Well said, Tom D: “The loss of any young person is a tragedy. Parents should not be burying their children. How talented the person is in whatever is secondary to the loss. It is a great shame.”

Seeing that Guillen doesn’t stay with any team for more than two seasons, it would be silly to sign him for three, of course. Guillen has had some decent numbers here and there, and we’re all suspicious they are somehow enhanced, but he’s a bad contract waiting to happen. Think of the deal we gave David Segui. If that’s not enough, think of the deal we gave Jay Gibbons. Injuries or playing with another club seem to be his future. No matter what the rumors say, I don’t see the O’s going after him. It just doesn’t fit in with what MacPhail seems to be indicating is the team’s direction. If you’re supposedly dismantling the team, why add the type of player to your team that you’re supposedly committed to getting rid of?

As for the Yankees working a deal for Johan Santana, ignore the flashy lights of that big potential deal. Yeah, it’s predictable and discouraging, but there’s nothing the Orioles can do about it but keep focusing on what they’re doing (whatever it is they’re doing—hopefully, building a long-term winner) and not worrying about the competition. The Yankees are desperate to win the World Series and also one-up the Red Sox. They’ll probably deplete their system doing it, which I say is fine. The O’s won’t be competing with them or the Red Sox for the next few years, so let them deal away as much of their future as they care to.

I don't know much about Sean Taylor (I'm a Raven fan), but I don't think it's terrible to want to know who would commit such a senseless act.

I think the press and fans should give his family and friends some breathing room to let them deal with his loss before speculating about who the perpetrator is, but there is no shortage of media attention devoted to high-profile crimes and any surrounding intrigue.

I sure hope that his killer will be caught and brought to justice, and when you look at motive, you have to consider the possibility that someone he knew had a hand in his death. I certainly don't fault any athletes or entertainers for being guarded in their private lives, as there too many people out there who have "unhealthy" attitudes towards those who are more rich and famous.

Sean Taylor, at 24, was quite young, and given the previous break-in into his house and his altercation with others he alleged were trying to steal ATVs from his property, maybe there were a few friends-of-a-friend from his recent youthful past who, through no fault of his own, had designs on some of his property.

While some fault athletes and celebrities for being too standoffish, it seems he didn't do enough to protect himself from the unwarranted intrusion of others.

RETIRE #21

It is unfortunate that a lot of people are going to wonder, because of his past, if this was something he "brought upon himself". It's harsh, but it IS a natural, valid reaction unfortunately.

Most people, even if only subconsciously, are aware of the fact that when it comes to reported crimes the overwhelming percentage of victims either knew or knew of their attacker. Total random violence, especially such that ends in murder, is pretty rare. So when you hear that someone had some past issues with the law you can't help but wonder if that didn't put them in the path of the person who ultimately took their life.

In the end though it doesn't really matter. The bottom line is that no one deserves to be cornered and shot in their own home...and no little girl deserves to have to grow up without her daddy. The rest is just a bunch of details.

Roch, I don't wish death on people, but you don't normally get a hit taken out on you for being an angel.
No one has it coming, but to say that it's a mistake to think that he couldn't be involved in anything that would cause this to happen would be to misspeak.

As a lifelong Redskins fan, I never imagined that tragedy would be a side-effect of following this great team. People are murdered every single day, and yet nothing could prepare a person for this kind of event. I really cannot believe he is dead, and I hope his infant daughter-- who apparently slept through the whole ordeal-- will somehow be able to live a normal life as she grows up without a father. May Sean Taylor also live on as a symbol of the senseless violence that decimates our country every day. Someday it has to end.

Well-said, Roch... no matter what someone's image is, or what their past holds, something like this is not deserved or understandable. I think we all wish the best to his family, his friends, and especially his little daughter.

Roch,

Thank you for the article about Steve Bechler. His tragedy is an unfortunate example of the shortsightedness of this organization's farm system. We bring young kids with limited life experience into a situation where they have virtually no daily personal supervision. They do not have access to a nutritionist, nor is there normally some form of organized weight training or exercise program. It's no wonder that some of them may have weight issues like Bechler did. His extraordinary efforts to lose weight is a testament to his desire to be successful.

When you consider the small amount it would cost to provide the farm system with a couple of nutritionists and physical trainers, it would have to be a pittance compared to what we spend on bad contracts at the major league level. Why can't we help these kids learn how to eat, conduct themselves, and train their bodies to be successful at the major league level or in life?

Let's hope that Andy Mac Phail considers that as they rebuild the farm system.

Has anyone read Ken Rosenthal's column on the FoxSports website yesterday?

I know a lot of readers on this blog have little respect for Rosenthal; however, he makes a good case for the Dodgers to make trades to improve their team. Today, reports are coming out of Los Angeles and Baltimore that the Dodgers are interested in Eric Bedard, and the Orioles are waiting until the Dodgers decide on their interest in Miguel Cabrera before they precede any farther in trade discussions.

What?

If the Dodgers recognize that they need a front-line left-handed starting pitcher, and a big bat, and a major league caliber third baseman, and they address their need for a solid defender at second base, and their needed for a legitimate leadoff hitter; and the Orioles understand that the Dodgers may be the best match up for trade of the players we are considering moving this winter, then why are we not on the phone with the Dodgers front-office explaining that we have the solution to their problem?

One segment of the Dodgers front office says that they don't want to trade their young players, another segment says they will trade three or four of their young players for Miguel Cabrera (even through that will only fix one of their many holes), and the owner says he will make any trade that will improve the team. Who is running that show?

It seems like the ingredients are here for an old-fashioned baseball trade. We get what we need to rebuild, they get what they need to win now. Since this makes such commonsense, why isn't it done yet?

Sad and tragic. Condolences to family - especally the little girl.

Lots of hurting people in DC today. However, how is this case any different from the thug that will be murdered somewhere in Baltimore tonight? Answer: Sean Taylor happened to play football.

ofahn--that trade might make he a dodgers fan haha.

People die in senseless violence every day, not counting the kids that die every day in our wars. Why the special attention for this guy?

Bill, that wasn't even lightly hidden. A cheap shot at a bad time too. If you want to look for thugs in Baltimore, just look at any number of ravens, there are a few to pick from....

POPS totally insensitive. NO NFL player has ever been murdered in season, among other reasons.
You & Bill are amazing..... two troglodytes.

POPS in PA: People do die in senseless violence every day. Special attention simply because he is well known. One must also remember that in this case, an armed intruder entered his home with his wife and kid upstairs.

Maybe this is a good chance to remind people that no matter where they live, locking every door at night is a must. That unfortunate family in Cheshire CT learned that the hard way.

Brian: Obviously you are upset over the Sean Taylor situation. Were you as upset for the guy he pistol-whipped last year?

Here's the deal: Taylor knew his assailant. There are a number of people walking around today who knows who did it and why. However, he'll never get arrested because according to gansta rules, there's no snichin allowed - only retaliation.

Bill- what an incredibly racist and insensitive comment. First of all, how many facts of the case do you know? Are you a detective? What proof do you have that he knew his assailant. Secondly, the fact that Sean Taylor was black, that he sometimes wore dreadlocks or braids or even an afro and that he once pistol whipped somebody does not make him "gangsta". Sean Taylor grew up in a stable house with two parents; his dad was a police chief. He attended a private school. He dated the same girl from high school until his death. Did he make mistakes at times in his life? Sure. But you wouldn't be referring to him as a "gangsta" if he had been white. No matter what he did before in his life, nobody deserves to be murdered in cold blood in the safety of his own house in front of his girlfriend and infant child. Let's take a moment to mourn the absolutely tragic death of a young man with an inredibly bright future ahead of him and keep the ignorant comments to ourselves.

Bill, no one said Taylor was a choir boy , but do you say he deserved to be murdered in his own bedroom? The incident you refer to was about taking offense to punks stealing some AT vehicles from him.
I agree with your latter statement somewhat. He was marked, he was targeted, this was not random. I don't know if he "knew" the shooter or not, but this isn't about gangsta anything, it's about murder. Ben A makes some good pts.
You being a raven fan, I assume, you know all about that, you cheer for R Lewis each week don't you? Were you upset about the two men murdered outside of his limo in Atlanta? Naturally, he just happened to be there passing out candy to the local kids, right? Don't be a hypocrite & insinuate anything about Taylor please....

Ben and Brian:

As each day passes, with no arrests made, you'll see that I'm more right than wrong. My main point is the time to be upset is before something tragic happens - do the things you have to do change "gangsta" like behavior. Look around the NFL and NBA and you can almost predict who the next tragic headline will be. Its sad that we, as a civilized society, are letting this "gangsta" mentality exist.

I agree with you Bill, but unfortunately Taylor didn't ask my advice....

As for the behavior, I literally lost interest in Pro BBall because of the attitudes.

Talk about changing mentality, why don't the ravens faithful start with your man R Lewis?

A lot of you were wrong, in regards to Sean. He didn't know the suspects, who have confessed to the crime, and Sean wasn't just a thug.

A terrible for Sean and his family.