Back from the plunge
Nice to see a lot of you at the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge today, though -- in the future -- some of you should follow my lead and leave your shirts on. It's not like you're Michael Phelps and it's going to slow you down.
I apologize for the false link in the previous entry (which has been fixed). Got in a rush putting that item up early this morning. Didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Somebody interrupted me. My kids were up late and making a lot of noise. But I don't make excuses.
It promises to be a quiet rest of the weekend. Andy MacPhail is probably trying to catch up on his sleep and Brian Roberts is still on his honeymoon. (Confidential to the O's ticket office: There goes the twentysomething female demographic). Next week, maybe they'll get down to business.
The Plunge, which benefits Maryland Special Olympics, was a huge success. The organizers are estimating they will raise more than $3 million. My contribution, other than raising the water level in the Chesapeake Bay for a minute or so, was negligible, but I had a great time.
My thermal hat was off to former Oriole B.J. Surhoff, Adam Terry of the Ravens and new congressman Frank Kratovil, who took part in the Super Plunge and dunked themselves in the icy water once an hour for 24 hours.
Comments
Congrats Pete... Well done.
Posted by: a fan with delusions of grandeur | January 24, 2009 6:42 PM
This only further goes to prove that BJ Surhoff is THE MAN, and one of the coolest Orioles ever. Period.
Posted by: John From Rochester NY | January 24, 2009 6:54 PM
And boy are your gills tired?!
Posted by: Tim | January 24, 2009 7:20 PM
Pete,
While I haven't seen you with your shirt off (nor would I treasure the thought) congrats on your plunge but if you recall the movie, I don't envision you as the Iceman if you know what I mean! Ok so were about 3 weeks out for spring training and there remains several more Starting Pitchers that exceed the ability or past performance of what we now have. Shouldn't the prices be coming down to the point where we can give one or two a 1-2 year incentive ladden contract? Your philanthropic efforts are to be commended!
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Pete's reply; I think we're getting close to the point where the price of the remaining pitching will begin to go down. How far they go down and how the O's react is anybody's guess.
Posted by: Keith Rowe | January 24, 2009 7:50 PM
hey Pete, better yee than me. I'm from Florida, that water would have killed me. Would you say a 4 year deal for B-rob is a bad idea as the O's rebuilding contunies? 4 @ 40 gets this thing done...
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Pete's reply: I don't think it would be a bad idea, but it'll take a little more than that.
Posted by: Michael G | January 24, 2009 10:25 PM
Hey Peter,
Kudos to you and everyone else that took the plunge today. I remember when I did it. Dang, what a rush. Sadly, this year I had too much going on. It's a great cause and again, I thank you and everyone else for participating and contributing.
Regards,
James MacArthur
Posted by: James MacArthur | January 24, 2009 10:55 PM
Was Flacco at the Plunge?
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Pete's reply: Yes, but not while I was there.
Posted by: Luke | January 25, 2009 12:20 AM
Overpaying for a known commodity like Brian, is way different from overpaying for someone, regardless of their skills, who isn't in the organization. The O's know what they have in Brian. I truly believe that the final # (if Brian wants to stay) will be 4 years 47.5 mil.
It would be great if Garland fell into the O's lap. Pete, when Huff was a FA, didn't he want something like 10+ mil a year? The market wasn't there for him, so the O's got him far cheaper than what he wanted. I've been saying this since Vegas that Garland could fall into that same situation and with incentives, the Os could lock up a a young SP, who would no doubt, make a lot of friends in the BP. He goes deep into games and that has been a HUGE issue with the SPs for the last several years.
Sheets scares me, so if it's not Garland, I would rather have Looper. He wont win a Cy Young, but I think he is solid and again, other than Jeremy, he is better than anyone who started a game in Black and Orange last year.
Posted by: Birdland Todd | January 25, 2009 1:41 AM
Is surhoff still available? i bet he can still hit and play the field.
Posted by: cquare | January 25, 2009 8:29 AM
Pete-
Your personalized Os jersey, with the name 'SchmuckShrinkage' on the back is on its way to you...
Posted by: patrick lynch | January 25, 2009 8:42 AM
Pete, I don't know if you really raised the water level of the Chesapeake Bay or contributed anymore erosion below the Turkey Point Lighthouse at Elk Neck State Park, but to me the enthusiasm with the Polar Bear Plunge flooded our minds with your good cheer.
HIP HIP HOORAY!
Posted by: Bill In Elkton | January 25, 2009 8:58 AM