This is the last vestige of the pre-McPhail/post-Angelos purchase Orioles' "way."

As LaRussa said, the Orioles used to be at the forefront of development. For most of the last 20 years they have been the worst (maybe the Pirates are worse). Since McPhail returned, they have at least moved back into the middle of the pack on these types of issues.

That this situation has been going on for 15 years is an embarassment to the team. It is a key component to developing their players. If the owner thinks fans don't notice these sorts of things, he is sorely mistaken. Even more importantly, if the owner thinks potential free agents don't notice, he is sorely mistaken. This needs to be resolved!

Your comment regarding the Orioles prefering carrying briefcases then getting a situation rectified sums up the franchise perfectly. And unfortunately it will take a major injury caused by their nickel and dime approach to running a franchise that will finally open their eyes to the importance of quality facilities where the teams future can hone their skills. And in typical Oriole fashion the instructing of personel to keep quiet is sad and pathetic. I am glad that Chris Ray and Jake Arietta did speak up and didn't cower to the management gag order. And unfortunately in typical Oriole fashion if the O's give the Sun media members the "Nestor Aparichio Credential Treatment" it was nice having you on board all spring! It shouldn't be like that but I am sure someone has already placed a call to Sun Management. Peter A doesn't take criticism well! We are all still waiting for him to open the team books! Here's hoping he screws up the racetrack secret purchase and gets himself thrown out of the game because the game should make no room for any Angelos family member.

Pete, this should not surprise anyone who follows the Orioles. Who's in charge of the spring training facilty upgrade? John Angelos. Enough said!

Peter Angelos has taken the Orioles from a model franchise as LaRussa said in your column to an absolute joke of a franchise. Every team in MLB laughs at the joke the Orioles have become. As a life long fan, I think it's both sad and pathetic,

Zrebiec and Connolly's article made me laugh and made me mad. The Orioles' spring training situation demonstrates an extreme lack of both class and plain common sense. It probably will take a career ending or derailing injury due to crap conditions before the Orioles will do anything to change the situation. Just pathetic. At least we now know where the losing foundation is built.

This is why the Orioles continue to remain a laughingstock around baseball. The reason this has not been resolved is because you have the son of the owner managing this effort. John Angelos isn't fit to manage a gas station. Too bad McPhail and Trembley don't speak out about it, because it's really a disgrace to the organization. My fear is when Peter dies, his idiot children will run the team and we will have an even bigger mess on our hands.

How does Angelos let something like this happen? He, of all people, should understand that he can sink money into the fields on the front end and then sue to recover that money later if he thinks that Sarasota isn't complying with lease terms. The whole situation is vaguely evocative of the movie "Major League." ("Maybe the problem is...we're coddling these guys too much...yeah!") Yet another sad chapter in the Angelos era.

in a lawyered-up world of tempered words and delicate language, it is refreshing to read just a bare honest assessment of the O's spring training situation. this blog post was one of my favorite so far this spring. thank you for telling it like it is.

Peter Angelos has the money to possibly by the Preakness and yet he won't fork over a few million more to resolve this situation.....
This situation is even more embarassing than the 30-3 drubbing from a few years ago.

That's insane!!! Angelos brings to mind the owner of the Indians in the movie Major League. Is he just trying to ruin the team on purpose for some reason? Because he certainly doesn't seem to want to give them the chance to improve.

The owner is a lawyer, how do you expect him to act?

It "does not fit that reputation" to have an owner like Peter Angelos. Plain and simple. This embarassment typifies so much about how he has run a once proud franchise into the ground. Although our children just think we're a bad team, those of us who grew up during the time when we were the most successful franchise in baseball can't believe this has happened. I am only surprised that I was so surprised to hear how bad the spring training situation has really gotten. Come on Cal, buy the team and end this debacle.

That's pretty sad, I hope this gets sorted by next ST. In the meantime, it's a perfect day for baseball in Norfolk, 70's with a breeze and the winds might be blowing in in RF today. Gonna head to the stadium after lunch, I can't wait!

Thanks for all the reports from FLA Schmuck, much appreciated.

Articles about the inadequacy of the Orioles' spring training facilities has become a rite of spring. As each season passes, the problem exacerbates. What would happen if, God forbid, Wieters was injured because of the playing conditions? Those "guys with briefcases " would be arguing over which of the grounds crew to fire.

Being a class organization means that every aspect is among the best in MLB. The Angelo$ regime has done a magnificent job of making the Orioles an organization that should not be emulated.

Great reporting by Jeff and Dan. Loved the part when the Red Sox told the O's that they didn't want to play at Twin Lakes Park, they then agreed to pay for a bus to transport the O's minor leaguers to Fort Myers. I guess the MASN $ isn't paying the bills. Look for our cable bill to go up.

I was wondering, with this whole Spring Training facility saga, about the possibilities of sharing a facility. I've only been to The Astros, nationals and or course the orioles camps, but I know the Marlins and Cardinals share a location. How does it work there? Are there any places you've seen that a similar deal could be worked out?

............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Not unless they want to go to Arizona. They turned down that Jupiter facility before the Cardinals and Expos took it.

This is just an embarrassment. It doesn't surprise me that the Orioles have been one of the worst fundamentals teams in baseball over the last decade: their training facilities are decrepit and inadequate. While I generally try not to have too much sympathy for millionaire baseball players, my high school had far better facilities than the Orioles have.

"The Orioles have been trying to straighten out the situation" - Oh, really? This has been a festering issue since before Peter Angelos bought the team. He has had control of the team for 15 years but has refused to put any of his own money into building a state-of-the-art facility, instead always looking for one of the Florida counties to make him a deal. The deals are never good enough for Mr. Shyster. When you look at the contrast between him and Steve Bisciotti, who immediately recognized the value of having a first-class training facility, it is just another example of why the Orioles have not been competitive for over a decade. What quality free agent player in his right mind would want to come here and play for this joke of an organization? I will believe things have changed when I hear Andy MacPhail publicly acknowledge the problems pointed out in the article are real and that the club is committed to putting its own money into a new facility instead of giving it away to the likes of Jay Gibbons and Danys Baez.

.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: To be fair, spring training has been a festering issue, as you put it, since well before the Orioles were purchased by Angelos, though that doesn't let him off the hook.

Five pounds of manure in a three-pound bag? That's par for the course, since that's pretty much been the O's method of coming up with a starting rotation this spring. The realization that Mark Hendrickson will be one of the starting five is enough to make me run for the crapper.

What do the O's starting staff and a bag of manure have in common? They both will stink up the joint.

Jim Johnson just earned my respect for speaking the truth.

It seems like our only options are places that other teams have left. Didn't they leave for good reasons? If we are building a new foundation within the organization, should we not consider having state of the art spring training faciltieis?

Typical Angelos ploy.....delay...delay...delay and the vendor will pay!

And Jim Johnson's right.....I've tried and you can only get three pounds in a three pound bag.

This is r e a l l y embarrasing, or should be. Is there any question now that the Angelos' are just not interested in running a major league franchise? Teams refuse to play at your facilities? Your infield compares unfavorably to a nearby little league park and to fields in a third world country? No wonder we can't attract or retain talent. PA, sell the team now, please!

Sadly, the Fort Lauderale facilities are a perfect match for the O's pitching staff. Maybe the pitching staff should be the priority, doncha think?

Besides, Peter has humiliated all of the appropriate Florida mayors and town councils yet.

"According to O's website, Adam Eaton is not on the roster. I think that Bass pitched better, and I guess O's did too."

Eaton hasn't been on the roster because he signed a minor league contract and if they decide to keep him they still have a few days to add him to the roster otherwise they will let him go (hopefully that will be the case).

You can't blame the GM, the manager or players for this mess. Games are won by being prepared and because of the Florida debacle the Orioles "organization" is the least prepared in baseball. Thank you, Mr. Angelos.

Why don't the O's use some of that Texiera money they were willing to spend and build their own stadium? Why rely on local governments in Florida to put up the funds? That is what is taking so long. Just build their own complex the way they want it and be done with it. Hire Cal's firm to design and build it. It's pretty sad that the team's single A affiliate in Aberdeen has facilities 10 times better than the major leaguers.

Pete- Since we all heard about O's management trying put a gag order on their own employees about their spring training facilities , an suggestion came into my mind . Why dont you , Jeff and Dan contact your fellow colleagues from the NATIONAL MEDIA ? I am sure O's management would be very thrilled to heard what the baseball coummnity and public have to say about their neglectful and safety hazardous enviroments. Also Peter , how about contacting the Player's Association ? I am sure they like might to meet the Angelos' brass about this issue also .

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: The players union, I'm sure, is aware of this.

I hope they have said good bye to Sarasota what a dump ! One more thing .....have the O's said good bye to Danys Baez !

Comeon. These wimps want talc on the basepaths, charmin instead of scott. People are out of work, we've lost their life savings in IRA's and other "safe" investment programs foirsted on us by the government and their friends on Wall Street. And you are telling us about these inhuman conditions for millionaire ballplayers and we are tryin to figure out how to pay for the next meal. Peter, you and your cohorts in the news business should take a reality check here. My friends and I could care less if these woosies are playing on concrete and they forced to shower with rats. If they were winners maybe somebody would give a flip, otherwise, find something really important to write about. The fans have just about had it.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Jay, you can see by the other commnets that you are in the vast minority in this opinion. You can't complain about having a bad team if you don't care if the best players break their ankles in the minor leagues.

I live in Ft Myers and I have to put my two cents in here. City of Palms is a 1st rate facility. The Red Sox want to move because they have support from the County Commission and they know they can have anything they want. Its simply because they are the Red Sox. Enough said. They are both loved and hated here. They want a Taj Mahal near upscale shopping, bars, and hotels. They are going to get it to the tune of $75-$90 million. That said, the City of Palms park is 1000% better than anything the O's have ever trained at. They should take the County's offer of a significant upgrade and move here in 2012. In the meantime, move to Sarasota, upgrade the minor league facilities there, and show act like you are a major league team and not bush league. The O's will draw 6,000-8,000 a game here. Try getting that kind of support in Ft Lauderdale. In your dreams! Pete, this is the best solution, plain and simple. I'm fed up with this management. Do it and do it now.

I don't know what concerns me more, the fact that all the players feel that strongly about how cruddy the facilities are...or the fact that Jimmy Johnson referred to our entire minor league system as 5 pounds of [manure].

I was at the Fort Lauderdale facility a few weeks ago while in Florida on business, and it is absolutely shameful, and even worse than last year. It is a true reflection of the Angelos family ownership of the Orioles, and the their lack of understanding about what it takes to own, manage and nurture a Major League sports franchise. Peter Angelos is an adroit business man, a generous local philanthropist, but just an absolute disaster of an owner.

The Angelos family is clueless when it comes to public relations and marketing. Maybe I missed it, but I did not see a single preseason game scheduled on MASN, nor did I catch any braodcasts on the radio here in Harrisburg Pa. The Mickey Mouse network of 5000 watt radio stations that have tried to replace WBAL 1090 is ridiculous. I have to switch radio stations during the regular season while driving between here and York and I can't find any station when I am North of Harrisburg. My neighbor asked me if they are still on the air up here.

And they wonder why attendance is down.

You're right, Peter. And so is Nestor. I'm about as objective as the keyboard on which I'm typing too, so this isn't some fan who has it in for Angelos. Finally, the players speak up. Are they that afraid to be as opinionated as they were on this topic? Can they honestly be fired or let go for providing the media with some constructive criticism about the ball club? I would hope not. The Union would have a field day.

Someone needs to pressure ownership more to have them confront and actually talk about the issues at hand with this ball club. Someone needs to expose them more than they have been exposed thus far. Maybe some day. I've said it before, and I'll say it again...if Cal saved baseball in '95, he is certainly qualified to save the Orioles. Cal...please...buy this team.

Pete,

Even the cash strapped Rays have upgrade their spring facility. If the O's are really now into player development, what gives with these sub standard facilities? I applaud the article and hope it can spark some change for the future.

It's an embarrassing disgrace! It's 2009 for goodness sakes. It's a shame that players have to play on a field that King Peter would file a lawsuit on behalf of someone who was injured on them!!!!!!!

What does that make the O's . Looking only at what everyone else has tossed aside because it wasn't good enough for their teams. I believe the O's have a lot of money tied up in both major leaguers and especially the kids they"re depending on for the future. Is it O K for them to play in an inadequate facility but not the red sox or rays or dodgers or reds? Being cheap on training facilities is bein really STUPID. Fix it and fool everybody

Schmuck,
I gotta tell you I've been going to FTL for years first year I thought it was run down but assumed that was the standard for Spring Training. This year I went up to Jupiter to catch an O's game. I was embarassed to go back the next day to FTL Stadium. I can't imagine how the players feel.

Angelos has a hardline legal mind and that probably leads to some of the hardline negeoiations.It's a complete disgrace and unworthy of a major leage team to continue to stay at Ft. Lauderdale.We do the same thing with the oirst round draft coices waiting until the last second. Almost lost Weiters and Matuz was close. If they got serious with Matuz last June he could have got 2 months in and maybe ready for the rotation this year.

I think you identified the problem: the O's organization is being run by lawyers. I think this is natural given the owner's penchant for litigation, long drawn-out negotiations, and reluctance to make a decision. I can only assume that he believes lawyers can make any problem go away if they negotiate and/or argue long enough. What's missing is the realization that, unlike the case with most lawsuits, the bad feelings generated between affected parties and secondary resultant problems can't be ignored. Lawyers typically just walk away after the case has been decided. That can't happen when you run an organization.Our chickens have come home to roost in many ways:second class training facilities with no end in sight(remember that Angelos didn't build Camden yards); failure to reach agreements with free agents( recall the comments that the O's are very difficult to deal with because they won't make a decision); insistence on hiring second rate GM's; and reluctance to give our GM's real authority( verdict is still out on AM). You can't teach an old dog new tricks!

I still think that the O's should find a partner (Minnesota?) and build a two team complex in Phoenix where the action is. More and more as I see the new LAD/CWS and Cleve/Cinn complexes, it is so obvious that this is the place to train. No rain, plenty of spectatrs and built in fields to play on. C'mon down, the price is right!!!

Alan Rifken, the Orioles' counsel , is condescending and arrogant;John Angelos is ineffectual and uninspiring; Peter Angelos thrives on litigation as a measure of success.

This is why the situation exists as it does today.

Peter, you have been to Twin Lakes. Doesn't it amaze you that the directory in the front of the building have names of Oriole staff that has not worked for the organization for years? Utter neglect is what that facility represents.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I haven't been there in awhile, but that would not surprise me.

Pete, when does Andy talk to P.A. that this situation in Florida has to end? I know it's not Andy's job, but he has P.A.'s ear, so maybe he can talk some sense into him because they will never be able to evaluate talent till everyone is together, and since young talent is the key to the rebirth of the Birds, this is not helping.

I am shocked that P.A. would continue to look at leftovers from rival clubs, and the fact the Sox paid not play at the O's ST facility, is insane.

I agree with Charles S., in they need to partner up and go to AZ. They blew the Disney Wide World of Sports complex and Vero Beach, so what's left, the parking lot at Epcot Center? Gatorland?

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I vote for Gatorland. I think Andy has gotten a little more involved recently.

Who cares if the team goes in the crapper as long as PA remains master negotiator of the world

Who remembers the headline a few years ago announcing the O's had agreed to move spring training facilities to Ft. Myers. The deal fell through when the land owner told Angelos they wanted actual money for the land. Angelos thought the town of Ft. Myers would step in and arrange for 2,000 acres to just be given to him. The dude preys on the weak, scams when he can and basically waits until he's the only one left standing. I hope he does not get Pimlico and Laurel regardless of what happens to the Preakness.

1st he was a fan. Now He's a businessman. His son is trying to run this like a business. Plus their lawyers. I used to owe a business. I know it's hard but you have to spend money to make money. With the TV and Cable, he really doesn't have to think, or care what the fans think. Considering what people say about him and his son, I'd probably feel the same. We love the Bird's and have had tickets since 1954. I wish there was a way to make peace but I don't know how that will happen. I also know it easy to tell someone else how to spend their money. Unfortunately, the only way this will be resolved is for Peter to die and his estate to sell the club. I sure hope I'm wrong.

Cheap bastards! Face it our team has Leona Helmsley as an owner. We aren't even protecting our own highly prized prospects! Even if your facility is a dump, having a field in a professional condition isn't that expensive and oh by the way the cost of being a MLB team! Whether its paying for players or paying for facilities we are the Durham Bulls of the MLB! Next we'll need Susan Surandon to sleep with/counsel our pitchers!

Sinply Pathetic on all fronts!

Pete,

The fact that the Warehouse TOLD players not to comment says quite a bit! You spent Spring Training at the sites, lets hear your perspectives on the facilities compared to those of Major League teams Florida facilities. You know the unabridged version, not the company line of instructing those on the payroll not to talk!

Yeah I know, they have a plan, in fact a 10 year plan!

...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Keith, I've been ripping the spring situation for years. The Fort Lauderdale site is a distant 30th in relative quality to the rest of MLB. The Sarasota site is just an extension of that. It is a big disadvantage in building for the future. And, if you read Jeff's story, you know we're not toeing any company line. Some of the players aren't either.