Simply pathetic.

Why draft someone if you're not 100% sure you can't sign him? Unbelievable.

If he doesn't sign, this is a colossal failure by the O's front office. Just unbelievable.

Wait, I'm an O's fan. This is totally believable.

At 11:59:59 p.m. I'm not sure if our nightmare will have ended, or if it's only just begun.

If this is true and we lost our top pick over 5 million that they offered him reportedly more than just this morning and they made no attempt to budge any higher...than I lost any faith that I held that McPhail was going to do anything truly positive for this organization.

"This is just sad."

Can anyone put it any better?

I won't put it all on McPhail, because he didn't draft him.

But... it's just sad.

And in other news, suicide hotlines across the country have been flooded with an unusually high percentage of calls from the 410 area code. An explanation is yet to be provided.

The clock has struck midnight.

The only thing that seems to fit the
Wieters non-signing is the following:
"Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose"
-The more things change,
the more they stay the same!

What did we Orioles fans do to deserve this?

Moustakis signed with KC. I am literally speechless.

No 1st rounder
No 2nd rounder
No 3rd rounder

No plan

The Orioles are open for business as usual.

Another reason to love the Ravens more. They would never miss the opportunity to sign the best player in the draft, especially a need player. Everytime a little progress is made, a huge step backward makes up for it.

Welcome to Baltimore. Get used to this if you aren't already.

This is simply horrible. Just pay him the money. This guy is a future superstar. The Orioles are doing a great injustice by letting down the fans. The only way they are going to get competitive is if they spend money. Peter Angelos and company are idiots. I've lost faith in Andy MacPhail's ability to get the job done.

I'm done with the O's until Angelos is gone. Roch it was nice knowing you, I have no reason to read the blog. Angelos steals your money and invests zero into the team. Angelos has not only alienated most former fans, but he is losing them by the second.

There isnt much to say that hasnt already been said. Everytime we think the O's have hit rock bottom, they just keep digging deeper.

Another McPhailure......I have seen over 500 games since Camden Yards has opened and I will never set foot in there again until there is new ownership.

My buddy, a huge Chi Cubs fan, says Vitters signed as well from what he read on northsidebaseball, a Cubs bulletin board.
That means the only team that apparently didn't sign their first round pick was . . .

MacPhail should be fired for his conflict of interest. It is highly unethical what he has done. I hope the Oriole fans let him have it when he tries to explain how he MacFailed...

I could care less whether MacPhail drafted him, he's the one who's supposed to be in charge of baseball operations, isn't he? And job #1 of the baseball operations guy is to sign your organization's draft picks. Might as well legally change his last name to MacFAIL!

Roch, can you confirm they didn't sign him? I'm drawing a warm bath as I type this, but I want to be certain before I open my veins.

does anyone have email addresses for the following people?

Peter Angelos, Bud Selig, Flanagan, Duquette, and Cal Ripken

If you have any of them, please post them here. We need to show these guys that we are done dealing with Angelos and his greedy ways. He has ruined baseball for many former fans.

I know Selig does nothing, but when he sees a city with such a proud history, become the laughing stock of baseball, maybe he will push Angelos to sell.

Most all of you here are wrong. You have assumed Peter Angelos goal is to win games. That is totally incorrect. Peter Angelos goal is to make money from the Orioles, at which he is greatly successful. Lets compare his profits (defined as operating income or earnings by Forbes) for five years with the Yankees and Red Sox. All figures below from Forbes in millions of dollars.

____________ ORIOLES________YANKEES________RED_SOX
_________PROFIT___RANK___PROFIT__ RANK___PROFIT__RANK
2002 ______12.4 ______ 4_______16.1______ 2_______-2.1_____19
2003 _______9.1_______6______-26.3_____ 29______-11.4_____23
2004 ______34.0_______1______-37.1_____ 30______-11.3_____ 27
2005 ______21.0______11______-50.0_____ 30______-18.5_____ 29
2006 ______17.1______17 _____-25.0 _____ 30 ______ 19.5_____12
TOTAL ____93.6_______2_____-122.3_____ 30 ______-23.8_____27

We think the Orioles have failed because of 10 straight losing seasons. Angelos thinks he is a big winner. For the last five years, the Orioles have the second highest profits in all of baseball, barely behind Cleveland at 96.1 and well ahead of third place Seattle 79.9. Over the last five years the Orioles made 215.9 million dollars more than the Yankees. The Yankees and Red Sox have been losing money to win games. The Orioles have been losing games to make money. The Orioles are literally awash in money. They easily could afford Wieters and much, much more.

Peter Angelos won his world series in 2004 finishing first in profits. A disturbing trend has developed over the last two years with 11th and 17th place finishes. This is why MacFail was hired, to get Flanaquette back in line and restore profitability. He was not hired in the middle of a losing streak to win games as we all assumed. This is why Chris Gomez was let go for nothing to avoid incentives, and why Wieters will not be signed.

The only hope the Orioles have for winning is for Angelos to sell the team. He will only do that if he loses money. To do that we must all boycott the team and stop going to Oriole games. I have been a fan since 1961, it will hurt but it is our only hope.

per Baseball America, he SIGNED !!!

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

Baseball America just announced that the Cubs did sign Vitters. I'm gonna be like Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers after he's lost it and he just starts showing up drunk and trashing all these weddings by himself. Only I'm going to start doing the same thing at other club's press conferences to announce their signings.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=224

just breathe people

Posted Aug. 15, 2007 11:13 pm by Jim Callis
Filed under: Signings

All 30 first-rounders are done. No. 5 overall pick Matt Wieters signed at the last second with the Orioles.

I take it all back!!!

Word is trickling in from BBA that Moustakas and VItters both signed at last minute. Nothing on Wieters.

I really wanted the O's to sign Wieters but at a rumored $11 million!?

I don't think this is as big a deal as everyone makes out. Wieters could be a bust, or even if successful, get injured. Sure Loewen worked out this year after being signed to a ML contract but remember back in Spring Training when you were wondering if he ended up struggling, what would the O's do with him since he was out of options.

As too many 1st round draft picks have shown in the past, there is no sure thing. I saw Billy Rowell a week ago at Delmarva. He was very unimpressive - looking lost in the field and at the plate. He had two errors, then fumbled his third chance and nearly threw it away except for a good play by Vinyard. My prediction based on only one game - Rowell will never make it as an infielder. His lone hit was an infield single.

Another example, two words - Wade Townsend.

This isn't the end of the world. The Orioles will likely get two top 10 picks next year.

Well... at least everything is back to normal.

BA said Wieters sign

Take it all back boys...

Wieters has signed... Y'all panic too easily. :-)

HE SIGNED. HOLY SH*T, HE SIGNED. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. Per Baseball America's blog, he signed

he signed he signed he signed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

Baseball America reporting that Wieters has signed.

WE GOT HIM ROCH! WE GOT HIM

Baseball America just reported this:

All 30 first-rounders are done. No. 5 overall pick Matt Wieters signed at the last second with the Orioles.

Jim Callis reports Wieters has signed. Still and O's fan for another day.

Jim Callis reports Wieters has signed. Still and O's fan for another day.

Just read on Baseball America that Wieters signed. Any truth?

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=224

We signed him, guys.

Baseball America says Wieters signed!

According to Baseball America Wieters signed at the last minute....Andy McPhail, you have my most sincere apology.

Jim Callis say Wieters signed!!

Baseball America is reporting Wieters has signed...

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

Baseball America is reporting we signed Weiters at the buzzer!

weiters signs weiters signs
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

Wieters signs per BA. Everybody rejoice!!!

Wieters did sign.

Last second...

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?cat=11

roch,

wake up they signed him!!!

its on Baseball America

Its not a bad dream.

It's a miracle! Wieters signed according to Baseball America!

11 million is nothing for a baseball players these days. They knew when they drafted him that he would be expensive. That is why all the lower teams in the draft skipped over him. If they had no intention of putting out the cash why not just pick someone else?

This team is a joke. It can't sign free agents and it can't sign draft picks things can't get much worse.

According to Baseball America
WIETERS HAS SIGNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If it's true, maybe there is some hope afterall...

And disaster averted. According to Baseball America Wieters signs at the lost moment for a 6 mil bonus. At this price he'd better be good.

Jim Callis on Baseball America says Wieters signed for $6 million with the Orioles "at the last second."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

Wieters signs last minute, according to Baseball America.

Wieters just got signed.

Maaaagic magic magic magic....

Orioles magic, doubters.

Baseball America says Wieters signed at the last second.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

Looks like the unthinkable happened: http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

I have no team as of 11 minutes ago. A new owner could change that, but nothing short of that will. This is the last straw... I hope MacPhail and Angelos feel that they've "won" this battle with Boras and showed him "who's boss." I'll never fully understand how my dad felt when the Colts left town that night years ago, but I know tonight my team is no longer my team and I call on each and every fan out there to cease supporting management this travesty and let our displeasure be heard like never before. I'm not talking a few hundred walking out, just stop everything - we've got a class organization run by professionals in town in the Ravens, not to mention the Blast as well, and the Ironbirds for those of us who want to enjoy a ballgame. But I'm finished now. It's been 32 years and I've seen alot w/this team, and I can't defend or support anymore w/this ownership. It's too much to ask.

What is taking the Sun so long to report this? Are you out with Anita right now or something. I hope your not out with Maese.

Signed Roch break the news!!!!

HE SIGNED!!!! check out baseballamerica.com for the article... THANK GOD!!!

correction, he was signed at the last second with a 6 mil signing bonus, shows the FO may care after all

from mlb.com:
Our friends at Baseball America reported that Matt Wieters did sign in the end, for $6 million.

woohoo!

According to Baseball America, Wieters Signed! 6 million dollar bonus, 2nd largest bonus ever for any draft pick

Dear Peter Angelos,

You suck.

Sincerely,

Brian

Baseball America reports Weiters signs...justr typical hard-balling by Angelos and Boras....thank you Mr. Angelos for getting this done...the future look sbright...I gotta wear shades! P.S. I think the Sun won't post this because it is positive....

O's Sign Wieters!!!

Sad, yes, but is anyone surprised? I think it's prudent to resist critcizing the Orioles front office on this one and anyone who's read my posts know that I've never been shy about slamming them when I felt it warranted.

But I don't know that it is warranted this time. Matt Wieters, for all that's been written about him, has yet to go up against a Roy Halliday, Dan Haren or Johann Santana. No one knows if he's the next Mickey Mantle or the next Joe Charboneau (never made it, but the dude could open beer bottles with his eye socket!).

The point is that Scott Boras is trying to out-Scott Boras himself on this one. I mean, come on, we're talking about demanding All-Star money for a player who hasn't even proven he can stick on a major league roster.

Don't get me wrong, I think Wieters is probably going to be a quality big league player who will justify the huge contracts thrown his way, but he isn't that player yet...and may never be.

It may be that Wieters told Boras that he really doesn't want to play for the O's, so the amount demanded was set artificially high by the super agent to scare off Peter Angelos, who almost always will back down from the big deal. [Boras' M.O. on Angelos: Has plenty of money, but refuses to spend it.]

We got him!

Wieters Signs

Posted Aug. 15, 2007 11:13 pm by Jim Callis
Filed under: Signings

All 30 first-rounders are done. No. 5 overall pick Matt Wieters signed at the last second with the Orioles. He reportedly received a straight $6 million bonus, the second-highest in draft history behind Justin Upton’s $6.1 million as the No. 1 overall pick in 2005.

Wow--despite all the doom and gloom here, the O's got it done. From the sound of it, the signing bonus was what was being offered at the start of the day--apparently he didn't want to go back to school. McPhail saves face ... for now.

WE GOT HIM!!!
See you in '09 Tex.

Just reported from BBA and by Jon Mayo on MLB.com

Wieters Signs
Posted Aug. 15, 2007 11:13 pm by Jim Callis
Filed under: Signings

All 30 first-rounders are done. No. 5 overall pick Matt Wieters signed at the last second with the Orioles. He reportedly received a straight $6 million bonus, the second-highest in draft history behind Justin Upton’s $6.1 million as the No. 1 overall pick in 2005.

Roch, were you playing with our emotions? I am a sensitive fan - please take that into consideration. I've got to work tomorrow and now I can't sleep. Go O's!

We got him, baby! Man, that's twice today that the Orioles were looking pretty dead and came back to life! My heart can't keep taking these kinds of ups and downs!

Well, looks like we got him.

Wieters is signed!! I'm an orioles fan once again ;P

Well whadya know Roch? They got him. I was so angry and then I went on rotoworld and saw he was signed. Peter Angelos finally made a good decision.

WE GOT HIM>>>>WHAT A GREAT DAY TO BE AN O"S FAN!!!!!

SIGNED!!!

Welcome to Baltimore, Matt!

You all are all washed up! They got the deal done! The Birds beat the Yankees 2 of 3 and they are a different team. This signing is one step in the process of turning this team around and a winning season and then a playoff run are soon to come! I BELIEVE!

Ok, all you naysayers, the deal got done!

Why not wait until after midnight to criticize the Orioles?

I am not a lover of Angelos either (to put it mildly), but statements such as "I will never go to another game if they don't sign this guy" are way too strong! I am impressed this year with the direction the O's are taking. They have some good young talent, and Trembley seems to be a great manager.

Folks, we just beat the Red Sox and Yankees 4 of 6 games, and we are 8-4 against the Yanks this year! There is some cause for optimism here!!

Go O's!

signed!
whew...
good night all

Oh, for crying out loud, all you PA bashers and pessimists, just give it a rest already.

The team got it done. Anyone who proclaimed with such certainty that the team sucked and would never get it done and this was pathetic, etc etc etc should reconsider their deep-seated pessimism and reevaluate the last 18 months.

And celebrate a little. Today was one for the optimists! (two counting the 10th inning)

consider it done. yay!

"They got the deal done," said Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan. "You can tell the City of Baltimore that the old evil owner stepped up and took care of things tonight. We had to fight to the end."

Couldn't be said ANY better. Thank Goodness.

hey roch, i'm gonna be perfectly honest... hearing the o's signed weiters, successful sign or not, in my mind could turn the face of the franchise around. as much as angelos has been in bad standing with the fans, he should be given alot of credit for the way things turned out. i'm not sure how well i'd take it if we didn'tsign him. i view myself as a tride and true oriole fan. i mean for crying out loud a group of friends and i painted our bodies and ran into red sox nation last weekend and got BOO'ed going to our seats! I'm glad to see my idiotic support at times has been worth it and the ownership is showing effort to right the ship. thanks for reading my babbling, take care!

birdman

"They got the deal done," said Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan. "You can tell the City of Baltimore that the old evil owner stepped up and took care of things tonight. We had to fight to the end."

And to think that Peter worked on it personally, too. Good for him. Good for us. Yay.

The Sun is reporting elsewhere that the deal got done at the very last minute, although it wasn't publicly reported until after the deadline. Reportedly for a $6 million bonus, with no word on any other contract terms. Baseball America is reporting the same thing.

Dear Peter Angelos,

I take it back! I knew there was a reason I was staying awake!

Uh, so I'm sorry about that last comment...

Sincerely,

Brian

Okay, I've just read that Wieters signed for a measly $6 M. Gotta be dreaming, this isn't going to be what is reported when I wake up Thursday morning, but if it is, then there's only one headline for the article that amounts to anything...

"Boras Blinked!"

O's fans are so cynical...

And what happens in 3 yrs if this guy doesn't end up being anything, yet alone worth the 6 million + he ended up with? You all will bash the organization for wasting money on him.

The only way Tex comes here in 09 is if Angelos pays him what he's worth and perhaps a bit more as he has grown accustomed to. Tex will not come here bc his agent is Boras. He won't come here bc we have a switch hitting catcher from Georgia Tech and her won't come here because he's a St. Joseph HS alum. He will come here if the price is right...and IF the O's show real commitment come this off season.

But really, anyone who claims this move of signing weiters will be/is an attempt to lure Tex here must understand it's a business. If Tex wanted to be an Oriole so badly, his contract would include a no trade clause except to Baltimore...or he would've "encouraged" the Rangers to try a bit harder to work something out with the O's, especially since the players run the game anyway.

Ok, im done

OK I read Rosenthal's article that someone suggested and he made some decent points but he talked zero about draft choices who signed for millions and gave zero value to their team. I am no expert but I would wager there are some.

Maybe the Orioles are stupid for not paying 11 mil. for Wieters, ask me in 5 years. I do think if they offered a contract similar to the one that the D-Rays offered that they bargained in good faith and that Wieters and Boras were equally stupid for not making it work. 8.5 mil. guaranteed is enough money for Mr. Wieters and Mr. Boras and their families to never go hungry or lack shelter. Career ending injuries or other disasters are within the realm of possibility. The Yankees may sign their draft choices for 13 mil. but they are idiots and are ruining baseball.

As far as the Forbes stats, just don't believe them. They manipulate their profit/loss figures and I don't think the Yankees or Red Sox numbers included the majority club owned YES or NESN network profits. I am not saying the Orioles are losing money but Roch is right it's their money to spend and I am not sure Wieters will ultimately prove worthy of 11 mil.

Nice victory by the Orioles today and in the series (we should have swept them). I hope they keep it up against the Jays and through September.

Man, oh man. Went for dinner and a movie with my girlfriend, partly to keep myself away from a computer until after 12. Came home and fired up the blog, full of optimism. I totally expected the deal to be done, and to go to bed happily. Took a big slug of bourbon instead for the pain.

If we cannot afford our one and only pick from the first 3 rounds this year, how can we hope to sign the 4 we will have next year???

Taking a little bite out of Boras does not make up for this loss. As many of you have noted, this may have a ripple effect in free agency this offseason, and in 11 months when we face the trading deadline, and we offer Bedard a contract extension before fielding trade offers. If he turns down an extension, tonights failings absolutely play some role. Heck, maybe we won't even try. Angelos will say "no one is worth 13 million."

Strike one (looking) for McPhail...

This is a hilarious thread. The top half is full of references to “they” and “the Orioles” and after the Wieters signing the references change to “we” and “our team”. It look like a lot of you are only fans when things go your way. Sounds a lot like Yankee fans to me.

And what happens in 3 yrs if this guy doesn't end up being anything, yet alone worth the 6 million + he ended up with? You all will bash the organization for wasting money on him.

If he doesn't end up being anything in 3 years for 6 million and some loose change, it would still be one of the better deals the organization has made recently considering they're happily gave Trachsel and Wright $3 million to be nothing, Baez $19 million to be nothing, Gibbons $21 million to be nothing, Payton $9.5 million to be nothing, and Huff $20 million to be nothing.

It look like a lot of you are only fans when things go your way.

To be perfectly frank, what's the problem with that? I'm a fan of a restaurant when they're serving me delicious food. I'm a fan of an automobile company when they make an excellent car.

Now, if the restaurant decides to serve me crap tartare and the automobile company sells me a car that randomly catches on fire, why should I feel obligated to support those businesses?

The Orioles didn't want to give Wieters more than $6 million up-front because he might be a failure, yet they eagerly shell out wads of dough for players that are failures. Lose your closing job in LA, get dumped on Atlanta and mopup duty? Cha-ching! $19.5 million. Way below-average hitter for the A's? Here's $9.5 million! Haven't been a better-than-average outfielder in 3 years and have no defensive value? Quick, take this $20.5 million before I find someone even worse to spend it on!

An organization run like the O's deserves to be dumped on by their customers. The only hope for us is apparently for the Orioles to accidentally develop quality players and they can only do that by adding talent like Wieters and hoping that it works out, not by throwing money at the detritus washed up from the ships of the better-navigated franchises. And when a lot of us see the Orioles apparently pass up a talented player like Wieters, it takes away our hope.

"It looks like a lot of you are only fans when things go your way."
To be perfectly frank, what's the problem with that? I'm a fan of a restaurant when they're serving me delicious food. I'm a fan of an automobile company when they make an excellent car.

You're confusing being a fan with being a customer. Customers vote with dollars, fans vote with their hearts. As much as I disagree with decisions made by the Orioles, I've been fan for 40 years and they are in my blood. That doesn't change based on bad decisions made in the last ten years.
I guess you should check the standings, find the team in first place and become a customer.

You're confusing being a fan with being a customer. Customers vote with dollars, fans vote with their hearts.

Then, what about this team the last 10 years inspires your heart? If there's no underlying reason to like a team, you're rooting for laundry - this team is nothing like the Weaver-era Orioles, a classy organization that built up players from within.

Then, what about this team the last 10 years inspires your heart? If there's no underlying reason to like a team, you're rooting for laundry - this team is nothing like the Weaver-era Orioles, a classy organization that built up players from within.

I'm from Baltimore. The Orioles are my hometown team. I grew up with them, went to World Series games at Memorial Stadium and stood proudly in the stands at 2131. I want to see them return to greatness. Just because Angelos has screwed the team up doesn't mean I abandon them for a team higher in the standings.
It's called loyality. It's why the Cubs, the Rangers, the Royals and Pirates have fans.

I'm from Baltimore. The Orioles are my hometown team. I grew up with them, went to World Series games at Memorial Stadium and stood proudly in the stands at 2131. I want to see them return to greatness. Just because Angelos has screwed the team up doesn't mean I abandon them for a team higher in the standings.

Is there such a thing as Battered Oriole Fan Syndrome?

Is there such a thing as Battered Oriole Fan Syndrome?

I'm no victim, but antidepressants would be appreciated.