That is what happens when a lawyer thinks he can out duel anyone in negotiations.

Peter,

When we continue to hear stuff like this, I really have a hard time believing anyone that says MacPhail has the O's headed in the right direction. Like you said, we've needed this for 20 years, and they still can't get it done. And people think this organization is going to land Mark Teixeira? Or compete in the A.L. East? Or have a winning record at all while Angelos owns the team? I'm sorry, but I just don't see how anyone in their right mind can have any degree of optimism surrounding this franchise.

Peter, The O's should consider the big move to Tucson for the spring. The White Sox have gone to Phoenix. The Diamondbacks and Pima County are looking for a new team to share their brand new facility. Plus, the weather is much better than Florida...yea, Birds join the Cactus League.

come to arizona!

this is one story involving the orioles that i have stopped caring about.
i just do not care to follow this anymore.

Meet the new boss
same as the old boss!

Nothing will change until the O's have new ownership!
Nuff said!

This is very sad. Living in Palm Beach County myself, I would have loved to see them in Jupiter. Maybe they can go back to Ft. Lauderdale with their tales between their legs.

Go west young man, go west.... and be dayum quick about it.

I have never been one to blame Angelos for the debacle that has become the Orioles, but I have finally reached my breaking point. How can one man continue to botch just about every situation that comes up. Please go away. I am afraid that if they do not sign tex than orioles baseball will become as insignificant as royals baseball or marlins baseball.

Spring Training in Vero Beach would be incredible and this guy screws it up. Pathetic.

The situations may not be directly comparable, but it is reflective of the polar opposite franchise ownerships we have in Baltimore that Steve Bisciotti built a new state-of-the-art training complex immediately upon taking over the Ravens while Peter Angelos has futzed around with this spring training issue for 15 years.

Baltimore Orioles fans would really appreciate it if you would write an article urging that a petition should be circulated requesting that Peter Angelos sell the team to an owner who actually cares more about baseball and the dignity of this town than his wallet (i.e. Cal Ripken).

Angelos is a cancer that needs to be removed.

Who was in charge of these negotiations?

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Pete's reply: I assume John Angelos. He was in Sarasota the other day.

This is a shame, as Vero would have been a great location, but Disney's facility is absolutely beautiful!

Shades of Robert Irsay... is PA looking to kill what few fans are left, in order to justify a move? Hope the Camden Yard lease outlives PA! How can we ge Tex if we can't even get a training camp deal done over the past 5+ years? Please Cal... BUY THIS TEAM!!!

Yup, this is the exact same Peter Angelos we know. Anyone who's surprised must have just arrived from another planet.

We've been told that Andy MacPhail has been given the reins, but we all know that's a lie. We're not stupid. Let's assume MacPhail is busy with off season negotiations. That means Angelos had some of his crack team help out with this deal. The result mirrors what we see every year on the field.

This franchise is 'interesting' for all the wrong reasons.

One last comment. Lost admist all this Teixeira frenzy is any news on whether Markakis extension talks have seen any recent activity. I'm assuming not. If Teixeira goes elsewhere (this will happen) and Markakis tells the club to take hike, it will be the final straw for me. I wonder how long Andy MacPhail will last.

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Pete's reply: Markakis isn't going to tell the team to take a hike. He's got three years under reserve and he wants to get paid, so they'll figure something out.

Hey Steveco,

Did you not read the other day how MacPhail says he takes every major decision to Angelos? like the Tex deal? Of course Angelos is still running the show! Its just that he has a little more faith in MacPhail than he has had in any one else. So we will see a MacPhail product, but probably not quite as MacPhail has envisioned it! Tooooooo Baaaaad!

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Pete's reply: There are plenty of reasons to criticize the ownership of this team, but there isn't a GM in baseball who could spend $160 million on Teixeira without asking the owner.

On opening day, I'll bet you'll hear - "when in April does the Ravens mini-camps begin?"

i look for the orioles to sign a 5 yr deal with catonsville community college for spring training. this way they can avoid shipping equipment to fl. saving money they can use to sign steve trachsel again. how is it only the orioles don't have a permanent spring training site. players have to be idiots or desparate to sign with them.

Too bad the O's didn't return to Phoenix when the opportunity presented itself..that's where the action is. Lack of fans? Don't be silly..all the clubs in Phoenix sell out a lot

I would like to echo some of the comments above and welcome my beloved Orioles to Tucson! Excellent complex, good competition with the Rockies and D-Backs. Other great teams to play 90 minutes away. Superior golf, fabulous food. Weather to savor! If only ownership had an operative baseball mind and not a hamster in a habitrail instead.........go O's!

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Pete's reply: I love Tucson. Spent a few fun nights at the Bum Steer visiting college friends there in my youth. Does that three-story bar still exist?

Nothing changes when ownership is comprised of Egotistical,pompous,blow-hards with a Napoleon complex!!!

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Pete's reply: I guess that's one way to put it.

Peter Angelos is in charge of all negotiations....this is why nothing ever gets done.

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Pete's reply: I think John Angelos is in charge of this negotiation.

I would assume the criticism on the spring training complex concerning the GM is erroneous because it's outside the realm of the General Managers responsibilities, right? Doesn't he concern himself with just personnel decisions and they have a business manager - type take care of facillities such as this and Camden Yards? Forgive me for my ignorance on this matter and thanks for all your answers Pete.

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Pete's reply: Yes, Andy has nothing to do with that, except requesting that the minor league and major league complex not be 150 miles apart.

angelos must be related to bush. angelos is destroying the o's and bush destroyed the economy. i know thats not true but definitely funny. im tired of hearing about the o's. i used to be a true fan but until angelos sells the team im done. tex dont waiste your time coming here cause you'll be demanding a trade in three years. screw the orioles. GO RAVENS!!!

don't have the same cache

Um, should that be "cachet"?

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Pete's reply: Yes, it should. I will correct that mistake promptly.

If it has an Angelos in it anywhere it's doomed to fail.Whether it's John,or Peter Rabbit,you can always expect the same negative results.The curse of Davey Johnson lives on.What a joke this once proud franchise has become.Sad,so sad.

These clowns that call themselves Oriole representatives don't want to make a decision...they want to stay in boardrooms and courtrooms so they can keep playing lawyers! Maybe they should watch Eli Stone once in a while and see how to get a case done in just one hour! Unlike Stone unfortunately they don't think they get messages from God. They think they are gods.

peter i am curious as to who is next in line to replace peter angelos when he is no longer able to run the team. from the different articles that i have read in the sun, john angelos has been running the negotiations to acquire minor league facilties. needless to say,it sure appears that he has really botched things up big time. this is another situation like doing contract extenions. it should have been completed

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Pete's reply: I would guess John would be the next in the line of succession, but Peter isn't going anywhere.

As a "former business owner" I can tell you it is a rare thing to find successful lawyers involved unless they are financial contributors solely. They are trained to find the flaws in language,intent ramifications. etc. They are trained in the negative. Period. In most mergers, sales,deals in business lawyers stop progress in defending their clients position. Most of Peters business outside of law are failures. Anybody remember Shanes on York Road(formerly Tale of the Fox)
Didnt make it 2 years. Control freaks and anti business mindset are not good traits for entrepreneurs.

Just one more in a long line of embarassing missteps that have made the Orioles into the laughing stock of MLB.

Come to Fort Myers, O's!

The Red Sox are vacating a beautiful downtown stadium for a new complex in 2012.

The area immediately around the stadium isn't postcard-worthy... but it's just outside a growing downtown and 20 minutes from gorgeous beaches.

The Sox have said they'd be happy to share the existing one in the meantime.

Our local government is very worried about having a terrific, fairly new (built in the 90's) spring training park sitting vacant when the Sox leave. I'd bet Angelos and the boys could get a heck of a deal.

You'd have the Orioles, Red Sox, Twins and Rays all within a half-hour of one another.

Y'all would love it here in March, too!

Come to Arizona Birds. You will love it here. From BallmerBruce a former
Maryland lifer until last year.

What has Baltimore ever done to deserve both Irsay and Angelos....anybody?