun to watch.

how do i feel about the orioles? depressed, and dissapointed! another year in the toilet before spring training even starts... but Dean makes some good points about our up& comers. i DO see the o's becoming competitive (3 maby 4years) in the meantime if P.A. and A.M. dont sighn some stop gap starting pitching we could be in for a 90 LOSS season. Orioles I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU,but my HEART cant take much more of this! it may be time to move on!!!

I think the most impressive thing about the O's this year was that they got rid of thier most accomplished pitcher (Bedard) and their most accomplished hitter (Tejada) -- neither of which was replaced by players with comparable stats or histories -- and only fell back half a game from the year before.

Hi Dean,

Let me first say merry Christmas to you and your family.

I agree that we should try to remain positive during this festive season. In that vein, I feel that the team wants to win from Peter Angelos down to the bottom of the minor leagues.

My issue is that the O's are stuck in a division that includes several teams that exploit a very flawed system allowing high revenue teams to buy their way into winning. I worry that winthin 5 years, Markakis and several other Orioles will be elsewhere. Who could blame them for going? Winning the way Tampa did last year takes time and, in my opinion, is not sustainable. I predict that several of their main cogs are gone within a year or two. Why should their layers stay in tampa for 10 mil per year when they can go to Boston, or New York for 20 mil?

We need to setup a system like we see in the NFL. If we need to lose a season or two and break the union to do it, I say lets do it! Baseball is not fun in its present form and we need changes fast.

By the way Dean, I hear opinion that Brian Roberts will be gone before long. That would be a shame. He is a nice player. Wonder what kind of talent would be coming back our way?

Again, Merry Christmas to you and all readers.

What I remember is over a decade of broken promises followed by bad baseball. What I remember is that Roberts and Markakis are both unsigned and the group that you are so optimistic about finished last.

The Orioles need a new first baseman (or if Huff plays first, someone for DH), and probably in the near future will need a replacement for Mora and perhaps a new shortstop if the current one works. So write about these. We know there are plenty of pitchers and outfielders who will be getting better over time.

Remember the Orioles have Peter Angelos as an owner.... Oh yeah, nevermind. We wanted to be positive.

ANGELOS!! Ha Ha

This is Mudville, remember what they said about Mudville, there is no joy in Mudville. MacFail and these guys are not like the past builders of success. Sure, there are positive things, but the vital ingredients to make it all work are not there and won't be. Trembley deserves better.

Thanks Dean, you really put some effort into putting a good face in this. Seriously, the Orioles needs two things: A new owner committed to winning, and a salary cap in the Major Leagues.

The owner issue is self-explanatory, for 11 years now, the Orioles have played below 500, and at or near the cellar. Angelos is simply not an owner that is all that interested in winning. The club is a "hobby" for him.

The salary cap is absolutely necessary, or else MLB will continue its slide further into 2nd place behind the NFL. Baseball used to be "The American pastime". But with the ridiculous salaries, only the huge market teams (think NY this past few weeks) and an occasional owner that is willing to first mortgage the farm and the kid's college money for a WS ring; only to have a fire sale the next winter, have a chance to win all the marbles.

Otherwise, the smaller market teams have to watch interest and with it attendance and its resultant income slide further and further. In this day and age, (not to mention the presently shaky economy) there are simply too many diversions to “assume” the fan base will remain in place.

And if the O's could begin putting a long running solid team in place that the local fans would want to watch play; wouldn't it be nice for the Yankee, Sawx, and Phillie's fans to find it difficult to get tickets, instead of jokingly referring to Camden Yard as “Fenway South”?

Bright future? Matusz, Tillman, & Arrieta are 3 pitchers who will probably be rushed to the majors some day on a desperate team with 4 gaping holes in the rotation.
Roberts & Markakis? You can kiss them goodbye. They'll never stay in Bmore now that they knows there will be no help coming in via free agency.
And Mora is on his last leg. We can be thankful if his body will hold up for the remainder of his current contract.

I can't believe that there is no dialogue beteen the Orioles and Ben Sheets or Derek Lowe. How can a team so desperate for starting pitching just sit by and wait to see if there are any pitchers that no other teams pursue for service? Its the same ol deal. Look for a 'Rule 5' draft pick, hope that a serviceable pitcher gets cut by another team, and that no other teams are interested. All this while waiting for 3 minor leaguers who really need 3 more years of development just to know if they will amount to anything at the major league level.

Go O's!

Have some more Kool-aid,,,,,,,,,,,this organization is a joke,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Good Points Dean.
However.
They better maximize the Roberts trade(inevitable)
They better sign Markakis long term
They need to deepen those power alleys at Camden once and for all and give those young pitchers a chance( not everyone is Mike Mussina)
They better teach,develop and pray those young pitchers work out
They better sign 3 free agents to keep our heads above water for now
They better draft real infielders who can play
Merry Christmas

yea i can't think of any other way to assess this particular situation with Texeira. i feel that it is a blessing in disguise. i particularly like the idea of the expansion McPhail has made in asia and latin america. where he's invested money as opposed to the last regime...payed no attention. i'm proud to be an orioles fan. i'm proud that the yankees have to keep spending money to compete. they have bcome a business, and ripped out the heart of the new york baseball community. its no longer about baseball in new york, its business. the sweet is never as sweet without the sour. MacPhail is about earning your way to a pennant, not purchasing one. just the feeling that we as orioles fans have deep inside of us...the fact that the team is moving in the right direction. it's not about the present it's about the future! the possibilities are endless. o's fans just need to let there guard down and forget about the last 11 years or so...and think about today, sort of like a clean slate. so it starts with attitude.believe that they're a winner and they will win.

Remember who the owner is. B-rob will be traded , Nick and Adam will be gone in five years and so will any pitcher that becomes a stud. Peter the Great is a joke , I dare you to show this entry , the fans of Baltimore deserve the truth.

Merry Christmas. You must have started way to early on the spiked egg nog. I'm sure you will sober up and retract this soon.

Of the names you listed in 2010 Markakis will be going and Roberts, Huff, and Mora gone. Matt Wieters and Adam Jones won't be able to do it all themselves. I hope you are right about the pitching, but statistics show only 1 or 2 of those minor league stars will shine in the majors.

The Orioles fans frustration this offseason is only partially caused by Tex. We still have not signed Nick or Brian. They will be the Yankee pick ups of 2010 and 2011. We have only signed an average shortstop. Starting pitching next year is Guthrie pitching every day I guess? Wait, we will sign 3 or 4 retreads that were non tendered. Andy will say they are the next CC and AJ and the media will jump on the bandwagon. At least until the end of April when we are 5 games out of 4th place.

Andy McFail needs to show us something. Andy made 2 great trades. But that was last year. Wheres the pitching? Wheres the money to resign Brian, Nick, and Aubrey? Look at the low minors beyond those we traded for, pathetic.

The present I was hoping for was not Tex but the Orioles under a new owners tree. One that puts winning above his return on investment. In keeping with the holiday theme I would also like to wish Scrooge Angelos a Merry Christmas.

Remember the O's are competing against major league teams , that is difficult when you field a minor league team every year ( see past eleven years ).

I have news for you Dean , you are still following a minor league team.

I feel like Charlie Brown on Halloween, when comes to the O's.
"I gotta rock"

I like that opening day you can always count on a packed Camden Yards full of Oriole fans. Now we can't even look forward to that as we open against the Yankees. Awesome.

And everyone of the players you mentioned are here because they have to be -- not necessarily because they want to be.

I suppose calmer baseball minds have it right .Even though it hurts espscially where Tex chose to go. But after calming down and reessing the situation i do believe the O's did the correct thing. Still pitching is everything and the team hit with the best of them. So lets concentrate on what is really important and get good pitching and defense and stick with a great general manager McPhail, i do believe he knows what he is donig.

I definetly see what your saying Dean. I've been preaching it to my family and friends for a little while now. But we also have to look at what may happen. BR may not except that contract and Markakis may want to follow the money somewhere else also. Maybe one of the pitching prospects does become an ace but the other two become backend rotation guys or just bullpen help. If Wieters is really as good as everyone says he's going to be then he'll go for the big money when it's time. Personally, would you sign on long term (BR,Nick, etc..) with this organizations track record. I guess the 11 years of losing has taken away my spirit for the future. We're being sold the same thing just wrapped differently. I think BR and Nick see this and would have no problem going somewhere else where they can be winners and richer. I think we are being fooled in a different way. I'll keep cheering anyway.

Great and valid points all. While Tex would have looked nice in an O's uniform, he'd be past his prime by the time the current crop of young players get to theirs - and an over-inflated price.

Remember that all of those young players will leave the first chance they get because ownership does not care about the team.

Remember that the organization is a laughing stock around baseball.

Remember that Angelos will never do what it takes to win; he will just add to his millions year after losing year.

Remember that if you still care about this team, then the joke is on you.

Positive: the Oriole's are no longer "a train wreck of an organization" as CBS Sportsline accurately described them before Andy McPhail. It's tough when two other teams in your division can afford huge payrolls, but at least fans have hope.

yeah well see

You can sugarcoat it all you want but at the end of the day the Orioles are still a 90+ loss team for the forseeable future. Their minor league system is now decent as opposed to horrid. In order to compete in our division we will have to have the top minor league system in baseball for several years straight. There is no guarantee that any of the guys mentioned will be great MLB players. The Tiexiera "negotiations" were nothing but a PR ploy by Angelos. They had absolutely no intention of ever signing him and Angelos probably would have had a heart attack if he accepted their lowball offer.

ok yes DISTANT FUTURE looks bright. In 100 years maybe....Are you kidding me you are as bad as David Steele, you guys are paid to blow sunshine you know where but enough is enough. This franchise is and has been ruined beyond repair!!!
You guys expect us to think that we are better off without Teixeira.That maybe partialy right but if you compound that with waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting to sign KEY players to long term deals. Markakis,Roberts to name a few ....Forget it you guys dont get it,and the Orioles dont get it.
But we as fans are expected to swallow this year after year and are expected to spend 2-3 days pay to come watch a proven loser of a franchise? I dont think so.

Bah, humbug.

Although I'd love to share your enthusiasm for the Orioles (or have some of what you are taking), the problem is that "one Grinch with local ties" actually owns the team and the team's performance has been dreadful for the last eleven years; there's no end in sight. I wonder what percentage of MLB fans would say that the team they support has absolutely no chance of even being competitive for at least the next two years? And please don't compare the Rays this time last year with the Orioles. Anyone who followed baseball closely knew that Tampa Bay was on the verge of becoming a good team. This team has one legitimate starting pitcher, and he has only been a quality starter for slightly less than two years.

As for Wieters, let's stipulate that he's a great prospect. He is most frequently compared to Jason Varitek. However, if Varitek were on the Orioles opening day lineup the team would still be lousy, so everyone should calm down a notch about Wieters. As for Mora, he'll be 37 years old in a couple of months, hardly a player that seriously can be included in any future plans. And it seems the greatest value for the Orioles top position player may be with another team, that is unless they are willing to offer Roberts 6 years at $90 million, a dubious investment for a player who greatly relies on his speed but will be 32 years old by the end of the 2009 season.

Markakis and Jones are fabulous young players but when have the Orioles ever made smart contractual investments in their young talent in order to lock-up their services for a decade? It was their poor handling of Markakis, which will expedite his free agency a year early. And although MacPhail is to be highly commended for the Bedard trade, the inactivity at the 2008 trading deadline was curious. It would seem that at least a small handfull of their players could have been unloaded for some minor league prospects.

So many of us want the Orioles to turn things around. Actually, we just want to see light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, with one starting pitcher and an organization seemingly in perpetual tumult there is no reason to believe that things will get better anytime soon. And it takes more than a nice stadium.

I was one of the many who thought signing Tex would be a huge lift for the fans, but there was always the lingering reality that the money was obscene. Now that the obvious of Tex intending to go to the
Evil Empire ' all along has played out, and we all try to move on, your assesment speaks of what we all knew but didn't want to admit. McPhail has begun the process of digging us out of the hole we've been in for a decade. The approach is right and the direction is bright for us. It's still about pitching, and the near future will bare that out for the O's. One last thought; how has the post-surgery off-season gone for Troy Patton? As I recall, he was considered to be the brightest piece of the Tajada trade.

Great, go ahead and fool yourself. You and David Steele. Thats a real positive spin. But the fact that we have one proven starting pitcher on the roster and exactly zero free agent players that WANT to play here ( I dont count the new 2nd shelf SS we signed) speaks volumes as well.

Until the owner ceases to exist and we get an owner who fully trusts the instincts and knowledge of his baseball executives who form a winning team, this cycle of losing will continue for the Orioles. It is a shame that baseball will not adopt some type of salary cap modeled after a very sucessful NFL version, MLB will continue to play second fiddle to the NFL. The beuaty of the cap is it gives NFL teams in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, etc (Small markets compared to NY, DALLAS, CHI) the ability to compete for championships.
There is no way we can and will compete with NY and Boston's payroll. For teams and cities like Baltimore, that is a real shame.

This owner has the money to burn. 180m for 8 years is there with the infusion of cash from the MLB deal done between MLB and PA. So to fool yourself with a positive spin only gets you so far. This one does really hurt because it still shows no committment from the organization to get better any time soon. It takes good fortune and a lot of forces coming together almost like the planets all in alignment for a team to go from the the basement to tops in the AL East. To compete without investing in FA talent just cannot and will not happen.

I remember them having another horrible season, and looking forward to another one in 2009!

When I still lived in the area and could go to watch the O's play a dozen or so times, there were so many great things about being at the ballpark.

There really isn't a bad seat in the house.

The food!

The fact that no matter who the players are they would always make time for the fans over by the dugout.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Noboby cares...it's over! The Yankees and Red Sox buy all the free agents and Tampa has more young talent and prospects in the minors than any other team in baseball. This was their one true shot of bringing the fans back and restoring glory. I hope the stadium is empty on opening day!!!!

Thanks for the positive spin.......
let's ink Robbie and Markakis, and hope we're good in '10 when the Kiddie Korp. gets here (Arietta, Matusz, Tillman).

For those millions of Sports fans who are simply struggling financially these days, or facing home foreclosures, could the home boy, Teix, explain the difference between $1,875,000 vs $1,666,666 a month in take home pay? That kind of math is just way too far beyond our comprehension. I sure can't wait to see his first at bat at OPAC next season and the treatment that he will get by the Real O's fans.

It's Christmas guys, let's keep this thing positive. GO O'S!!

Lets hope we can even hold onto the good players we have now. Otherwise, we can look forward to seeing nick and biran in something other than an O's uniform. The Bombers' recent signing spree is a great example of why the NFL is great every year and the MLB is only worth watching for fans in a few cities after a few months into the season. Locking up the franchise players for the long term contracts needed to win in baseball is nearly impossible for most teams. Teams like the Orioles have maybe one or two years when a critical mass of talent could be under contract at a low enough rate to win. Then, when that time expires, the players you have built in your farm system are bought by the highest bidders. Its time for some sort of salary restriction in baseball. I am not sure if a system like the NFL would work, but something could be worked out that would bring some parity back to this league and return the focus to building teams not buying them.

Some good things to add to your list:

1.) finding a sucker to take Hernandez off our hands and getting something of value in return (thanx Cincy!!)

2.) Ray is supposed to come back this spring, and in combination with Sherrill, will give us a quality set up man and closer that can be interchanged. That combination is usually the path to some extra wins.

3.) Finding a former gold glove SS to actually commit to playing here for two years- we REALLY needed that.

Now for all of you O's bashers out there, yes, we have been awful for 11 years, but believe it or not, most of it is not Angelos' fault. He's made a lot of bad moves/decisions to set this club back, but you must also focus a lot of the blame to the GMs that he hired to run the club. Thrift, Flanagan, Beattie, and Duquette all set us back big time. They are the ones who made the bad trades, signings, and draft picks, not Angelos. Additionally, why weren't any of these guys bright enough to start sending scouts to the Pacific Rim countries and Latin American countries looking for prospects/players while the rest of the teams in MLB were doing this? A whole segment of available talent wasn't even considered, which again, set us back. MacPhail had his work cut out for him when he arrived here, and he was straightforward and honest when he said don't expect anything until at least 2010. The fact that we played as well as we did last year was a shock to everyone, including MacPhail. He's moving the franchise in the right direction, and Angelos is obviously staying out of the way, or MacPhail would be gone by now. The man didn't have too many trade chips to play with last year and this year, and the fact that he's got some serviceable major league ready talent, plus an assortment of prospects for those trade chips, is amazing. He's stuck with Mora and Huff and if anyone really wanted them, they'd be gone by now. If the man wants a boatload for Roberts, then let him wait for the right deal to come his way- it worked to our advantage w/ Bedard and Tejada. If we didn't get Tex, then let MacPhail take that money and invest it in the minor league system b/c that's our ticket to the playoffs down the road. It worked for Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Minnesota, Colorado, Florida, Philly, Oakland, Boston (to a certain extent), and the Yankees (in the '90s), so it will work for us also if done correctly. All is not lost because we didn't get Tex, or because we are in the AL East. It takes time and patience to get to the top, and if there's anything to be thankful for, it's Tampa Bay going to the World Series this year. That feat should serve as a wake up call to the O's front office and show them that they no longer can depend on TB to finish in last place and save face for the O's. The O's front office simply has to do a better job, or they're going to lose their fans and their revenue stream. Give it time people, and be patient, and our beloved O's will be a better team before you know it.

And also remember, that the Orioles have the absolute WORST Owner in ALL of proffessional sports.
That's the Grinch that keeps on giving

I love the stadium, love the history of the franchise, and I love B-Rob and some of the younger players. I hate management for being so incompetent and only seeing two great years out of this team since I've been a fan. I'm disappointed that we did not get Tex, but not just that, they've done very little to improve so far, aside from getting a SS. Why have they not signed Markakis long-term? They better do that pretty damn soon before he decides he doesn't want to be here long-term. What about pitching? Ben Sheets is a free agent, isn't he? Signing him would be a better idea than someone like Tim Redding!!!

I am hoping for certain things to happen in 09 though. That Troy Patton, who was supposed to be the gem of the Tejada trade, pitches and proves us right. We see Wieters within the first few months and starts out amazingly productive. Adam Jones continues to improve even more and unless they get a big time deal that isn't for Felix Pie I would like to see B-Rob in an O's uniform.

I came across this in Websters Dictionary, Thought it was a little harsh, but if the shoe fits!!
Mark Teixeira:
1: one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty
2 : one who commits treason
3: a dirty, gluttonous, or repulsive person
4: extraneous matter or impurities risen to or formed on the surface of New York as a foul filmy covering — compare Scott Boras2 b: the scoria of metals in a molten state : dross c: a slimy film on a Baseball Diamond or pinstripes
5: refuse b: a low, vile, or worthless person or group of people
— scum·my \ˈskə-mē\ adjective

Bruce,

I think you've had a little too much eggnog. The Orioles are pathetic and Angelos is laughing all the way to the bank. Of course we can't spend with the Yankees but can we spend twice what we are currently spending? Absolutley. Could we have gotten Teixiera and still signed other free agents in the next few years and develop our farm system? Absolutley. I'm tired of hearing the Teixiera situation and building our farm system expliained as mutually exclusive events. We could have done both and there is no excuse not to. I won't go to opening day for the first time in years nor will I watch it on TV. I'm sure the stadium will be 75% Yankee fans. Disgusting.

As the great Kenny Rogers (singer) would say "you've got to know when to fold 'em" I am done with baseball. Thank you Peter Angelos you have taken a once loved past time for me and ruined it. Its a shame too my son is 3 and I couldnt wait to take him to camden yards and watch the O's just like my father did for me. As long as i am alive I will only preach my love for the Ravens to him in turn you have lost two Fans not one and for generations to come as he will not pass it on to his kids.

What most people don't realize is that the penny-pinching Orioles are not a team going through financial crisis. The team has plenty of money! The organization could easily afford to carry a $125 mil payroll. This organization simply refuses to put profits back into the team, but into their pockets instead. Don't believe the hype. This team has money.

Ok, thats different. Lets not place blame on the guy who picks the GM's who make bad decision after bad decsion. Um last time I checked, thats called no accountability at the top.

I read time and again the value of the Oriole franchise and the revenue produced since PA signed the deal with MLB when the Nationals came to town. He has again taken whatever the initial investment in the franchise and got a return. He is not interested in winning today, tomorrow or the follow day. If he was, he would sign a marque starting pitcher a franchise position player and build the nucleaus of the team around that. MacPhail was a good start. But as cheap as angelos is, I dont see Andy having the same sucess here as he has elsewhere. While I agree that the past GM's have alot to do with the failings of the franchise, who put those people in that role? Angelos has ran proven GMs and head coaches out of Baltimore, not to it.

Ask yourself, if a hometown free agent wont play here who will? When will this cycle end? No time soon. Ask yourself when was the last legit FA player talking about WANTING to play for Baltimore? The franchise is disfunctional and until the cancer that is causing it is gone, it will stay disfunctional.

A good free agent would have to be extremely desperate to come to accept a contract in Baltimore. Players like Manny would rather retire than sign with the Os. Players laugh at the mention of the Orioles organization. We're on every players 'no trade clause' provisions.

The problem with the Orioles is both within the organization and without it. Within, the Orioles have had a poor farm system for almost the entire tenure of Peter Angelos. Since the departure of Mussina, the Orioles have not produced one frontline pitcher except for Guthrie. It did produce one elite reliever, BJ Ryan, but then it failed to lock him up before he hit the free agent market, which was a major gaffe.

Position player development has been a joke except for Roberts and Markakis.

The good news is that the organization has upgraded its farm system, finally, but then there's the problem of MLB itself.

The Yankees and other high revenue teams simply have a built in house advantage over everyone else, and its no small advantage either. The Yankess themselves operate at better than a 2-1 advantage vs. mid-market teams.

The Yankees advantage v. the Orioles shot up even further with the stupid placement of the NATIONALS in DC. DC needed a mid market baseball team like it needed a hole in the head. DC already had the Wizards, Capitals, Redskins, and United, and it had the Orioles as its satellite team -- in what promised to be a bigger consolidated market.

Now DC has split that market, to the disadvantage of each city. Unlike football, watering down one's local baseball market is a kiss of death. Small markets simply can't compete in MLB, to wit: PITT, SD, KC, MIL, BAL, DC, OAK, and CLE.

I'm just surprised that MLB has remained so popular given how its free agent market is so consistently skewed toward a minority of its teams.

I'm glad the Orioles wiffed on TEX, because that money is better not devoted to a 1B player. I'm also glad I don't own the Orioles, because its a no-win proposition except if one gets lucky in player development. The free agent market is out of bounds, and its always a place where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

In the Oriole's case, Mussina and BJ Ryan leave ---and are never effectively replaced.

WE WILL GET THERE AGAIN. WINNING SEASON, PLAYOFFS AND YES THE WORLD SERIES...I SUGGEST WE ALL CHIP IN AND PURCHASE TEX A SEAT TO THE EVENTS. THE YANKEES DO THIS EVERY YEAR AND ONE WILL SAY TO THEMSELFS. DAMN YANKEES THEY WILL WIN IT AGAIN AND THEN THEY FALL ON HEIR FACE.. ENJOY YOUR BRUSED FACE TEX.. WE WILL HAVE A SEAT FOR YOU THOUGH..DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU MISS THE PARTY..

Albert Belle's $13,000,000 a year contract with inflation taken into account would be worth almost $17,000,000 a year in today's dollars. Doubt me? Use an inflation calculator.

Throw in the arbitration number of Cabrera of $4,000,000 and you could have made a run at Tex.

Angelos would have made up much of that difference in increased ticket sales from making SOME move to bring back the fans, But, the fact is, he would rather keep the money.

Remember, all who have cable in Baltimore are already paying him 3 dollars a month for MASN.

"Bright future under Oriole's tree" - only if someone is buried six feet below that !

yada yada yada...as soon as positive moves are made, most will be back on board.
Then there will always be those who need a boss/owner/protaginist to justify their terrible road in life.
This is just baseball...6 months a year, a few games in person, many on TV...
Spend your money on therapy, apparently it will be far better spent given the negative and continuous belching about Angelos.
Of course you can read minds, and also have that insight about all negotiations, that are more complicated than ever.
I love what the O's are doing.
They are systematically building a strong franchise.
A solid starting lineup, which was ok last year offensively.
Addition of a solid slick fielding, carrer .260 hitter to anchor the infield.
Infusion of young talent, without rushing many of the true prospects.
A very strong bullpen, with the addition of so many from the IR.
A good solid unfoollish manager.
A beautiful stadium, passionate fans.
It looks good to me, and look forward to the continual if slow development of a winning franchise, we all can be proud of.
Happy Holidays, and a glorious New Year!

It's extremely embarrassing to be a fan of this franchise. I remember growing up and playing baseball, everyone wanted to be Cal Ripken or Eddie Murray. Now, there's no face of a faded franchise. The scouting department is horrible at evaluating pitching talent. The Rays are now better than the O's and McPhail wants the fans to be patient. More losing, more frustration, and more free agents that use the O's for nothing more than barganing chips. Angelos please sell this team to Cal.

11 years- enough is enough. They've had more than enough chances to turn this around.

Thanks for the positive and accurate review

Tampa Bay sprung up last year-Detroit 2 years ago - remember 1989?

Signing Free Agents and big names is frequently a panacea - the Angels and the Yankees never learn from past mistakes.

What good does it do you to grow talent when your organization is not willing to sign them to long term contracts. This problem goes a lot deeper than Tex.

Sheets is a must. He's a star. If healthy, Ben will be our #1 guy. Don't throw up your Christmas dinner but Bonds would be perfect. Let's get a little creative. Bonds and Sheets would make it interesting. Bonds would lead the AL in walks. B Rob and Milliar will keep him happy.

And your dreaming if you think Markakis is EVER going to sign a long term contract with the Orioles.

It will be the same old story - too much money for Pete !

What MLB needs to do is set up a separate league containing the BIG money teams. Then let the rest of the group play real baseball. AKA as the "Great American Pastime". When several teams can (and will)spend mega bucks for players, there's no competition possible for most of the rest.
Or even go back to the old system where all teams were on equal footing for the ratings. A much more equitable system! Scrap this division stuff!!

IF TOU THINK OVERPAYING FOR "TEX" WOULD KEEP THE ORIOLES OUT OF LAST PLACE IS STUPID.

Merry Christmas to you and all O's supporters...we don't relly have Markakis yet..LETS GET HIM SIGNED LONG TERM and make him the face of the O's for the future. Pay him whatever, then get pitchers and another hitter and it might be an interesting happy new year

Life is not fair, but sports should be. With each year that the big market teams corner the best players, my interest in MLB wanes.

I relish the memorie of 1988 when the fans were still fans and supported their team through thick and thin, when fans gathered at the airport to support their 0-21 Orioles and showed them we still had pride in those teams. For Christmas, I just want that back. Fans who show some pride instead of running from cover when things get dark.

Maybe the O's could go after Nick Swiser from the Yanks he would be a great pick up for first base or the outfield.

Oh, so what your saying is with all these positive players that we are loaded with talent and have pretty much always been, right? Please sorry to rain on everyones holiday cheer but this team is going nowhere. Not this year or the projected year of 2010. We fail to attract anyone. You know what I mean, we are just supposed to think that every player would die for a chance to play with the O's. Why? I remember the oriole way, I remember players wanting to come play here. Not anymore though. Maybe we can get Roger, Barry, and Ken Griffey Jr. to come play here cause they aren't wanted by anyone. Please we talk about our farm system like it is something grand. Why is it when someone plays for us we can't let them go it becomes a delemna, we are so afraid that once we let them go they will be something. Roberts and Markakis should run when given the opportunity and shouldn't be blamed like all the other players that either want to leave or that don't want to come here. Other teams will pay more money and have a better chance at winning. Isn't it about trying to win? I thought it was. If your not winning what are the chances that you will make the Hall of Fame? Will anyone remember you? Tony Gwynn yes, but teams don't have players like that anymore. I despise the yankees, I really do. Is it not funny though that they sell out all their games and any teams stadium when they are visiting? People want to see winners, they pay the money for it. Curse them if you will, but they haven't won a championship since 2000 and they are hungry. Their salary has been around $200 mil every year and they have lost and didn't even make the playoffs last year, wasn't it funny to see that? It was to me, but we got upset when we put the money on the table in the late 90's and didn't win so we got rid of our players. Now we don't want to pay players or we pay players that used to be good hoping that we will get the player from their prime. We constantly let go and cut salary, are the seats, food, and merchandise less? Yes other teams have done well with small salaries, they were surprises, are they consistant? Nope. If the Yanks had actually been good last year and Toronto had played to their capabilities we would've still finished last and tampa would've finished 3rd. Lets see what they do this year. Blame everything on the yankees but believe you me, If we would've put that money on the table we would be winning and bragging and you wouldn't be able to get seats at our stadium. Such rebels we are!!! So all you positive people out there, if we would've gotten Tex you would be happy now you all are saying it was a good move we didn't. I hope Huff, Millar and Co. have great patience cause they are going to need it. Happy Holidays!!!

I have been an Orioles fan since 1966 and I remember the days the Orioles were great and fun to watch. Those days they had teams that were together for a long time, baseball has been ruined by this free agency capitalism and I am afraid it will never return to what it was unless there is a total collaspe of baseball. God only knows that the sour economy hasn't slowed it any. I don't really care where the Orioles finish this year or next but I truly hope the Damn Yankees finish dead last. Yee Haw Hank!

But just remember, when it comes to signing all of that talent, the front office will suddenly give it a great try, but fall JUST short.
What a sugar coating of reality with this post!

The O's can already hit with the best of them... We need some Gloves and Pitching Arms.. Tex would not have helped much.. instead of losing on average of 10-6 it would be more losing but by 10-8 ... Lets get what we really need some leather and some arms.. Lowe and Sheets should be our number 1 concern and lock'n up two good run producers and great fielders in B-Rob and Nick ...

the team has a wonderful legacy that's a pleasure to recall. . .

I'm sorry, but it's awfully hard to be optimistic. Other than Wieters, our farm system lacks impact position players(personally I think the O's blew it by not drafting Smoalk). People keep talking about young players like Jones & Markakis. Well they're both solid players, but not exactly superstars. Neither of them are capable of carrying a team like a Ryan Braun, or a Chase Utley or an Evan Longoria.

I hope Brian Roberts stay with the Orioles  He's very good and I hope he's loyal too.Brian I know winning is very important to you,but please give us two more years,and if you see we are not improving then I would'nt mine if left us. Again you won't be to old.Please Brian I see that we are going to be better soon.I believe in Andy MacPhail. Don't be Teixeira,he's liar with no class. You have class and you're a Christian too.Remember Mr. Angeols gets alot of bad wraps.I think the fans don't give the credit he should have.He has spent alot of money for players that was'nt any good and you can't blame him for everything.I think the fans are to hard on him because they hav'nt been winning. Maybe he has made some misstakes. As Jesus once said who ever has not sin (misstake) cast the first stone.Give the man a chance.Thank you Mr. Angelos for trying to makes us better.

Dean. I'm with you. Give me a team that plays hard every day and let these young studs develop.

Wow your article really got me psyched. Now I can hardly wait for the 2012 season.

I'm with you too, Dean... Baltimore has plenty to be grateful for; MacPhail was smart to let Teixeira go and I think our farm system is quickly restocking itself and rapidly improving. I can wait until 2012, 2015, or beyond if that's what it takes...

To hell with all the nay-sayers... if they want a quick-fix, then they can go root for New York or Boston. It will take time and patience for Baltimore to recover from the past decade-and-half... and this is not a problem we ca simply buy ourselves out of...

Hate to sound like a grinch but the Orioles minor league hitters still are poor at taking walks. It's too bad that Dave Stocksdill is still in charge.

I think the Orange Kool Aid has fermented a bit too much. There are some possibilities in the minors but given the Orioles track record of finding pitchers especially that will help at the major league level, I'll remain skeptical.

Merry Christmas all the same!

Remember this,
PA is old will not be here forever.
Let's hope that Cal will buy the team and get us back on the right track.
I hate the Yankees and we all hate the Skins - just look at their owner - now there's a good joke!

Today I just decided to compare the Orioles to every other American league east team and rest of the AL. And basicly it looks like we our over matched position by position by every single team. MLB just needs to allow teams to create a AAAA team and that is wear the Orioles might have a chance to compete. I think the frame work is being set for us to have another 11 years of losing with P.A ranking in profits. Must be nice. As Oriole fans, we truely know just as much to be lossers like the Royals. Go Nationals!!!!!

I'd be willing to bet there are no more than 1500 fans at the Yard for the night games after the Yankee fans fill their own minor league stadium (Camden Yards)

Such a shame !

I kinda wonder what they're saying in LA about Tex signing with the Yanks? Are they bashing the owner/GM for being too cheap? Or are they praising them for not bidding through the roof for one player?

Both the Sox and Angels management backed off Teixeira - to me this means the Yanks were not going to be outbid. On that basis, Angelos/MacPhail to me deserve a pass/. AM made a genuine offer which, if Tex really wanted to be an Oriole, he would have taken $1.6 mil a month instead of $1.8 mil a month.

I'm with you Dean - a blessing in disguise. The Yanks with Mussina and A-Rod won NOTHING. The Yanks and RS that won the WS won with a homegrown core.

To bring this to fruition - unfortunately, requires something that is precious at this time - patience. Being a Colts fan, I remember the terrible years, including a 1-15. The Colts now have 45 players out of 53 that have NEVER worn another uniform. And they compete well - no SuperBowl Trophy every year, but they compete well.

Baseball without a cap is different. You spring for a major FA player when truly in the hunt, as the Brewers did last year. The Orioles simply are in that situation yet, but AM knows this perfectly well. Get competitive first, then play the FA card when the time is ripe.

The current O's will be solid, not spectacular at almost every position, and they scored plenty of runs last year. The mound is where the crux of the matter lies - again AM and DT are well aware of this. Burnett was never going to take the O's over the hump.
The O's need to bait some time for the young arms to develop. Again requiring patience.

Hold tight everyone.

Best wishes and Season's Greetings to all.

Everyone seems to forget that the Orioles competed well against EVERY TEAM, except Tampa Bay, until August of last year. That's when the mounting injuries on the pitching staff became overwhelming, and the swoon of August and September began. We will be equal or improved at every fielding position in 2009. Now we just need starting pitching!

Sign our "CURRENT STUDS"...you've got to be kidding. And they would be...????? What a joke this team is. A complete joke.

Give me a break. Now that we could not lure Tex here, Andy will be trading Brian Roberts to some team for garbage before the start of the season.

We will NEVER entice big name free agents to come here without retaining the few big names on the roster already.

I hate fire sales.

My first year I DID NOT GET ONE THING FOR CHRISTMAS ORIOLES RELATED ???

I really don't understand how everyone is blaming MacPhail. I understand blaming angelos because he is the one who got us into this mess, but MacPhail?? The guy has always been strait to the fans and media about what to expect.

He said he would devote the clubs resourses to the draft and international scouting and he did, he said he would start a rebuilding effort and he has, he said he would look into signing Tex to see if there was interest on his side, and there wasn't, but he still tried. Everything he has said he would do he has done so far in the short 1 1/2 years he has been here.

At least he isn't like the past GM's that were trying to sell you on guys like Omar Daal and Rick Helling being ace pitchers and Jay Gibbons being the next McGuire. At least he isn't trying to sell you all on us being the 05 Detroit Tigers where everything will magically fall into place (1000/1 odds) and suddenly the O's will be contenders by blind luck.

He is the only one who can get us out of this mess and the vast majority of you are being an ignorant angry mob with pitchforks calling for him to be burned at the stake!

So go ahead, drive him out of town, I wouldn't blame him. That would be a nice change of pace, the O's fans driving someone out of town and not the owner...you people are a disgrace and none of you deserve a winner anyway! MacPhail deserves better!

Great post Dean! Keep up the good work!!

Excellent positive thinkingabout listing O's assets and young talenty. Unfortunately, by the time Matusz, Arrieta and Tillman become star caliber at the top level, we will be looking for Roberts replacement, Huff will be gone, Mora gone, Guthrie lost to FA....etc. The O's never put ity all together at same time. The Rays did it because they have excellent scouts built it over many years. The O's have decent scouts, but not as good as Rays' scouts. The O's will always be hard pressed to resign the young talent once they become stars. The sad fact is baseball has changed and you must be a player in the FA market to compete and Angelos is too heavy of a thinker and too cheap to get it done. Sure I like the O's assets, but compare them among all of baseball and arguably the O's fall near the bottom as far as quality player depth. Angelos damaged this team with his thinking over past decade and now we are feeling the burn. Obviously the scouting didn't fair well ether because we haven't got anybody good over that same decade until recently (Roberts and Markaikis being the first). If Angelos liked the O's and the sport we could have maintained a solid core and maybe even successful enough to have been attractive to Tex in 2008 and then who can imagine where we'd be.

Thanks Angelos....liar, cheap, disenchanting SOB.

We do not need Tex. We do need to spend 20 million per season this year. We need Sheets, Penny, and to resign Markakis, this would actually be less than 20. Trade Roberts for Cedeno and pitching. Let Montaez or Salzaar DH, Huff at first, not big deal. We scored runs allll year last season without Weiters. Please, I'm seriously begging, please give me pitching. It not by next season I'm done, 26 years of some how buying merchandise and tickets for nothing. For worse than nothing, for having hopes shot to pieces over and over. Please give me pitching, please give us Sheets, this fan base has endured as much if not more than any organization in baseball, we deserve Sheets.

Someone explain why our young talent would even consider signing long-term deals with this team. It just makes no sense to me. We just passed on the chance to sign a franchise player, with AM saying it wasn't part of the "plan." What plan? The Bedard and Tejada trades were no-brainers. Give AM no credit whatsoever for those. The batboy could've made those deals. Why didn't he move Roberts, Huff and Sherrill last year when their value was highest? Again, what plan is he talking about? Say all you want about PGA, he, not AM, got us Wieters and would at least have taken his best shot at Tex had it not been for AM and his non-existent "plan." Sorry AM, this is not the AL Central and your style and philosophy, if you have any, just don't cut it in the East. I'm an O's fan since 1960 and all I can say is: Go Ravens!

Yes Mark T would have been nice, but the Orioles are not going to win with him or without him this year. It is time to just grow with the young players that we have and possible reduce the cost to attend a game for the next couple of years. I believe the youth is the way to go. Also I believe that you start winning with pitching and defense first. The young pitchers need to learn how to pitch inside and how to back a player off the plate as was done in the past

Get real. This is another 'wool over the eyes' ploy by an organization that continues to treat its fans as if they're ignorant.

The missed a golden opportunity with Tex for reasons beyond just the numbers he'll put up. As for Dunn and others, it doesn't matter, they aren't going to sign anyone significant. They never will.

So, have fun for the next 10 years wondering if prospects will pan out or not. Moreover, Markakis would be out of his mind to stay here. He's better than this club; he's a winner.

The day Angelos dies is the day that we have a shot to return to the competitive ranks. Until then, enjoy your Braden Looper jerseys for Christmas.

Moronic Oriole fans.

And, Dean, get real. Stop drinking the orange Kool Aid.

The future is not bright. Every team has prospects. The truth is, we as fans just seem to know ours better because we have nothing else to hang our hats on.

This team has money to spend... youth is the way to go, but you've got to also make certain move to show you're serious about winning and building a champion.

Nice comments, and for the most part I agree. Still proud to be an O's fan, love the direction of the club, believe in Andy, and can't wait to see the O's in 2 years.

However, let's see B-Rob go in another 5-1 trade (those trades are awesome!!).

Than sign Nick to a 7 year 60-70 million deal.

but for the most part things look better than they have in years past...let's not stop being aggressive in the re-building. SELL IT ALL. Sherrel, Huff, Gutherie, Ray...if they're under 26, keep em, if over, trade em!!!

Yes, we have some good memories but, as long as Angelos is the owner, we have no future. We need good pitching and we need it NOW. What high quality pitcher wants to sign with a club that will not spend money to get GOOD players around them, especially a quality pitching staff. Until we get good pitching, we can't score enough runs to win consistantly. Wake up Angelos, or sell the team to someone who wants to win. The Oriole problem
is the reverse of the Ravens past problem. The Ravens had a great defense and a pathetic offense and defense (alone) will not win over the long haul. They have now turned that around. The Orioles need to improve their defense by signing some high quality pitchers who can provide the ERA needed to make this team a winner. But, forget it because it takes money and Angelos is too busy counting his.

Everyone seems to forget that the Orioles competed well against EVERY TEAM, except Tampa Bay, until August of last year. That's when the mounting injuries on the pitching staff became overwhelming, and the swoon of August and September began. We will be equal or improved at every fielding position in 2009. Now we just need starting pitching!

You make some great points, sorry to do this, but, we are losing our entire infield to free agency after this yr., save ss. What exactly is it that you see in our minor league system that will address this major problem ? I don't see much, & PLEASE don't mention free agents. We will never replace the production from Huff, BRob, & Mora that way. That's what really hurt about losing Tex & BRob by default. I must say we will be taking much longer with this rebuilding process now.

Who needs Tex. and his inflated Boros salary. Oscar Salazar hit .316 for AAA Norfolk..why is there no talk of him at 1st base for the O's?

Why would anyone, with options, want to play for the Baltimore Orioles? The fact that a native Baltimorean (Tex) turned his back on the O's speaks volumes. These are not your father's Orioles. This is a lousy oragnization with a losing culture. And you can be sure that, in time, the O's will lose Markakis, Roberts, Jones, Weiters, et al, to free agency when the time comes.

Dean who started this blog named "Bright Future Under the O's Tree" wrote an optimistic blog which is lacking in the post Teix. NYY outcome by bloggers in Baltimore. O's fans we do have a good base in the minors and the O's could still surprise this year if all goes good. We have a great catcher in Wieters, good pitching in the minors which could be a factor if brought up to the majors and once again I say Oscar Salazar hit .316 in 2008 for AAA Norfolk and hit 2 home runs in one game when brought up for the O's in Sept. 2008 vs Minn.

Merry Christmas Dean,

I appreciate your optimism, truly I do, especially on Jesus's birthday, the holiest of days for Christians. However, no amount of enthusiasm can hid the fact that this organization stinks because it is rotten at the top! Until abestos Angelos becomes worm food, they will continue to stink like 3 day old fish in a summer dumpster! No matter how great of a GM MacPail was, is, or wants to be, he'll continue to be handcuffed by a prodding, egotistical, and meddlesome owner (no, they all aren't) Once the Sawx and Angels backed away from the table for Tex, we had an opportunity, a crack in the window if you will, to up the anty and convince the hometown boy ole Baldimor was going to again be winners w him as a fixture at 1st base for a decade! We have long known that we will have to overpay for superstar talent until this losing swoon gets fully put to rest, but quite simply, dirty Pete lost his personal bluff game w Mussina years ago and has become the grinch ever since. I didn't applaud him for trying to stem the tide in rising salaries then, because it came at the expense of arguably one of greatest arms we had ever drafted and developed. And I surely can't support him now cause he's playing poker w the deck stacked against him and the cards facing out! There is no reason we can't be the Cardinals east, competitive almost every year. They are an equally small market team with similar finances. We're both in the top 10 in revenue, are we not? Yet the Os' act like they're in the bottom 10 when it comes time to anty up. So go ahead, talk up the minor league talent, because that is EXACTLY what we're going to continue to see at the Yards, yet again, whether it comes in the form of marginal veterans like Luke Scott, or Freel, or super green rookies like Weiters, any way you slice it, we'll be out of contention by the time we celebrate the next big Christian holiday; Easter.

I don't need proof, Dean. I've been singing your song for over a year now.
It amazes me the way so-called Oriole fans can be so down on their own team when it's been so obvious ever since Angelos had the good sense to bring in MacPhail that this team was about to undergo a refurbishing from the ground up.
One does not have to search for the good things.... they are obvious and they are plentiful.
Even when Andy has tried to make a couple of ill-advised moves (trying to hire Girardi as manager, trying to trade Roberts, and trying to sign Texiera) someone has watched over us and prevented it.
I can't wait for spring. This team is going to be exciting to watch.

Trembley stinks.